Commencement Address for the 2020 Academic Year
To everyone celebrating their graduation or completion of studies today, congratulations!
I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the parents and guardians.
This year, in particular, has been a challenging one due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I imagine this moment is especially meaningful for you all.
Starting today, each of you will set sail toward your own new horizons—whether it be entering the workforce or pursuing higher education. There is no doubt that you, the younger generation, are the leaders of the next era. Unexpectedly, the global disaster of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to adapt to a new way of life. I believe that none of us were more bewildered by this than you, who were just about to set out into the wider world.The term “working from home” has become commonplace, and I suspect that the ability to work remotely has now become one of the criteria for choosing a job.
As you know, we have already entered the age of AI and IoT. Unfortunately, Japan still lags behind in these fields. At the same time, we must prepare for catastrophes—such as the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and the anticipated Nankai Trough earthquake—that pose a direct threat to our way of life and daily existence.What we have learned from the major disasters caused by repeated earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic is not only that empathy and support for disaster victims are essential, but also that the social systems supporting them remain fragile, and that a form of individualism bordering on selfishness is being directed aggressively toward medical and nursing care workers. It is truly regrettable.
In light of these circumstances, I would like to ask everyone to use the following as your guiding principle: in order for humanity to continue living healthily as human beings in this world, we must always connect with one another through compassion and strive to evolve together as global citizens. I believe this is the very foundation of the “New Normal”—a concept that is both time-honored and fresh. Please keep your senses open not only to your immediate surroundings, but also to the rest of Japan and the entire world.
I realize it’s not easy to imagine what the future will look like five, ten, twenty, or thirty years from now, but I sincerely hope that each of you will become a key player who continues to envision the future of the Earth’s ecosystem while steadily building a solid foundation.
Today is the day you take that first step forward.
Let me say it again: Congratulations on your graduation and completion.
March 23, 2021
Katsutoshi Sakurai, President, Kochi University