For the Next Generation to Confidently Discover the Future

Okayama University is a comprehensive institution with over 150 years of history. It has produced multiple Nobel Prize nominees in fields such as medicine, engineering, physics, and chemistry and is recognized as one of Japan’s leading universities for conducting research on a global scale. Approximately eight years ago, Okayama University became the first national university in Japan to commit to advancing the SDGs as an institutional effort.

When the former president and the executive team were determining the university’s direction, the SDGs had just been adopted as global goals at the UN Summit. We immediately realized, “This is exactly the direction Okayama University is aiming for.” At that time, 8 years ago, there wasn’t even a Japanese version of the UN’s “SDGs Actions for Universities” guide. So, we took the initiative to translate it into Japanese and supported the advancement of SDGs within universities in Japan. That marked the beginning of our journey toward embracing the SDGs.

Yes, absolutely. My experiences studying in the U.S., combined with the passage of time, have fueled my growing passion to “connect the world and Japan more closely, with Okayama as the central hub.”

We aim to become a university that creates the desired future for both the region and the world, involving everyone in this effort, with 2050 as the milestone. To achieve this goal, I often refer to an ancient Chinese classic from 3,000 years ago, which outlines an important way of thinking. It begins with “caring for yourself,” then extends to caring for your family, friends, and those around you. From there, it moves to the region, the country, and then the earth—ultimately leading to a focus on caring for the environment. For many, it might be difficult to think about caring for the planet. If one cannot care for themselves, I don’t believe they can truly care for their families. That’s why I want everyone to first care for themselves, then think about others, and together aim for the “desired future.”

Our students are engaged in a variety of activities, but what stands out is that we encourage them to regularly ask, “Which SDGs does this action address?” when engaging with society. Specifically, they are involved in actions like collecting trash in local areas and working to reduce food loss. They are also actively tackling the issues of hunger and obesity through a Japanese-origin initiative called TABLE FOR TWO. As a university, we have adopted the “SDGs Ambassador Program,” where we support students’ efforts that align with the university’s commitment to the SDGs.

Students from various faculties are using data in their extracurricular activities, focusing on how DX can contribute to solving regional issues and supporting local businesses, all from the perspective of the SDGs. There is also a Data Science (DS) Club, where around 180 students and faculty members collaborate, using data science and programming techniques to address regional challenges. Through these activities, I want them to experience failure as well. There is so much to learn from a failed experience, and I believe it’s important for them to have that opportunity while they’re still young.

The YumeIku Project is an initiative launched by Okayama Prefecture. It adds a fifth “Iku” to the traditional categories of education: intellectual education, moral education, physical education, and food education. YumeIku is also expressed as “You Make” in English, emphasizing the idea that children are the ones who will create their own dreams. From an educational perspective, simply “studying to get good grades” is not enough. What’s crucial is fostering a sense of competence—the feeling that “you are capable of accomplishing something.” Since the launch of the YumeIku Project, we’ve seen an increase in children’s confidence. As a prefecture, Okayama is committed to nurturing a sense of self-belief among the next generation. Okayama University is supporting this by offering classes that use data science to help students address their own challenges and find solutions.

At first, I thought the word “DREAM” might be a bit too simple for an album title. However, given the many sad events happening around the world, I found myself asking, “When will the world be at peace?” “When will there be more love?” or “When can people truly start pursuing their own dreams?” That’s when I realized that “DREAM” was exactly the word we needed at that time. I wanted everyone to reflect on their own dreams whenever they saw or heard my album DREAM.

Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing to talk about dreams, isn’t it? But we started with that idea and began discussing dreams with the students. Many high school students visit the university, and when they do, I always share this message with them: “For those who have dreams, please realize them at this university. For those who are still searching for their dreams, please find them here. And if you don’t have a dream yet, come study how to find one here.”
Finding a dream isn’t easy. I was 40 years old when I went to study abroad in the U.S., and it was there that I discovered my dream—to make genetic therapy my life’s work. It’s important to recognize when a dream is right in front of you and to have the capability to seize it.

The One Young World Summit brings together next-generation leaders, aged 18 to 32, providing a platform for debate and the exchange of ideas on global societal issues such as war and climate change. It’s an event where young people with a strong awareness of global issues come together, and I believe it serves as an excellent stage for talented individuals to collaborate and seek solutions together. As a representative of Japan, senior students from Okayama University participate, and I believe this is the result of the efforts of my juniors and the high reputation of my alma mater.

Okayama University has been granted participation rights because our actions related to the SDGs and our ongoing commitment to promoting a future-oriented perspective—guided by our empathy for the UN’s goals—have been highly recognized. One Young World, in particular, focuses on the individual. They encourage participants to “think about yourself in 40 years.” This mindset, which emphasizes taking personal responsibility rather than viewing global issues as someone else’s problem, aligns closely with what we’re doing here at Okayama University.

Even after graduation, there is continued communication among the students selected to participate, and from a student’s perspective, I think it’s wonderful that there is a lasting connection where each individual has high hopes for what they can achieve through their actions.

ABABA is a direct recruiting service that allows companies to approach students who have reached final stages of job interviews. Four years ago, a close friend of mine failed the final interview at a company and was deeply hurt by the experience. He struggled to recover from it. Watching him, I realized that more attention needed to be given to the entire process—the efforts and time students invest—rather than just the outcome. I wanted to help him. It was clear that he was an outstanding talent, having reached the final interview with a leading company. My goal was to support people like him, to help them feel more positive about the process, and to protect their mental health.

The issues of discrimination, poverty, and global climate change are all pressing concerns around the world. Many things are happening in different countries. From some of the foreign artists I’ve met, I’ve heard stories of individuals who were involved in conflicts or accidents, suffering from trauma and sleepless nights. I began to wonder why issues that are so clearly in need of change continue to persist. This was just before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and I realized that this was an important moment, a chance to make an impact.
“Not So Different” carries the message that, despite differences in race, culture, and language, we are actually not so different from one another. I wanted to encourage people to connect and understand each other more openly, especially at a time when people from around the world were visiting Japan.

I’d like to emphasize the mindset of fueki ryūkō (the idea of preserving the unchanging while adapting to change). An organization cannot thrive if it doesn’t know what should remain constant and what needs to evolve. Core values—such as those for people and the world—should remain unchanged. However, technical aspects, like digital transformation (DX), must be adapted quickly. We can’t hold onto past successes; change is necessary.

What I want to change is for the world to become a place where people can stay healthy. I want the world to be happy. What I don’t want to change is the warmth of people’s hearts.

In collaboration with a UN organization called the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), we invite young researchers to Okayama University to conduct joint research. These researchers come representing their countries, sharing the knowledge they’ve gained, which they then apply back home. This creates a positive cycle where talented researchers visit Japan, and it is highly recognized by the UN.
Additionally, since Japan lacks abundant natural resources, I hope our students can use their wisdom and creativity to make an impact on the world. From my own experience studying abroad and from what AI has commented, although our races and languages may differ, we are all fundamentally the same. I hope our students learn this lesson from their experiences, and that is my wish as the President.

It all comes down to the fact that not everyone can experience what people like me have abroad. I can say that we are “Not So Different” from the experiences there. Of course, there were times when I faced discrimination, but there are things I learned because I was there. Even when things seem hard, there’s always a new perspective to gain if you push through.
Even if you have different races or languages, when you spend time together, you realize that you’re not so different after all. You suffer, cry, or laugh over the same things. By creating opportunities for people to feel that, I hope to pass on my passion to the next generation.