Keio University Honorary Doctorate Conferral Ceremony Speech

It was in mid-May 2025 that Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Japan, informed President Kohei Itoh of the possibility of a visit to the Juku by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. President von der Leyen was elected President of the European Commission in 2019 after serving as Germany's Minister of Defense, among other roles. She originally began her career as a physician, but returned to study public health before transitioning into politics. Since becoming President, she has been one of the world's leading figures, tackling numerous challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of crises threatening economic security, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and tariff negotiations with the United States.

Based on the recognition that President von der Leyen's courageous approach to various policy issues, grounded in her expertise and experience in medical sciences and public health, aligns with the goals of the Graduate School of Media and Governance—which researches and proposes policies from a comprehensive perspective—the school decided to confer an honorary doctorate upon her visit.

During her brief visit to Japan, President von der Leyen visited the Mita Campus on July 23, 2025, and delivered a speech at the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), where students, faculty, staff, and ambassadors from EU countries had gathered. The President demonstrated a deep understanding of Keio University and Yukichi Fukuzawa, and delivered a message to the students living in the modern era. The following is the full translation.

(Motohiro Tsuchiya, Vice-President of Keio University)

President Kohei Itoh, Vice-President Yoshimitsu Matsuura, Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Governance Kazunori Takashio, Vice-Presidents, faculty and staff, students, ambassadors, and distinguished guests: I am deeply honored to receive this honorary doctorate from Keio University.

When I look at the names of the great individuals who have received this honor before me—President of the European Commission Jacques Delors, German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, Dr. Andrei Sakharov, and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru—I am reminded once again of how special this conferral is. It also speaks volumes about the status and influence of Keio University as Japan's first modern educational institution. This university is both a historic institution and a truly global one.

Your founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa, served as a member of Japan's first diplomatic missions to Europe and the United States. He founded this university as a bridge between East and West to spread both language and knowledge. This spirit has been passed down as your university's great mission and tradition to this day.

I bring up Yukichi Fukuzawa first not just because he is the founder of this great university, or because he was the thinker and architect who shaped modern Japan. Rather, it is because his life and writings offer many insights into the world in which the students graduating today will live.

Throughout all his works, there is a central idea that runs through themes such as civilization, education, and political systems. It is the "pursuit of independence," meaning both individual independence and national independence. He believed that this freedom and independence were the cornerstones of modern society and the prerequisite for building strong and resilient nations and continents. As you know, this is one of the central concepts in his masterpiece, "An Outline of a Theory of Civilization." We will soon celebrate the 150th anniversary of its publication.

Anniversaries are an excellent opportunity to reflect on the past and the present. The end of the 19th century was a time when the seeds of regional conflict were sown and a new era of imperialism began. Wars and struggles for spheres of influence would push the world to the brink of destruction decades later. Yet, at the same time, societies in some parts of the world were beginning to transform dramatically. With the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, the very nature of society—manufacturing, transportation, and communication—began to change. New innovations and technologies emerged that would greatly influence the course of humanity.

What I want to say here is that there are clear parallels between [the late 19th century when Yukichi Fukuzawa lived] and our current era. From the return of spheres of influence to the rise of technologies that determine the future of humanity, we share commonalities ranging from the presence of imminent and grave threats to the existence of abundant opportunities, just as they did 150 years ago. What we face today, especially the students in this Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), is how to live through this turning point in history.

As I look out at the unstable world situation around us, I am convinced that for both Europe and Japan, the answer lies in the teachings of Yukichi Fukuzawa. That is the pursuit of "freedom" and "independence."

Friends, freedom and independence are sometimes perceived as words from a bygone era. However, I use these words after careful consideration. My starting point for discussion is not a world in the memories of generations past, but facing the reality of the world today. We must look directly at the challenges we face at this turning point in history. I believe that this era we are in—and how we respond to it—will determine the course of this century.

That is why we must not simply be shaken by the dramatic changes we face. Otherwise, we will once again be at the mercy of the "illusion" that the storm will eventually pass. That is, the illusion that things will return to normal as long as a war in a certain region ends, as long as tariff negotiations are settled, or as long as a different direction is taken in the next election. The reason is that the geopolitical undercurrents are too strong. The very foundations of our security and prosperity are too unstable.

That is why I believe it is time to build a new form of freedom and independence for the 21st century. We must focus on taking responsibility for our own defense and security, concentrate on creating a new economic and industrial model that will be the foundation of our prosperity, and work to protect the values that are the basis of democracy and freedom.

In security, prosperity, and democracy—in all of these, Europe is now moving forward. In recent weeks and months, we have made proposals for defense investment at levels that would have been unthinkable just a year or two ago. We have also proposed plans to put industry and innovation, technology and science at the heart of our economy in a way that matches that investment. And we work every day to protect our democracy from the growing threats it faces—threats such as the rise of illiberalism at home and attempts by hostile forces aimed at destabilizing us.

However, I want to clarify what independence is and what it means for partnerships with close friends like Europe and Japan. Independence, in its essence, is having the freedom and ability to choose our own future; it is about breaking dependencies and compensating for vulnerabilities. And I want to dispel the myth that independence is an inward-looking strategy, or a retreat within one's own borders. It is quite the opposite. The relationship and partnership between Europe and Japan is a perfect example. Even if we are geographically distant and face different challenges, the threats we must address are many and shared. Both Europe and Japan see the world around them as a place where protectionist impulses are rising, weaknesses are weaponized, and every dependency is exploited. Therefore, it is only natural for two like-minded partners to unite to make each other stronger. Not only to build our own independence, but to strengthen each other's independence.

For example, in the face of unfair competition, we are coordinating on economic security to make our supply chains resilient. To ensure we never face shortages of critical materials, Europe and Japan are building a "Competitiveness Alliance" to diversify sources and prevent single actors from tying our hands. By investing in each other's security, we increase the credibility of deterrence and sustain stability. Furthermore, by cooperating on initiatives such as clean technology and digital innovation, a future will be built by partners who share values and interests.

The important thing is to resist the instinct to turn inward when the future is uncertain. We resist raising walls and closing our minds. Because that is the wrong choice. Cooperating with others is a sign of strength. That is how we build our own independence.

In trade, for example, we are trying to rebuild our trade relationship with the United States on a firmer footing. However, we also know that 87% of world trade takes place with countries other than the United States, and many of those countries are seeking opportunities for stability and growth. My visit to Japan this time is precisely to deepen such relationships. Countries all over the world—India, Indonesia, South America, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, and more—are seeking cooperation with Europe. These are only some of those countries.

In short, we are all pursuing our respective strength and independence, but we can only achieve that strength and independence by working together.

Distinguished guests, students, guided by these thoughts, I speak to this prestigious university, and above all, to the students who have gathered through the doors of this Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) today.

If there is one message I want to convey today, it is none other than what the founder of this university, Yukichi Fukuzawa, championed long ago: that your responsibility extends far beyond the threshold of your own home.

Thirty years ago, I returned to university to earn a Master's degree in public health. As a physician, I was trained to focus on the patient in front of me, their symptoms and treatment, and their individual needs. However, public health required a broadening of perspective. You look at wider patterns, not just the individual patient. You shift your perspective from "How can I save this person?" to "How can I help everyone?"

I still remember one of the first lessons I learned: your health depends on my health, and my health depends on yours. At the time, I only understood it as a theory. Thirty years later, I did not expect that lesson to become a reality, something urgent and personal. Much less did I expect that as a result of Europe uniting to overcome a global pandemic, I would be here today receiving this honorary doctorate in front of you.

When the pandemic hit Europe, millions of European citizens rolled up their sleeves to help their neighbors. Europeans protected their communities. They did so across all of Europe. In the first two years of the pandemic, we delivered 1 billion doses of vaccines within the European Union (EU). At the same time, we provided 1.4 billion doses to 150 countries outside the region. We became the world's largest supplier of COVID-19 vaccines. At the time, many people mocked this approach. But this was our responsibility.

I have one final message for the students of Keio University. In a university like this, surrounded by people from all parts of the world, you must understand that your actions extend far beyond your own inner circle. Your research on climate change might protect a coastal town you have never visited. Your biomedical discovery might affect a patient on a distant continent. That is what it means to be part of a global community. When you fulfill your responsibility to others, others will also fulfill their responsibility to you.

This is the story of Europe and Japan, and the message Yukichi Fukuzawa left to the world. And it is a story that every student of this university should take to heart as they embark on the new chapters of their lives.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this honor. Long live Keio University. Long live the partnership and friendship between Europe and Japan.

(As noted at the beginning, this text is the full Japanese translation of the speech delivered by Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at the ceremony for the conferral of an honorary doctorate from Keio University held at the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) on July 23, 2025. The translation was provided by Motohiro Tsuchiya, Vice-President of Keio University. The English text can be viewed here.)