Encouragement of Academics!

While it is common to master a single path, Professor Furukawa, you studied at the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Letters after graduating from the School of Medicine. What was the driving force behind that?

I had been reading philosophy books since high school, and literature was a subject I wanted to study for a lifetime. Then, after becoming a doctor, I was confronted with the issue of "organ transplantation." At the time, the laws in Japan were not yet established, and patients had no choice but to undergo transplants abroad even though the technology existed domestically. When I tried to advance the discussion, it turned into a religious or philosophical debate about whether "brain death is truly death," and I hit a wall regarding "how to interpret it legally." I realized that medical knowledge alone was not enough to solve this. I felt strongly that unless I could speak from both ethical and legal perspectives, I wouldn't even be able to have a dialogue with them.

While working in the field as a doctor, you began studying through the Keio University Correspondence Courses. Why did you choose Keio University instead of another university?

Ultimately, the "free academic atmosphere" I felt during my time as a medical student was a big factor. You can meet peers with diverse values, not just study. That spirit is the same in Correspondence Courses; when I approached it with the awareness of issues I faced as a working professional, I was able to have deep discussions with the professors, which was very fulfilling. I was certain that this university would respond to my inquisitive spirit.

At the time, I had the opportunity to assist in the surgery of a politician who was hospitalized at Keio University Hospital (hereinafter Keio Hospital), and we were acquainted. When I received an offer to run for office from Saitama Prefecture and consulted him, he strongly encouraged me, saying, "You'll be fine." This was a connection made precisely because I was at Keio Hospital. Since becoming a politician, as someone who knows the realities of medical care and R&D, I have played a role in clearing "bottlenecks" in the system. Because I know the field, there are things that can be solved through politics. This was another wall that could not be overcome through a single specialized field alone.

How do your own experiences influence your current educational activities?

The "Medical Law" I teach at the Faculty of Law is exactly the intersection of medical sciences and law. At other universities, legal experts might teach based only on literature, but at Keio, I can convey living knowledge by including specific examples of "what is happening in the medical field right now". Also, the philosophy and ethics I learned at the Faculty of Letters are indispensable for teaching the essence of "informed consent", which involves understanding the background of a patient's heart. By knowing the world of ethics where there is no single conclusion, doctors can develop a multi-faceted perspective and avoid falling into only their own way of thinking.

The bar exam requires a completely different level of study (compared to the School of Medicine). Since I was working, I didn't even have time to go to a prep school. At that time, I joined the "Judicial Research Room," which any Keio graduate can join. There, juniors who learned I was a senior who had graduated from three faculties gathered all the information from prep schools and handed me a week's worth of summarized materials when I visited on weekends. If it weren't for that, there's no way I would have passed. It was the experience where I felt the greatness of Keio the most.

There are students who come to the School of Medicine "for now" because their test scores are high or because their parents recommended it. However, aptitude for medical care varies from person to person. In fact, some students have talents in engineering or computers. That is why I show them that there are diverse paths beyond being a clinician and tell them, "Have the courage not to become an 'ordinary' doctor." Future medical care needs diverse exits, such as entrepreneurs developing new technologies, experts analyzing data, and people working for international organizations. I want them to realize those possibilities early on.

In modern society, what is the value of learning across academic disciplines?

Problems occurring in reality can never be solved by a single academic field alone. Especially in graduate school studies and after entering society, one is required to use diverse wisdom in a complex way to solve problems. In that respect, Keio University is a very unique place. At the research level, collaboration between faculties is active, such as conducting joint research on surgical robots with the Faculty of Science and Technology, or organizing medical IT projects with the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care and the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at SFC. This is not limited to research.

I studied abroad at a business school in my 40s, and after returning to Japan, I wanted to continue that research, so I knocked on the door of the Keio Business School (KBS). Normally I would be an outsider, but when I negotiated directly with the professor, saying "I really want to study," he accepted me into the seminar, saying "Please come." As long as you have the enthusiasm even after graduating, there is a chance to learn again. After becoming a working professional, the awareness of issues is clearer, so there are more realizations. You can learn together with Keio peers for a lifetime. The gatherings of the Juku are a very precious asset.

Finally, please give a message to the junior and senior high school students aiming for Keio, and the Keio students currently studying at Keio.

First, to the Keio students. Please dig deeper and deeper into the subjects you find interesting, regardless of the faculty. For example, even in a seminar of another faculty, there are no professors at Keio who would tell an enthusiastic student "No, because you're from a certain faculty." That first step will open a new path.

And to everyone aiming for Keio. The future will be a completely different environment from now, with the evolution of AI and changes in international affairs. As Darwin said, "Only those who can change survive". In such an unpredictable life, what you will ultimately need is a philosophy of how you want to live and "human connections". In that regard, I am certain that Keio University is the place that will best meet your expectations.

The era where you are safe as long as you go to a good university that is socially praised is over. Unlike bureaucratic and vertical organizations, Keio University allows for learning that is free to the core. I want you to think seriously about how you want to live and then choose a university. I am waiting for your challenge.