Q&A with the President

Q: Do you have any stories of failure? (Nishide)

Itoh: Wow, that's a tough one to start with (laughs). Yes, of course I do. Since becoming president, my days have been nonstop. When things get busy, I sometimes forget about my online meetings. This is especially risky when I'm traveling by car. To be honest, it's happened about three times already, so I owe a few people an apology.

The thing is, whenever I'm sitting in the back seat of a car, I get lost in thought. I immerse myself in lots of thought experiments, using that time to sort through the challenges Keio is facing, or to think about how the university should keep evolving for students. Once a good idea pops into my head, other thoughts keep unfolding, one after another. Before I realize it, time has flown by, and by that time, sometimes the meeting is already over. It might sound like an excuse, but let me just say that it’s not me getting distracted or being careless. Still, I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize again to anyone whom I’ve inconvenienced.

Nishide: I'm just surprised to hear that even someone like you makes mistakes like that.

Itoh: To avoid this kind of thing, I've been trying not to do everything myself. I really rely on the Keio faculty and staff members and the Keio trustees who support me every day.

When I was Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, I think I felt like I had to handle everything on my own. Then, at the worst possible time, I ended up sick and in the hospital during our busiest time: entrance exam season. As Dean, I was worried about how things would turn out without me, but the exams went smoothly. That experience really drove home how much I can rely on the people around me. It also reminded me of just how grateful I am to have friends and colleagues I can trust. I should also add that this includes my family, who support me behind the scenes.

Q: What kind of entertainment have you enjoyed recently? (Miyake)

Itoh: I've always loved movies and reading. I still go to the cinema when I can, and I really look forward to watching movies on the plane during business trips. I also try to keep up with Academy Award–winning films.

If I had to pick one movie that really left an impression, it would be Forrest Gump. It follows the life of a kind-hearted man with a disability, and his story is woven into the fabric of modern American history. It came out in 1994 and won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It was made before most of you were born, but if you ever get the chance, I really recommend watching it.

More recently, I enjoyed the latest Mission: Impossible film and the much-talked-about Japanese movie Kokuho. I also went to see the stage production of The Voyage of Revolt, starring my friend Ken Ishiguro. It's based on a novel and focuses on a movement to save a university dormitory. There's something special about watching actors perform live—it's a very different experience from film. On a past business trip to the U.S., I even managed to squeeze in a Broadway musical.

Miyake: How about novels?

Itoh: There are too many to name (laughs). But 2025 was the 100th anniversary of Yukio Mishimas birth and 55 years since his death. He's known for serious literary works like Confessions of a Mask, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and the four-volume The Sea of Fertility, but he also wrote lighter, more playful novels like Natsuko's Adventure and Life for Sale. I think even younger readers today would enjoy them just as much.

This isn't entertainment, per se, but since last year marked 80 years since the end of World War II, I went back and reread books on the war by historian Yoko Kato. During the war, Keio suffered heavy damage from air raids, and many of the students who were mobilized lost their lives on the battlefield. As someone responsible for an educational institution with so many young people—and as an educator—I think it's important to keep thinking about what war means, even today.

Q: Is there a country you'd like to visit someday? (Yoshioka)

Itoh: I've been lucky to visit many countries for work and travel, but there are still plenty I haven’t seen. Turkey is one of them. I'd really love to go if I get the chance.

My wife loves mosaics in traditional decorative art, so we've always talked about seeing real Turkish mosaics together. There's a museum in southeastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, that's said to be the largest in the world. Right now, it's not very safe, but I hope we can visit someday.

I also enjoy skiing, and I have this dream of spending about a week skiing at a big resort in Europe, maybe in Switzerland. Realistically, it'll have to wait until after my time as Keio president, so I'm saving it for the future.

Yoshioka: Do you have any food dislikes when you travel abroad?

Itoh: Not really. Some people bring Japanese food or soy sauce with them, but I'm happy eating local food anywhere. Trying local cuisine is one of the best things about traveling.

When I studied abroad on the West Coast of the U.S. in graduate school, I enjoyed all the rich, greasy food—probably because I was young. These days, after dealing with some health issues, I'm more careful about balance. Staying healthy is part of the job, after all.

Actually, that reminds me of a food-related failure connected to your first question. Once when I was in Germany, I wanted to buy a bottle of local beer. Then I realized I didn't have a bottle opener. I ended up giving up, and I still regret it whenever I think about it (laughs).

Q: Why did you choose to become a researcher? (Yoshioka)

Itoh: I originally planned on becoming a businessman. In my last year of high school, I thought about studying at the Faculty of Economics, but when I talked it over with my father, he told me that I could always learn economics in graduate school and advised me to study technology as an undergraduate.

I wasn't entirely convinced, but I also thought he might be right—that specialized education in science and engineering is something you're better off getting while you’re still young. Swayed by my father's advice, I ended up enrolling in the Faculty of Science and Technology. I didn’t dislike science, but it wasn’t until I started doing real research in my fourth year that I got hooked. Before I knew it, I’d forgotten all about becoming a businessman (laughs).

I later studied at the University of California, Berkeley, earning my master's and doctoral degrees, and eventually became a researcher in solid-state physics and quantum computing. So, when people ask why I became a researcher, all I can really say is: because I enjoy it. It’s fun. It’s interesting. That’s the biggest reason.

Yoshioka: That's really encouraging to hear for students who are job hunting.

Itoh: I know job hunting can feel stressful for many students, but right now it's a seller's market that favors job seekers. I think the best form of job hunting is to focus on what you love and follow what genuinely interests you. My own life wasn’t carefully planned. I just chose what felt right in each moment. Looking back, I am who I am today because of it, and I’m glad I made the choices I did.

Q: What's most important for living in the AI era? (Nishide)

Itoh: Keep learning. I know that sounds obvious, but that's really it.

Yukichi Fukuzawa began exploring rangaku, or "Western learning," at 19 and continued to learn throughout his thirties during a very turbulent time in Japan's history from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji Era. He spent his days searching for the role he should play in Japan's modernization. About 160 years later, we're living through another period of major change with AI. I hope the younger generation will have the same commitment to keep learning like Fukuzawa did.

Indeed, the remarkable evolution of AI has had a significant impact on our daily lives. The use of generative AI has spread so quickly over the past few years that tools like ChatGPT are now completely normal for students to use. From a historical point of view, its impact may rival that of the Industrial Revolution. As an educational institution, we also recognize that improving educational and research environments for the post-AI-revolution generation is a critical priority we must continue to address. But AI is still just a tool. The true protagonists of civilization are human beings.

Nishide: That makes sense.

Itoh: Right? Human beings themselves haven't evolved all that much since the beginning of recorded history. There is likely little difference in fundamental intelligence and ability between people of the Edo period and those of today. While we must look to the future beyond the AI revolution, it is equally important for educational and research institutions to reflect on what it truly means to be human.

To that end, while keeping pace with these new trends, we aim to leverage our strengths as a comprehensive university to create an environment that responds to the diverse curiosity and spirit of inquiry that each and every one of our students possesses as a human being. A university is, in essence, a "theme park of knowledge." Beyond classes and laboratories, it includes study abroad programs, clubs, and student organizations. I hope students will make full use of these diverse "attractions" in ways that align with their own curiosity and aspirations. As for the AI in question, we also launched the AI and Advanced Programming Consortium (AIC) in 2019 to help students learn AI independently. The AIC allows university students—and even junior high and high school students—to lead the AI revolution and work on projects with industry partners.

And learning shouldn't stop when you graduate. We must also build systems that allow Keio alumni to return to graduate school to advance their careers or pursue new paths. I hope that Keio University will continue to be an institution that supports lifelong learners.

Q: What value can Keio University create in today’s world? (Morii)

Itoh: With 10 undergraduate faculties and 14 graduate schools, Keio University is a comprehensive university and a "theme park of knowledge" that can create value across a broad range of fields.

And like I said earlier, AI is only a tool. While research on AI itself remains important, I am particularly interested in how scholars in different disciplines use AI to deepen their research and work toward a better world. Advanced technologies, of course, have the potential to create a more peaceful world and make our lives richer and more convenient. Additionally, meaningful research is progressing in medicine, social welfare, the social sciences, and the humanities—all contributing to society and shaping the future.

Morii: Perhaps we students should learn more about these kinds of research.

Itoh: Right now, we're releasing researcher introduction videos for some faculties on the Keio website. Every time I watch one, I catch myself thinking, "Wow, I didn't realize they were doing research like this," and I get genuinely excited. If you watch these videos, you'll see that Keio researchers are working across a wide range of fields. Of course, that includes advanced technologies like AI, but it also includes area studies, international exchange, social welfare, and work focused on supporting vulnerable communities. In all these areas, Keio researchers are taking leading roles and carrying out diverse research aimed at building a better society.

As a first step, why not take another look at what the faculty members in your own department are researching? And if you have the time, I think it's also interesting to look beyond your own faculty—to see what kinds of researchers there are in other faculties, what they're trying to achieve, and what kinds of research they're pursuing.

Q: What is the value of our humanity and a liberal education in the age of AI? (Morii)

Itoh: That’s an excellent question. Today, whether you're a faculty member or a student, everyone is being asked to think for themselves about how they engage with AI and to make their own judgments. For universities as educational and research institutions, this makes it more important than ever to rethink the value of our humanity and a liberal education in the age of AI. This is something I personally think about every day.

Morii: Does Keio have any specific initiatives related to that?

Itoh: Yes, of course! In July 2024, building on Keio's long tradition of practical human studies, we established the X Dignity Center, an interdisciplinary research center for the humanities, within the Keio University Global Research Institute (KGRI).

With the rapid development of technology in recent years, including AI, many boundaries have started to blur. The lines between machines and humans, virtual and real, domestic and global, and even between the humanities and sciences are no longer clear. We're living in a world where everything intersects—a crossroads—which is why we use the letter X. In this context, the core goal of the X Dignity Center is to return to first principles and ask some very basic but fundamental questions: What does it mean to be human? And what kind of beings should we be? The concept of human dignity is at the center of that inquiry.

The Center is grounded in approaches from the humanities and social sciences, but it also actively collaborates with fields in science and technology. Beyond that, it places strong emphasis on crossing into industry and civil society as well. One of its important missions is to extend what we call an "academic chain," a continuous flow of knowledge, throughout society as a whole. Through interdisciplinary research and development, the X Dignity Center explores the value of humanity and liberal education in the age of AI, as well as the question of human dignity itself. I hope students will pay close attention to the center and their findings.


Q: What should students keep in mind during their time at university? (Miyake)

Itoh: Get to know lots of real people. These days, generative AI is very good at agreeing with users and making them feel comfortable. But don't spend all your time talking with an obedient AI while you’re at university. Interact with the many kinds of real people on campus.

I think most students, once they enter Keio, meet types of people they've never encountered before. Some of them might be people you don’t get along with easily, or people whose values are completely different from your own. As humans, we naturally tend to stick with people who feel similar to us. And I get it—dealing with friends whose opinions you don't agree with can be annoying. Whether it's face-to-face conversations or interactions on social media, it can sometimes feel stressful.

But in fact, if you want to broaden your perspective and grow as a person, friends you don't get along with—or don't agree with—are incredibly valuable. The reason is simple: once you enter society, you'll find yourself building consensus every single day with people who hold different views from your own.

Miyake: So, you're saying that it's important to intentionally engage with people who think differently.

Itoh: Exactly. If you really think about it, most work in society comes down to consensus building, which means finding ways to reconcile diverse opinions. By having lots of opportunities during your student years to discuss issues with people who think differently—in classes, seminars, clubs, or other activities—you're training yourself in a skill that will be useful in almost any job. When you engage with different viewpoints and make an effort to understand others, you also become more aware of the limits of your own perspective. That can be uncomfortable. You might feel discouraged or frustrated at times. But the new perspectives you gain over multiple discussions will, without a doubt, help you grow in a big way.

I'd like to create educational programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels where students can experience the process of consensus building firsthand. They don't necessarily have to be part of a formal curriculum. They could be extracurricular activities instead. From organizations and civil society to international politics, I believe the challenges we face today cannot be solved by a single charismatic figure. They can only be solved through a consensus-building process that brings together the wisdom of many.

Miyake: That applies to conflicts like the wars in Ukraine and Palestine, too, doesn't it?

Itoh: Absolutely. Training people who are skilled at building consensus is one of the most important contributions an educational and research institution can make to society. These are the people who can help build a peaceful and prosperous world. Supporting their growth at Keio is both my dream and my mission.

(Date of interview: October 30, 2025)

*This article originally appeared in the 2026 Winter edition (No. 329) of Juku.