Guided by the Spirit of Scholarship: Questioning the Meaning of Life in the Modern Age

My interest in Russia began when I was in junior high school. I was moved by the book *Stalin*, written by Shinji Yokote, a former professor at Keio University, and I became determined to enter Keio to study Russia.

In the Okushi Seminar, to which I belong, I am researching the issue of Kazakhstan. In the 1920s, Kazakhstan was annexed by the Soviet Union and colonized, but in fact, the Soviet Union also provided education to raise literacy rates and established the framework for public institutions in Kazakhstan. In a sense, it can be said that policies were also implemented to foster a national identity. When I learn that such facts existed, beyond just the question of good and evil, I find history to be very fascinating.

I am also interested in human thought. I am interested in how the ideas that shaped figures like Stalin influenced their era, and how they connect to the times we live in today. I believe that whatever you study, it can only be called 'living scholarship' once it connects to the way we live our lives today.

One of the charms of Keio University is the natural atmosphere where both faculty and students 'learn together.' This is the spirit of 'learning while teaching, teaching while learning.' Furthermore, the library (Media Center) is very well-equipped, and you can access a vast collection of books while receiving advice from professors with deep knowledge.

I feel every day that this university, where one can pursue learning, is the best possible environment.