Autumn Entrance Ceremony | Jiro Kokuryo (Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management)

2010.10.04

My series of ceremonies in September as dean began with the graduation ceremony. SFC has adopted a semester system, and with students enrolling and graduating in September, this is how the schedule works out. A system with two admissions per year, in spring and autumn, is quite a laborious arrangement for faculty and staff, as it means we have to conduct a series of events like entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, and entrance examinations twice a year. (For example, I myself must teach the introductory course under the dean's direct supervision for new students right after their enrollment twice a year, in the spring and autumn semesters). Nevertheless, the reason we continue this with a strong sense of purpose is that enabling September enrollment and graduation makes it easier for international students and returnees from overseas to come, playing a crucial role in making SFC a campus open to the world. And it's not just students from overseas; students from within Japan also join us, adding a touch of diversity to the campus.

I believe that the question of how to translate diversity into vitality is a challenge not just for SFC, but for Japan as a whole. Post-war Japan can be described as a society that, against a backdrop of relative homogeneity, has been able to move things forward through tacit understanding. When what needed to be done was relatively clear, this was efficient. Leaders simply needed to move forward while valuing overall harmony and addressing minor issues as they arose. In such a culture, individuals who do things differently tend to be seen as a threat for disrupting the harmony. Therefore, as a way of getting by in the world, it was considered correct to be like everyone else and avoid standing out as much as possible.

However, in times like these, with great change and an uncertain future, the contributions of unconventional talents who are not bound by conventional wisdom are what is truly anticipated.

In terms of nurturing and leveraging unconventional talent, I believe SFC has done quite well within Japan. Even with students who might be criticized by society for "lacking common sense," we have continuously encouraged them to break free from the shell of convention, think for themselves, and act on their own responsibility. This has become firmly rooted as our culture. To do this requires faculty and staff to have the capacity and patience to deal with the various happenings that unconventional talents sometimes cause, which is also a great challenge. But when successful alumni return to campus and say things like, "Looking back, I realize I would have been crushed if I hadn't been at SFC during my student years," all the hardship vanishes.

But I believe we must not be satisfied with the status quo. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, the temptation to play it safe and avoid trouble is great. We must reaffirm that the cutting edge is always heterodox and continue to evolve an environment where unconventional talents can emerge and grow from diversity. To all the students who enrolled in September: you may face hardships as a minority, but SFC has an astonishing array of resources and a culture that embraces challenges. I hope you will make full use of them and spread your wings to soar high.

(Published on: 2010/10/04)