Memories of Professor Osamu Inoshita | Takeo Kuwahara (Professor, Faculty of Policy Management)

April 11, 2016

On January 4 of this year, Osamu Inoshita, Professor Emeritus (and former professor at the Faculty of Policy Management), passed away.

I first met Professor Inoshita at the Mita Campus when I was a student in the Faculty of Letters. I took his "Social Psychology" course. The class, which was meticulously structured around various studies, drew me into the fascinating field of social psychology. Even back then, he was like a right-hand man to Professor Toshiaki Iseki (then a professor in the Faculty of Letters, former Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management, and now Professor Emeritus), and I also had the opportunity to assist with numerous research projects starting from my graduate school days. One of the signature traits of the "Iseki school" is telling puns that elicit a wry smile, a tradition that Professor Inoshita firmly upheld. I recall many occasions working in an awkward atmosphere created by his jokes.

He was appointed as an associate professor in the Faculty of Policy Management at SFC when it first opened. He was a key figure who led the "Student Course Evaluations," one of SFC's most important flagship initiatives, and had a major impact on the world of education in Japan. In the "Campus Life Satisfaction Survey" project, which was launched soon after, he empirically demonstrated the innovative nature of SFC, greatly enhancing its reputation in the early days. He was also a leading authority on teaching methods and left behind many achievements. His outstanding teaching style, which used group work to encourage student awareness and increase class satisfaction, was truly remarkable. The tradition of "guruwa" (group work), a hallmark of SFC, is built on the foundation that Professor Inoshita laid.

Amid his many activities, he took on the significant responsibility of serving concurrently as the Head of the Shonan Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School starting in April 2003. I remember it like it was yesterday when, at a joint faculty meeting right after stepping down, his first words were a cheerful "I'm back!" That very cheerfulness, paradoxically, hinted at how demanding his duties must have been.

It is deeply regrettable that none of us noticed the progression of his illness and that we had to say goodbye so soon, as we all believed we would have his guidance for much longer. On April 17, a "Memorial Gathering for Professor Inoshita" will be held. I would like to share memories of Professor Inoshita and once again offer my heartfelt gratitude to him.