Parting Words (A Curse) | Jiro Kokuryo, Professor, Faculty of Policy Management / former Vice-President, former Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management
2021.07.13
I thought my "Okashira Diary," which I have been diligently writing for 12 years since becoming the Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management in 2009, was finally over, but I have been given the opportunity to write one more entry.
Since this is a special opportunity, I first thought about writing some reminiscences. There are many things I could write about, such as the difficult times when students were distressed right after the Lehman shock, the challenges with the Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) that I took over from my predecessor (for more on this, please see the interview in the upcoming SFC Journal), the tension after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I'm afraid it would all become a bit sentimental.
Instead, I thought I would use my last bit of influence to offer some parting words (a curse) on what should be done. The first thing that came to mind was to ask all the students, faculty, and staff at SFC, who tend to be drawn to the pull of Tokyo, to cherish their connection with Endo Village in the Koza District and to think about developing together with the local community. For those who love ancient and medieval history, this area was the urban center of Sagami Province, far more developed than Edo, which was just a marshland (or seabed). For people living today, the immediate surroundings are a treasure trove of challenges to be solved, with everything from agriculture to industry. It is also important to participate in the ongoing urban development. We must ensure that the area around the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care (near the planned new station) becomes an intellectual town, unlike the area in front of Shonandai Station, which is dominated by entertainment facilities. But I suppose none of you really want to hear a lecture like this, do you?
So, my final parting words (my curse) are this: "SFC must be fun." Being serious is fine, but innovation won't happen if you're always frowning. We must excitedly try out new technologies and new social systems, and introduce them to society while learning from our failures and making improvements. Located in a remote area, SFC cannot survive by doing ordinary things. Just as Hollywood and Silicon Valley flourished by being mischievous, far from Washington, I want SFC to remain a campus where you can do things that can't be done elsewhere. I hope you will protect the culture of finding even the most outlandish ideas interesting and giving them thought. As the "Okashira," I often had to clean up the messes after people started outlandish projects or got into mischief, which was a lot of work. But since I don't have to do that anymore, I'll say it without hesitation.
Before I move on, I intend to stay at SFC a little longer and enjoy this wonderful campus. I look forward to your continued support.