Revenge | Fumitoshi Kato, Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Governance
December 21, 2021
Apparently, the big clean-up of the club room building has been successfully completed. For nearly two years, students' extracurricular activities have been severely restricted. Since access to the campus itself was forbidden, the club rooms remained sealed off without any ventilation during that time. It was as if they had been holding their breath for a while. Unfortunately, due to this long period of dormancy, it seems some clubs are finding it difficult to resume their activities. The situation is improving, and this clean-up is likely part of the preparations for the next academic year. It was a rather drastic cleaning, and one could even say that, in the process, 30 years' worth of grime was swept away. While there is much to resent about COVID-19, it may have given us the push to decisively dispose of things and matters that had been neglected for a long time.
Last year marked our 30th anniversary. The students from the early days, when the campus was still taking shape—when they commuted to a campus that was literally "under construction"—are still connected by strong bonds after graduation. This is because they share the experience of having witnessed the birth and growth of the campus. To be honest, while I respect the sense of unity forged while "under construction," I have always felt a sense of alienation. Perhaps it's a little bit of jealousy. There is a constant flow of people coming and going on campus. I wish our sense of unity had a broader reach. That's why the 30-year clean-up might be a commemorative event.
The long-running "Autumn Festival" will be held for the last time this year, and from the next academic year, a merged executive committee will aim to hold a "Tanabata Festival." I believe this is not unrelated to the impact of COVID-19, but when things are continued just for the sake of continuation, it's time to reconsider. We need to carefully organize not only our rooms but also our emotions. I've been thinking recently that if we make a clean break and shift our mindset, we might be able to return to that "under construction" mindset from back then. At a site near the club room building, construction has begun on the student dormitory for Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future), creating a real "under construction" landscape.
On the TV news, I've started hearing the term "revenge spending." As a backlash to nearly two years of forced patience, the number of people in town is increasing. It's not a bad thing for daily life to be revitalized through shopping, travel, and dining. Naturally, students' "revenge" has also begun. Are they first heading to meet friends, plan trips, or engage in "extracurricular activities" like clubs and circles? If it's clear what has been lost, it's a very natural course of action to try to reclaim it. Needless to say, the primary duty of students is their academic work. Therefore, I hope they will come to campus with a fresh mindset and devote themselves to "revenge studying."
What is "revenge" for me?
I was able to start using the Dean's office of the Graduate School in the fall of two years ago. I asked to have the reception set that was originally provided as standard equipment removed. "Reception" just felt too formal. I went to IKEA, bought a large table and five chairs, and carried them in and assembled them quietly by myself. The atmosphere of the room changed considerably. For the first few months, the table served its purpose, as I gathered around it to talk with the associate deans and hold preliminary meetings for graduate school conferences. However, soon after the new year began, we were at the mercy of COVID-19, and the newly purchased table and chairs have been sitting unused for nearly two years. In that sense, it's just like the club rooms that remained unopened.
For me, "revenge" is communication. In my role, I listen to "petitions" and "accusations," and I also conduct "notifications" and "hearings." There is a lot of tedious coordination. As soon as one thing settles, the next one comes along. But I originally bought the large table with the intention of relaxing and chatting casually and freely with colleagues. Even if there's no particular agenda, exchanging stories about small, everyday events makes our connections with others more solid. Yet, with the momentum of COVID-19 and the shift to online, I've realized that this "blank space" time has been completely stripped away. I want to sweep away all excuses and grievances and welcome the new year with a true "under construction" mindset. This is the beginning of a "revenge" that wagers on rich and varied communication.
It's a bit early, but thank you for all your support this year. There are many things to think about and many things to do, but I wish you good health in both mind and body. Please have a wonderful new year.