On Symbiosis | Kiyoka Nozue, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care
December 10, 2024
Ethnic conflicts continue to rage around the world, becoming prolonged with no end in sight. The roots of ethnic, religious, and political division and confrontation run so deep that the world is at a loss each time news reports of numerous casualties emerge. Will a path to resolution ever be found?
In a short-term study abroad program scheduled for this coming February, three nursing students from Birzeit University in Palestine will participate, coordinated by Professor Rika Fujiya. Together with students from our Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care and eight universities in five countries, they will learn about, reflect on, and discuss topics such as nursing in conflict zones and the challenges of health disparities. What will they feel, say, and think?
People are diverse. Even if they share the same ethnicity or language, each individual has a different perspective and way of thinking. As long as society is composed of diverse individuals, everyday disputes will arise, and we often experience conflict in our relationships, even if it does not escalate to the level of a conflict. When faced with someone from a different culture or with a different way of thinking, or someone we find difficult to understand, it is hard to feel at ease. We tend to keep our distance, assume we can never understand each other, or convince ourselves that the other person is wrong. However, this is not the way. The path to symbiosis opens when we acknowledge our differences, try to understand them, and accept one another. To foster inclusivity, it is necessary to start from the premise that each person is a unique individual. We must communicate our own feelings and thoughts, understand those of others, and meet halfway by cooperating or compromising. It may be difficult, anxiety-inducing, or feel like a hassle, but I believe it is through this process of effort that mutual understanding and acceptance deepen.
At Shin-Agora #35, "Campus Country," on December 4, there were presentations on community-building projects involving SFC and the surrounding areas. I was moved to see people from various backgrounds—researchers, students, local residents, government, and industry—leveraging their respective strengths and collaborating on these projects. As part of the Sustainable Campus Project (led by Professor Ichinose), Professor Shima Ishikawa of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care reported on the Eco-Cap Campaign—an activity to contribute to the environment by collecting plastic bottle caps with people with disabilities. She mentioned that the students participating in the activity discovered that people with disabilities are not special beings different from themselves, but that they share common ground. I thought this realization must have come from working together toward a common goal, facing challenges, and sharing joys. When diverse people interact and collaborate with a purpose, the mental barriers we thought existed gradually disappear, giving rise to mutual support and learning. I believe this is how symbiosis is achieved. Many other exciting activities were also underway, and all the reports were wonderful, allowing us to dream of the realization of a symbiotic society. Thank you very much.