Reflections on a Certain Day | Kazunori Takashio, Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Governance
I cannot afford to collapse until this day is over.
November and December are months where a grueling schedule continues every year, including weekends, with the Bangaku Expo, graduate school entrance exams, and academic conferences. Perhaps relieved to have finished an important role on a certain day, I literally broke down in a big way last weekend. My body is just too easy to read. Fortunately, the diagnosis was not the flu or anything similar, but my physical strength is being slowly drained by a terrible cough, a slight fever, and a headache that strikes every time my head is shaken. In this day and age, I cannot appear in public in such a state, so I canceled all in-person appointments. I also switched my classes to online. To everyone who adjusted their schedules for my convenience, I am truly sorry. Since I am writing in this condition, I don't think the text is coherent at all. I apologize.
Now, the event held on that "certain day" was the "Memorial Service for Professor Hideo Aiso." It goes without saying, but after being appointed as a professor at the Keio University Faculty of Engineering in 1971, Professor Aiso played a central role in the establishment of SFC in the 1980s, and served as the first Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies (1990–) and the first Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Governance (1994–). Even after retiring from Keio University, he served as the President of the Tokyo University of Technology for many years, devoting himself to developing the research environment and enhancing education in new interdisciplinary fields. He was truly a great figure. On September 7, while the summer heat still lingered, Professor Aiso passed away. He was 93 years old. First, I would like to express my deep gratitude for his kindness during his lifetime and sincerely pray for the repose of his soul.
Immediately after the news arrived, his family expressed their wish to "visit the deceased and SFC once things have settled down." At that time, I did not think it would become such a large gathering, but thanks to the efforts of Professor Tokoro, Professor Tokuda, and other alumni of the Aiso Laboratory, the memorial service at SFC became a reality.
I am of the last generation to have directly taken Professor Aiso's lectures at Hiyoshi and Yagami. The "Fundamentals of Computers" course I took in my second year of undergraduate studies opened my eyes and was the catalyst for me to step into the world of computing. That said, I did not have a direct relationship with Professor Aiso at SFC; I had only met him and spoken with him a few times through connections with seniors. He was truly a person above the clouds. And yet, I was asked to serve as the moderator for the service.
Through several meetings, a minute-by-minute schedule was created (though, this being this industry, there was no way a minute-by-minute schedule would be kept... omitted). Just looking at the names of the organizers and the people speaking on the day made me tense up. Feeling the pressure of the words "We need Mr. Takashio to stay healthy until the day," I welcomed the morning of December 6.
A tree-planting ceremony was held in the morning. While the deans of both faculties, current faculty and staff, many people from within Keio and outside, and Professor Aiso's family looked on, we all planted an "apricot" tree in front of the Main Building (Alpha Building). The family explained, "Professor Aiso liked apricots because they bloom with cute and beautiful flowers, and above all, the fact that the professor loved sweets was the reason for choosing this tree." I hope it takes root in this land and watches over us with warm eyes forever.
After a chat during the luncheon, it was finally time for the memorial service itself. Nearly 300 people had registered by the previous day, and the venue, Omega Building Room 11, was full. It was also broadcast online. The setup and operation of the venue, as well as the logistics on the day, were assisted by members of Professor Nakazawa's and Professor Ogoshi's laboratories and their students. As always, I am simply grateful for the mobility of both laboratories. The service proceeded in a solemn, slightly somber atmosphere, starting with the opening remarks by Dean Ichinose, a moment of silence, and memorial addresses by former President Anzai and Mr. Mitani. Up until this point.
After the reading of condolence telegrams, the atmosphere changed completely when seven alumnae and alumni of the Aiso Lab took the stage to share their memories. Originally, there was a wish from the seniors that they "didn't want it to be too somber a gathering," and as the moderator, I kept that in mind, but there was no need to worry. Everyone sharing their memories spoke about Professor Aiso vividly and with a full smile, as if it had happened yesterday. As the moderator, I was restless about the time, but I ended up feeling like "Oh well." I wanted to keep listening to their stories forever. It was a time when I could once again feel the greatness of Professor Aiso. Professor Murai calls such a connection among those involved with the Aiso Lab the "Aiso Family." In a Facebook post, Professor Murai wrote, "The academicism of the Aiso Family is amazing. 'Doing what you shouldn't do' is exactly what research is, and it is the mission of academicism. I was saved." This was likely the very lesson from Professor Aiso that the participants, including myself, gained once again that day.
In his condolence telegram, President Ito described the news of Professor Aiso's passing as "the fall of a giant star." To reiterate, I believe I am of the last generation that was able to directly take Professor Aiso's classes at the Faculty of Science and Technology. By the time I was invited to SFC by chance, Professor Aiso had already moved to the Tokyo University of Technology, but the SFC mind he built remained on campus in various forms. Even now, the "Aiso Award" is presented to outstanding graduates of the Master's Program of the Graduate School of Media and Governance, alongside the "Kato Award." Next spring, several more graduates will join the ranks of "Aiso Award" recipients. I shall promise the professor to protect and develop this campus, where people from diverse fields cooperate and continue to open new doors.
As noted at the end of the booklet distributed on the day, there is a message to us, his juniors, in the summary of "My Research Career (Part 3)" that Professor Aiso contributed to the Signal Processing Society.
"I have experienced firsthand that it is important for educators and researchers to always hold a 'vision and dream' that is useful for the development of scholarship and the evolution of society, and to strive with all their might to realize it. This way of thinking is likely universal in any era. I look forward to the inspiration and indomitable spirit of young educators and researchers."
(Quoted from Hideo Aiso, My Research Career (Part 3), Journal of the Signal Processing Society, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp. 369-383, September 2012.)
When I read this sentence after the memorial service ended, I felt as if the professor was cheering me on, saying, "Enough with the old stories, go create the future!"
It was that kind of day.
P.S.
Timely enough, valuable archival footage from the founding of SFC has been digitized in 4K and uploaded to YouTube. If you watch this as well, you might be able to touch upon the roots of SFC once again.
There is only a little left of 2025. Everyone, please use me as a negative example, stay healthy, and have a happy new year.