From SFC to Kasumigaseki, to the Front Lines of Policy Making | Motohiro Tsuchiya, Vice-President / Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance

In the past, I feel that Keio University graduates did not often aim to become national public servants. I am not saying this based on data, but in the Showa era, it was taken for granted that graduates of national universities would aim for national public service.

However, today, more Keio University graduates are becoming national public servants than before. Symbolically, the Administrative Vice-Ministers of Defense have been Keio University alumni for two consecutive generations, Mr. Kazuo Masuda and Mr. Taro Yamato, and the Ambassador to the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shigeo Yamada, is also a Keio University alumni. Mr. Takashi Kawahara, who will soon be appointed Prosecutor General after serving as Vice-Minister of Justice, is also a Keio University alumni.

Since even the first-generation graduates of SFC are still in their mid-50s, it will likely be a little longer before we see a class of executives in the ministries of Kasumigaseki, where national government ministries are located. However, it may not be that far off.

The other day, I had the opportunity to have a dialogue with Ms. Kazumi Ogasawara, a first-generation graduate who works at the National Police Agency. She taught at the Faculty of Policy Management from 2020 to 2022. This year's first-year students in the Faculty of Policy Management should have had the opportunity to listen to her speech in the "Introduction to Policy Management" class as well.

The dialogue (Japanese Only) was for the July 2026 issue of Mita-Hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press), and I spoke with her in May. It was originally scheduled for about an hour, but the conversation was so lively that it lasted for three hours. According to an editor, it seems to be the longest dialogue at Mita-Hyoron. Due to space limitations, the published dialogue is only the essence, and it is a pity that the whole thing could not be included. However, even just the essence will convey the interest and excellence of her experience.

Inherently, since it is the Faculty of Policy Management, it would be better to be closer to the front lines of policy planning, formation, implementation, and evaluation. In that respect, SFC's location might be slightly disadvantageous. Nevertheless, many graduates, led by first-generation student like Ms. Ogasawara, are working in Kasumigaseki and in Ichigaya, where the Ministry of Defense is located. When I talk to senior-level people in various ministries, they often say, "SFC graduates have interesting ideas and great execution skills."

The other day, I was invited to a meeting and gave a short talk. After it ended, a young person approached me, and I thought they were a reporter, but they were from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When I asked what they needed, they said they were an SFC graduate and told me, "I took your class while I was a student," which surprised me. They apparently came specifically to listen, which I am grateful for.

Ms. Ogasawara experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake at her first assignment after training. She stated, "Seeing the police officers and staff of the Hyogo Prefectural Police rushing to the scene to engage in rescue and search activities, putting aside their own concerns and those of their families, I felt a real sense of mission as a police officer."

While I was writing this manuscript, an earthquake occurred in Kumamoto. There might be SFC graduates there. I want to pray for their safety. And I want them to be someone who helps others by exercising the power of networks and the power of community learned at SFC.

Of course, I do not mean to say that going to a government office is the ultimate choice. There are many places to be active in the private sector, in local regions of Japan, and in the world. However, there are experiences that can only be gained in Kasumigaseki, Ichigaya, or other such places. I would definitely like students with spirit to take on the challenge.