President

KOHARA Katsuhiro
President
Doshisha University

　　There are many iconic historical figures in modern Japan, but none of them lived as adventurous a life as that of Joseph Hardy Neesima, the founder of Doshisha. His life was full of many journeys, blessed with many people who supported him, and his passion moved many people in turn. Throughout his career as a teacher at Doshisha, he emphasized the importance of taking on challenges without being restricted by conventional ideas. His last words express the essence of Doshisha education: "Doshisha will not suppress the independent-minded students." I believe that Doshisha is entrusted with a unique mission to continue to forge new paths and that it is my duty as President to lead the adventure to accomplish this mission.
　　In the world today, there are many serious problems, such as climate change, widening economic disparities, discrimination, and conflicts. No matter how difficult they might be, we need to find solutions to these problems; otherwise, Japan and the world may find themselves in an even more severe situation in the next 50 years. Now, more than ever, people of conscience are needed to create a better society through the appropriate use of science, technology, and academic knowledge. Through education and research, Doshisha hopes to cultivate “practitioners of conscience” who will actively and boldly take on the challenges of our times.
　　In 2025, Doshisha will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its foundation. What kind of university will Doshisha become in the future? In his later years, Neesima had dreamed of establishing Doshisha as a university but died in 1890 without seeing it accomplished. He envisioned the university to be like a “Deep Forest and Large Lake,” writing, "A dragon might be born from within a Deep Forest and Large Lake" and "Make Doshisha like a Deep Forest and Large Lake where both small and large fish will grow and develop as they should.” Neesima’s metaphor of a “Deep Forest and Large Lake” can be paraphrased in today’s parlance as “an environment full of diversity and wonder where various personalities are nurtured,” which represents what Doshisha University has aspired to be since its founding.
　　The ideals of “Deep Forest and Large Lake” are not limited to the current campuses. Doshisha University has produced approximately 360,000 alumni, and many are active in various fields and support the University. The Doshisha community, connected across generations, is like a "Deep Forest and Large Lake" and a "community of conscience" with great potential.
　　Looking back at the steps our predecessors took over the past 150 years, we are now moving toward a "new future," which is not merely an extension of the present. What will this new future for Doshisha look like? It will take shape through the involvement of Doshisha's students, faculty, staff, and alumni. A new adventure is about to begin.