April 08, 2025
President's Message for New Students, April 2025
Congratulations on your admission to SOKENDAI!
President's Message for New Students
Congratulations to all of you who have been admitted to the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI. On behalf of the faculty and staff, I extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to you.
SOKENDAI is a graduate university dedicated to nurturing the next generation of doctoral researchers. It provides an exceptional educational environment within national research institutions, offering outstanding research opportunities. Since its establishment in 1988, SOKENDAI has produced over 2,500 doctoral researchers across various academic fields, including literature, science, engineering, and information studies. I am certain that, as you embark on this new journey toward your doctorate at esteemed research institutions, you are filled with enthusiasm and anticipation.
I would like to share with you some thoughts on the kind of mindset I hope you will have during your time in graduate school. In essence, I would say:
The goal of the graduate program is, of course, to obtain a doctoral degree. However, for you, the doctoral degree is likely just the outcome, and I believe that you have entered graduate school because of a deep interest in a specific field, with the desire to engage in research, acquire specialized knowledge, and develop advanced research skills. Since academic interests vary from person to person, while the goal of earning a degree is the same, the research topics you choose to challenge and the methods you use to conduct your research will differ for each of you. Thus, what you will learn and gain during your time at SOKENDAI will be as diverse as the individuals present here.
What I want to emphasize with the phrase I just mentioned is that, regardless of what and how you study, I urge you to consciously focus on maximizing your individual strengths. Strive to fully cultivate these strengths, as they will be pivotal to your academic and professional development.
To be candid, research is fundamentally about individuality. With a hundred researchers, there are hundreds of different approaches to research. In such an environment, maximizing your own strengths will lead to high originality. This principle is not only within the realm of research but in any profession. The next few years, during which you will immerse yourself in serious and intensive research, are not just about earning a degree; they are the most crucial time for you to recognize what your strengths are, refine those strengths, and establish your own unique research style.
The university, along with all the faculty and staff, will do our best to support you so that you can focus entirely on your research and studies during this important period.
Once again, congratulations on your admission!
April 8, 2025
Takashi Nagata, President
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI