Be flourished in the local and global society

Today it is my great honor to present degrees to 13 students from Hiroshima University. Congratulations to each and every one of you. The diligent hard work each of you had given to receive this degree is something which I deeply respect.

While Human society has enjoyed a lot of benefits from rapidly developed science and technology in recent years, some issues such as food or energy shortage, environmental destruction and pollution, and terrorism were newly produced. I believe that the goal of knowledge-based society in the 21st century will be to really build a society in which every one’s situation is  respected, and in which we are able to live our healthy, fulfilled, and enriched lives by using the “knowledge” which the human race has nurtured and supporting each other.

We have to challenge to solve these common issues facing humanity and all of us should contribute to realization of society based upon new values befitting the 21st century so that our enriched spirituality is respected and international exchange is promoted based on international peace.

I am convinced that your excellent achievements will become a great foundation of the coming new social construction in the 21st century, and each of you graduated from the University will be expected to have higher spirit and to play your role as a member who contributes to institutional and social development.

I, with my best wishes, hope you who studied and achieved high level academic research will further mature as a person and play an important role in regional and international society.

Again, congratulations and best wishes,

Toshimasa Asahara
President, Hiroshima University