Happy New Year! As we welcome the dawn of 2025, I would like to extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Once said to be a place where ‘no grass or trees would grow for 75 years,’ Hiroshima has achieved remarkable recovery over the past eight decades and is now recognized worldwide as a City of International Peace and Culture. Furthermore, the fact that nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare since then is largely due to hibakusha survivors tirelessly sharing their harrowing experiences with the world.
In December of last year, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This recognition was not only a source of great joy for Japan but also for the global community. However, approximately 12,000 nuclear warheads still exist in the world, and the international community continues to face significant turmoil. The threat of nuclear weapons is increasing, and it is no exaggeration to say that humanity now stands on the brink of a catastrophe. Given these challenging times, we must renew our commitment to peace and take determined steps toward a better future.
Hiroshima University was founded four years after the atomic bombing and has since fulfilled its mission as a ‘University of Peace.’ Since assuming the Presidency, I have upheld the principle of ‘cultivating peace-pursuing, cultured individuals with an international mindset and a challenging spirit,’ promoting education and research at HU with this philosophy in mind. I believe that this year will be critical in reaffirming and demonstrating this vision.
In August of last year, we hosted the inaugural ‘University Presidents for Peace Conference in Hiroshima,’ welcoming university Presidents or their representatives from ten institutions across Asia, the United States, and Europe. In November, we held the second conference, the ‘University Presidents for Peace – Africa Chapter,’ with participation from leaders representing five African universities and campuses. Through these initiatives, we are building a framework to educate the next generation of leaders who will learn from Hiroshima’s history and contribute to peace and sustainability worldwide.
Furthermore, the ‘No. 1 Building of the Faculty of Science,’ a symbolic structure from Hiroshima’s past as an academic city and a surviving atomic bomb building, will be preserved and utilized as a ‘Knowledge Hub for Peace’ through collaboration with Hiroshima City, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima City University, and the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. Additionally, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation will relocate to the Kasumi Campus in AY2026, further enhancing collaborative research with the Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine.
Over the past two years, our ‘75+75 Anniversary Commemorative Projects’ have hosted 117 varied events, attracting around 120,000 participants. Events such as readings of atomic bomb poetry by renowned Japanese actor Sayuri Yoshinaga and our participation in the Hiroshima Flower Festival have provided excellent opportunities to express our gratitude to the people of Hiroshima, while sharing our collective commitment to peace. These accomplishments were made possible by the dedication of our faculty and administrative members, and students; I extend my deepest gratitude to each of them.
At the same time, HU continues to grow as one of Japan’s leading comprehensive research universities. In AY2022, the ‘International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (SKCM2)’ was selected for the ‘World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI).’ Furthermore, in AY2023 we were also selected for the ‘Program for Forming Japan's Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS).’ This year, we will realize these new challenges and open the door to the future.
We live in an era often described as ‘VUCA’—volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. In such demanding times, having the courage to embrace challenges without fear of failure becomes the driving force that shapes our future. I encourage all students, faculty, and administrative members to navigate using their own compass of principles, boldly facing the way ahead.
Finally, I sincerely hope for a swift return to peace in areas still affected by conflict, and I pray that this year brings hope and promise for all of you.
6th January 2025 (Reiwa 7)
Mitsuo Ochi
President, Hiroshima University