Japanese

On December 13, 2024, Hiroshima University (HU) invited H.E. Mr. Rahm Emanuel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Japan, to its Higashi-Hiroshima campus to present him with an honorary doctoral degree and to hold a commemorative lecture. About 60 students, faculty, and staff of HU gathered at the venue to pay tribute to Ambassador Emanuel and to honor his efforts to date.

Ambassador Emanuel has served for many years in senior U.S. political and administrative positions. Since 2022, he has served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, where he has been instrumental in deepening U.S.-Japan relations. The bestowment of this honorary doctorate recognizes his contributions to HU and his leadership in numerous efforts to deepen the friendship between the U.S. and Japan.

In his remarks at the ceremony, HU President Mitsuo Ochi cited “UPWARDS for the Future*,” a Japan-U.S. semiconductor partnership launched at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023, as an example of Ambassador Emanuel 's contributions, and expressed his gratitude for the new opportunities this initiative has provided for HU to participate in global partnerships. He also referred to other activities that Ambassador Emanuel has promoted, such as regional support for Fukushima through his promotion of the safety of local seafood, the sister park agreement between Pearl Harbor National Memorial Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and the 2023 Camp David Summit, which has greatly advanced trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, and expressed his admiration for the pivotal role these activities have played in creating beneficial long-term partnership opportunities for the two countries and advancing the bilateral relationship.

In his speech, Ambassador Emanuel recalled his statement at the Senate hearing when he took office that “the three years of the Ambassador to Japan's term of office will determine the next 30 years,” and said that the past three years have been extremely important and memorable for U.S.-Japan relations. He also spoke highly of the strategy in the Indo-Pacific region promoted under the Kishida administration, noting that the strengthening of Japan's security and the deepening of cooperation with allies through the influence of the Japan-U.S. relationship have contributed to the stability of the region. He also touched on the importance of public safety, which he came to recognize from living in Japan. He spoke specifically about the significance of Japan's high level of public safety, using his experience of running around the grounds of the Imperial Palace as an example.

During the Q&A session following the lecture, he encouraged the students, telling them that leadership requires having ideals, strength, the ability to lead others, and an attitude of learning from mistakes. He also told them that college is a place to try new ideas and lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning, and that education has the power to provide everyone with opportunities for success. He also shared his experience as an ambassador in helping to build trilateral cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines, and conveyed to the students the importance of keeping a broad perspective and continuing to challenge themselves.

At the honorary doctorate conferment ceremony that followed, Ambassador Emanuel noted that Hiroshima is his second most visited city in Japan after Tokyo, and expressed his great honor to be awarded an honorary doctorate in this special place that symbolizes peace. He said, “From education to energy, from science to security, the U.S.-Japan alliance has modernized over the past three years,” noting that HU is promoting cooperation between the two countries in these areas. He also thanked the Japanese people for their warm welcome to him and his family, and expressed his intention to continue his efforts to further deepen the Japan-U.S. relationship even after his return to the U.S. next January. The ceremony ended on a high note, with a rousing round of applause and a warm send-off from the participants.
Through the awarding of this honorary doctorate, HU recognizes Ambassador Emanuel’s achievements and provides an opportunity to further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Japan.

Discussion (@photo by The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo)

*The Japan-U.S. Semiconductor Partnership “UPWARDS for the Future” project:
The project is a collaborative effort between 11 universities in Japan and the U.S. to promote the development of next-generation semiconductor human resources, research, and development, in which HU was selected as one of five universities to represent Japan. With support from Micron, Tokyo Electron, and the U.S. National Science Foundation, this project, which aims to create mobility for approximately 5,000 students annually, is a groundbreaking initiative that will strengthen the foundation for global human resource development.

• Hiroshima University joins landmark Japan-U.S. semiconductor partnership
• 11 U.S. and Japanese Universities Discuss the Future of Semiconductors at HU! - 3rd UPWARDS U.S.-Japan Meeting Held for the First Time in Japan