Today, I am very pleased that we are able to hold the Kanazawa University 2025 Academic Year Degree Conferment Ceremony. Congratulations to all the graduates. Through your studies at Kanazawa University and your sustained efforts to refine your abilities, today, you have earned the joy of receiving your diplomas or degree certificates. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you all. I also would like to congratulate the family and friends who have gathered here and thank them for providing you with their understanding and support.
For many of you, your high school years were in the height of COVID-19 pandemic, and you have taken university entrance examinations with infection-prevention measures. After entering Kanazawa University, your life as university students began amid changes in academic styles, including the shift to online classes brought about by the pandemic. As daily life gradually returned, we then faced the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on New Year’s Day 2024, followed by the heavy rains in Oku-Noto in September 2024. Moreover, against the backdrop of remarkable advances in science and technology—such as AI and digital technologies—social transformation accelerated, and campus life changed significantly. In the midst of these circumstances, I offer my deepest respect to you for how you never lost sight of the true path of scholarship, enhanced your human skills, continuously pursued learning, and deepened your academic knowledge. Through your student life here, you have no doubt received warm encouragement and support from your families, mentors, the friends who have shared your aspirations, and others who have interacted with you in various ways. This is a good opportunity for you to look back on how these people have supported and guided you, and to express your gratitude to them.
More than two years have passed since the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. I sincerely pray that those affected will be able to return to their former lives as soon as possible, and that the disaster-stricken areas will achieve recovery and reconstruction. In the process of recovery and reconstruction after the earthquake, you have likely witnessed firsthand complex social challenges involving the progress of a declining birthrate and a super-aging society, communities, social infrastructure, and livelihoods. In addition, here in Japan we face many challenges that must be overcome, including the declining birthrate and labor shortages, countermeasures against natural disasters such as earthquakes and forest fires, and economic measures in response to inflation. Internationally, too, concerns have manifested regarding economic and security issues, as well as the expansion of conflicts. As symbolized by global warming, the rich and sustainable global environment that has sustained life on our planet is now facing a serious crisis. Through your education at our university, I believe you have come to understand that an essential part of solving and overcoming many social challenges is cross-disciplinary, multifaceted wisdom that transcends boundaries, together with clear ideals and purpose. Our university is committed to contributing to society through “future-oriented intelligence.” This is the wisdom needed to explore and overcome the challenges of today and tomorrow. It is also a path to creating value for the future. I believe that you, too, have advanced diverse learning at Kanazawa University and cultivated thinking grounded in experience, along with the practice based on that thinking. In this way, the future-oriented intelligence that you have nurtured will surely become an irreplaceable asset for you in the years ahead. Now that the structure of society and our values are undergoing dramatic change, it is all the more necessary for each of us to think for ourselves and put those thoughts into practice. To accomplish this, it is vital for us to pursue learning that enhances our understanding of multiculturalism, and to embrace tolerance and coexistence. I fervently hope that, drawing on the future-oriented intelligence you gained through your studies at Kanazawa University, you will, as members of the international community, contribute to realizing a society filled with hope and good cheer.
You are about to embark on a new chapter in your lives as working members of society or graduate students, setting sail anew into a rapidly changing world. This is a perfect opportunity for you to reaffirm your personal aspirations or to forge new ones. As my parting gift to you, I would like to share with you three messages of advice that I hope will aid you on your journey.
The first is “Grow as a person.” This means cherishing your encounters with others and constantly striving to improve your human skills. We learn many things from others. It’s important to meet and interact with those who are passionate about what they do. Precisely because we live in an age of AI that is rapidly advancing, now is a good time to reflect on what only you can do, and on how you can grow as a person. As you move forward through the expansive future awaiting you, broadly engage with the thinking, wisdom, and passion of the wonderful people you meet, you will likely have chance encounters that you will later see as destined experiences. Use the outlook on life and new ways of thinking gained from those encounters to continuously refine your qualities and skills.
There is a passage in the Analects of Confucius that says: “The Master said, ‘It is by the Odes that the mind is aroused. It is by the Rules of Propriety that the character is established. It is from Music that the finish is received.’” This has been understood to mean that in the process of human growth, one is brought to completion through the cultivation of cultural and artistic sensibilities. Fortunately, you have cultivated a wide range of such sensibilities at Kanazawa University, located in Kanazawa: City of Culture Growing Together for the Future. Please grow with awareness and pride as graduates of Kanazawa University and as members of this society. I strongly hope that you will keep polishing your human skills, grow tremendously as people, and serve as leaders in Japan and around the world.
My second message of advice is “Constantly challenge yourself.”
As you go out into the real world, you will find no right or model answers waiting for you. In some cases, there may be more than one right answer. Social challenges involve many elements that no one has ever experienced. There are also many issues that cannot be tackled through only one discipline or just your specialty. To reach your goals, you will need to take multifaceted approaches and build a strong team with passionate people. Also, be sure to keep boldly taking on diverse challenges without fearing failure. It is up to you to identify issues and work out the best solution for overcoming them. I believe that, at a comprehensive university, you have enjoyed the great value of encounters with students and mentors who possess diverse ways of thinking. As you pursue your careers, continue to look at the world from multifaceted, broad, and overarching perspectives so that you can gain a bird’s-eye view of the big picture. Along the path of life, there may be times when you feel uncertain and lose your way. In such moments, push yourself to take the first step, even if it’s just a small one, and focus your efforts. This can be expressed as “chakugan taikyoku, chakushu shokyoku” (think big and start small). And keep holding on to your dreams of success and your passion. I look forward to seeing you contribute to the growth of society in Japan and abroad through your constant dedication to boldly taking on diverse challenges.
My third message of advice is “Continue learning throughout your life.” This means continuing to improve yourselves through constant self-discipline. I hope you will draw strength from your time at Kanazawa University and continue learning for the rest of your lives. The Analects of Confucius also says: “Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application?” There is a joy in repeatedly putting what you have learned into practice and making it your own. Let your lifelong journey of learning new things start today. Try to constantly improve yourselves as you work toward your grand goals for the future with your hearts filled with hope. Guided by your ideals, continue thinking and studying throughout your lives as you design your future. No matter how old you grow, I believe that you will always have the power to change yourselves and the future. I sincerely hope that you will set forth your own aspirations, continue learning throughout your lives, and play active roles widely in the world in your respective fields.
Again, I hope that you will enjoy a fruitful and happy life throughout your lifetime. Let me conclude with my heartfelt wish that you will contribute to society on both domestic and international stages as Kanazawa University brand talent.
Congratulations on this special day.
March 20, 2026
Takashi Wada, President of Kanazawa University
本日ここに令和7年度学位記・修了証書授与式を挙行できますことをよろこばしく思います。卒業生、修了生の皆さん、誠におめでとうございます。皆さんは金沢大学で学び、研鑽をつみ、本日晴れて学位記あるいは修了証書を手にしました。心からの祝意を表します。ご臨席のご家族の皆様にも、お慶びを申し上げます。あわせてこれまでのご理解とご支援に対して感謝を申し上げます。
皆さんの多くは新型コロナウィルス感染症の拡大した時期に高校時代を過ごし、感染対策をしながら大学受験に臨みました。金沢大学に入学後、コロナ禍に伴うオンライン講義など学業スタイルの変化のなかで大学生活が始まりました。次第に日常が戻るなか、令和6年元日に能登半島地震、令和6年９月には奥能登豪雨に直面しました。さらには、AIやデジタル技術など科学技術の目覚ましい進歩のなか、社会の変革が加速し、キャンパス生活が大きく変化しました。こうした状況にあって、皆さんが学問の本筋を忘れることなく、人間力を高め、学びを継続し、学識を深めていったことに心からの敬意を表します。本学での学生生活を通じて、ご家族、恩師ならびに志をともにした友人、関わりがあった人々から温かい励ましやご支援があったことでしょう。今日は、ご指導をいただいた皆様に改めて感謝の気持ちを伝えるまたとない機会だと思います。
令和6年能登半島地震から2年となりました。被災された方々が一日も早く元の生活に戻られ、被災地が復興・再建を遂げることをご祈念申し上げます。皆さんは能登半島地震の復旧・復興過程で、少子・超高齢社会の進展、コミュニティ、社会インフラ、なりわいなどにおける複合的な社会課題を目の当たりにしてきたことでしょう。さらに、国内では少子化・労働力不足、地震、森林火災などの自然災害対策、物価高騰といった経済対策など克服すべき多くの課題があります。一方、国際的には経済・安全保障、紛争の拡大など懸念が顕在化しております。地球温暖化に象徴されるように、地球上の生き物が享受してきた豊かで持続可能な地球環境は、今や大きな危機に直面しております。本学での学びを通して、多くの社会課題の解決、克服には、分野の境界を超えた複合的な叡智、明確な理念や大義が重要であると理解できたと考えます。皆さんが学んだ金沢大学は「未来知」により社会に貢献することを未来ビジョンとして掲げております。「未来知」とは、現在、ならびに未来の課題を探求し、克服するための知恵です。未来の新たな価値を創造することにつながります。皆さんも金沢大学で多様性のある学びや体験を伴う思考とその実践を進めてきたと思います。このように皆さんが涵養してきた未来知は将来のかけがえのない財産になっていくはずです。社会構造や価値観が大きく様変わりしていく今こそ、常に自ら考え、実践する必要があります。そのためにも、多文化を理解する学びと寛容、共生する姿勢が重要です。金沢大学で学び、得られた「未来知」により、皆さんが国際社会の一員として、希望と明るさに満ち溢れる社会の実現に貢献することを心より願っております。
これから皆さんは社会人、あるいは大学院生として、急速に変わりゆく社会に新たに船出します。それぞれが「志」を新たに立てる、あるいは再確認する絶好の機会です。そのために私から三つの言葉を餞としてお贈りしたいと思います。
まず、第一は、「人として成長する」ことです。そのために、人との出会いを大切にすることです。人間力を磨くことにたゆまぬ努力を惜しまないことです。人は人から多くのことを学びます。熱意を持つ人との出会いは重要です。急成長を遂げるAI時代だからこそ、自分自身にしかできないことはなにか、人としてどのように成長するか、考える良い機会です。ぜひ、皆さんの前途に洋々と広がる未来において、巡り会う素晴らしい人の「考え方」、「知」、「情熱」に広く触れてください。偶然の出会いが、後から振り返ると必然の出会いであったことに気が付くこともあるでしょう。その出会いを通して得た生きる姿勢や考え方を活かし、自分自身の資質や能力を磨き続けてください。
論語の一節に、「子曰く、詩に興(おこ)り、礼に立ち、楽(がく)に成る。」とあります。人が育っていく過程では、文化、芸術的な素養を得てこその完成であると理解されております。幸い、皆さんは世界の共創文化都市・金沢に立地する金沢大学でさまざまな素養を培いました。母校、金沢大学の卒業者、修了者、そして社会の一員としての自覚、誇りを持って成長してください。皆さんが人間力を磨き、人として大きく成長し、国内外のリーダーとして活躍することを心より期待します。
第二は、「挑戦し続ける」ことです。
皆さんが船出する実社会では、正解や模範解答は用意されていません。正解もひとつとは限りません。社会課題には、誰もが経験したことがない要素が多く含まれています。ひとつの分野、自分の専門だけでは解決、克服できないことも多くあります。目標の達成には、多面的なアプローチや熱意ある人々との良いチーム作りが必須です。そのうえで、失敗をも恐れずに様々な課題に果敢に挑戦し続けてください。課題を見出し、最適解を考え、課題を克服していくのは皆さん自身です。皆さんは総合大学ならではの様々な考え方をもつ学生、教員との出会い、その素晴らしさを享受したと思います。今後も複合的な視点、広い視野、高い視座をもち、全体像を俯瞰してください。人生の歩みのなかで、時としてさまざまに迷うこともあるでしょう。そのような場合、小さくてもよいのでまず第一歩を踏み出し、集中してみてください。まさに、着眼大局、着手小局です。そして、成功への夢、情熱を持ち続けてください。皆さんが、様々な課題に果敢に挑戦し続け、国内外の社会の発展に貢献していくことを心より願っています。
第三は、「生涯にわたり学び続けること」です。たゆまぬ自己鍛錬を継続することです。
皆さんには金沢大学での生活を糧に、いつまでも学び続けてほしいと願っております。論語の一節にも、「学びて時に之を習ふ、亦説ばしからずや」とあります。学んだことを繰り返し実践し、身につけていくことの喜びがあります。生涯にわたる新たな学びが本日から始まります。希望を胸に、将来の大きな目標にむかって、ぜひたゆまぬ自己鍛錬を行ってください。理想をもって生涯にわたり考え、学び、未来をデザインし続けてください。齢を重ねても「自分と未来は変えられる」と私は信じています。皆さんが自身の「志」を立て、生涯において学び続け、各々の分野で広く世界で活躍することを心より願っております。
改めまして、皆さんには生涯にわたり実りある幸せな人生を過ごしてほしいと思います。皆さんが「金沢大学ブランド人材」として、国内外の舞台で活躍し、社会に貢献されることを強く祈念し、告辞とします。
本日は誠におめでとうございます。
令和8年3月20日
金沢大学長 和田 隆志
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