Mary Baldwin University
Daniel A. Metraux
Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies

Mary Baldwin University
Daniel A. Metraux
Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies

It is with great pleasure that I salute Soka University on its historic 50th birthday. When I first visited Soka University in the early 1970s, it was a small school struggling to build a strong foundation for itself. Today the university has become the crown jewel of the Soka Gakkai's critically important educational movement and one of Japan's foremost centers of learning. Among its many achievements are the broad internationalization of its curriculum and its heroic efforts to build ties with dozens of foreign colleges and universities. These close ties with educational institutions throughout the world have strengthened the bonds between Japan and nations throughout the world.

I, myself, deeply appreciate Soka University for its role in developing my career. I came to Soka on several occasions in the 1970s and 1980s to meet with President Daisaku Ikeda, other Soka Gakkai leaders and many students. In 1992 Saka University invited me to live on your campus as a Visiting Fellow during which time I wrote my book, The Saka Gakkai Revolution. I have visited the campus many times since that time.

When Soka University made its affiliation with Mary Baldwin University over a decade ago, we began a process of student exchange whereby several MBU students have studied at Saka and Saka has sent us some of the finest students ever to enter Mary Baldwin. We at MBU cherish these students and are very grateful for the many opportunities that this relationship has brought us. We hope that we can renew this relationship once this horrible pandemic has subsided.

Again, my deep wishes for the continued growth and success of your marvelous university.