Tokai University
President Kiyoshi Yamada

Tokai University
President Kiyoshi Yamada

Congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Soka University. I believe that the history of Soka University in a half-century was never uneventful. Nevertheless, looking back to the past, you proved a remarkable success and I salute the great achievement.

The origin of our collaboration can be traced back to a friendship between Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, the founder of Soka University, and Shigeyoshi Matsumae, the founder of Tokai University, which started in the early period of foundation of your university. I have a picture taken in May 1975 when President Matsumae visited your university. It shows both of them are friendly talking.

Since then, we have developed various collaborations and worked together many times in the field of international cooperation as we share the common mission to foster individuals who can contribute to world peace. Especially, in the exchange with the former Soviet Union, Russia, we were together with Soka University on many occasions collaborating Moscow University as a partner.

Among these collaborations, I especially remember that the baseball team of Soka University came all the way to Moscow to attend the 6th Matsumae Shigeyoshi Commemoration International Student Baseball Tournament, which we held in 1998 at the baseball field that our university donated to Moscow University. We had teams from four countries and the championship game was a heated competition between both universities.

Once again, I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulation on the milestone of the 50th anniversary of Soka University. I am convinced that your university will have a bright future toward its 100th anniversary. I hope you will continue to strengthen a relationship with our university in the future.