On May 11 (Wednesday), the Awarding Ceremony of Scholarships from the Makiguchi Foundation for Education for academic year 2016 for international students was held at Soka University’s Global Square Discovery Hall.

This scholarship was established with assistance from the Makiguchi Memorial Education Fund in order to support students that are financially challenged so that they can receive education. This effort applies to international students that study in the Preparatory Japanese Language Program as well as in undergraduate and graduate programs.

At the conferral ceremony, Board of Trustees Chair Yasunori Tashiro shared greetings and said that the scholarship system, which has been substantially expanded this year, is comprised of sincere donations from many individuals that support the educational endeavors of founder Dr. Daisaku Ikeda. As the founder always states that international students are ambassadors from their respective nations, Tashiro expressed his hopes that they exert themselves in studies and grow into capable individuals that can shoulder the future of their respective country.

Words of appreciation and determination were expressed by scholarship recipient representatives Tammy Kobashikawa from Brazil (a first-year graduate student and freshman of the Faculty of Economics) and Gu Hyonjon from South Korea (a second-year student of the Faculty of Law). This was followed by words from Executive Director Kumao Fukase of the Makiguchi Memorial Education Fund, who encouraged the scholarship recipients, stating that the Makiguchi Memorial Education Fund was established by Dr. Ikeda in order to continue the efforts of the great Dr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the founding father of Soka education, and also to foster students that can contribute to the happiness of humankind and to world peace. He expressed his hopes that the students will study hard based on Soka University’s educational ideals and founding spirit.

Lastly, President Yoshihisa Baba relayed his gratitude to the Makiguchi Foundation for Education for its great support and shared how he himself was greatly supported by a scholarship during his 5.5-year period as an exchange student in the United States. He also expressed his appreciation to the international students, saying that, thanks to them, Soka University is evolving into a more diverse campus. He also shared his expectations that they gain special knowledge at Soka University and grow into creative human beings that can continue to take action for the happiness of others and to contribute to society.

Comments from students that attended the ceremony are as follows.

○ Female student from China, freshman, Faculty of Economics
“For me, entering Soka University itself was like a dream. Receiving this scholarship simply surprised me, and I am full of appreciation. I will study hard in the coming four years, and in the future, I would like to get a job involving trade between China and Japan.”

○ Female student from India, junior, Faculty of Law
“I was so happy to receive this scholarship. My parents have had to incur my financial burden, and my father works so hard for me to be able to attend Soka University, but as he does not make enough, I was saving money through a part-time job. This scholarship is not only making me happy—it makes my parents happy too. I will exert myself in my studies so that I can repay my debts of gratitude to the founder and to my parents.”

○ Male student from China, sophomore, graduate student in the Faculty of Literature
“I have deep appreciation for the fact that my student life has been supported by this scholarship every year since my undergraduate days. I am deeply grateful because I no longer have to work so much at a part-time job, and thus I can concentrate that much more on my studies. Each time I come to a deadlock in my studies, I remember the words that our founder passed on to us as students: ‘For what purpose should one cultivate wisdom? May you always ask yourselves this question.’ My dream for the future is to contribute to a friendly relationship between Japan and China.”