Happy New Year!
The New Year started with the Hakone Ekiden Relay Team getting off to an amazing start with a wonderful performance of placing 8th overall and earning a seed for the fourth consecutive year. We would like to express our gratitude to all those involved in the ekiden team and those who supported our university nationwide and around the world, and sincerely wish you all good health and happiness.

Last year, we were also engaged in education and research activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, but we were able to conduct almost all classes, events, extracurricular activities, etc. in-person like before the pandemic. In addition, the dispatch and acceptance of international students and overseas training in the field have resumed, and international students from all over the world can be seen learning from each other on campus again.

Looking ahead to the next 50 years, which will mark the 100th anniversary of our founding, we have formulated a new 10-year mid- to long-term plan called the "Soka University Grand Design 2021-2030. Under the theme “A university that fosters ‘global citizens’ who can create value,” the university has promoted initiatives focusing on 4 areas: education, research, SDGs, and diversity.

From AY2023, in addition to students’ major in the undergraduate department to which they belong, students may choose an "SDGs minor", allowing them to study SDG-related specialized subjects across the humanities and sciences, creating an environment in which students can acquire knowledge in a wide range of academic fields. Education that contributes to the SDGs is not limited to the campus, but also provides practical learning to solve social issues in cooperation with companies and local governments, such as the development of bioplastics using sake rice waste produced in Hachioji and activities to recycle and sell secondhand t-shirts.

The university is also focusing on developing capable individuals with expertise in the field of data science, by including compulsory subjects for all students to learn the basics of data science in their first year, a “data science minor" for specialized study, and practical problem-solving exercises in collaboration with companies. This systematic education has been accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Mathematics, Data Science, and AI Education Program for the ‘Literacy Level’ (July 2021) followed by the ‘Applied Basic Level’ (August 2022).
In the field of research, the international joint research "SATREPS-EARTH" in Ethiopia, which aims to build a sustainable society in developing countries, is steadily achieving results, while in "human glycome" research, one of the country’s prioritized academic research areas, the university is also promoting activities aimed at realizing next-generation life sciences and medical/healthcare innovation.

Now is the time for "global citizens" to demonstrate their strengths by moving from division to unity by connecting people, and boldly taking up the challenge of realizing peace. In order to foster global citizens who can create value, all faculty and staff will continue their efforts to unleash the potential of each student on our diverse campus, based on the founding spirit of the university.