Message

In 2025, Kansai Gaidai University celebrates its 80th anniversary. The predecessor of this university, Tanimoto English School, was established in November 1945, just three months after the end of World War II. Its founders placed great hopes on foreign language education as a means to contribute to Japan's reconstruction and reintegration into the global community.
Subsequently, after the establishment of Kansai Gaidai College, Kansai Gaidai University was opened in 1966. In 1974, a graduate school was established based on the Intercultural Research Institute, and five years later, the university became the first foreign language university to offer Ph.D. programs. Today, Kansai Gaidai has grown into a learning environment that has approximately 12,000 students across its graduate school, four undergraduate colleges, and junior college.
We have been engaged in international exchange since the 1960s, ahead of other universities. At present, we have credit transfer agreements with 421 universities in 55 countries and regions. Each year, through a diverse range of study abroad programs designed to meet the needs of our students, we send roughly one thousand students overseas, while also welcoming approximately the same number of international students from around the world. We take pride in the fact that both figures rank among the highest in Japan.
I have always believed that education is about growing together—in other words, learning from each other. The ancient Chinese classic Liji (Book of Rites) contains the phrase, "Teaching and learning help each other." I am committed to fostering this cycle of teaching each other, learning, and growing together.
As part of our academic restructuring, we opened the College of Global Engagement in the spring of 2023, which offers degree programs entirely in English. Additionally, we opened the School of English and Digital Communication within the College of Foreign Studies, focusing on English and digital technology. In 2024, we established the School of Japanese Studies and Global Communication within the College of Foreign Studies as well as the Division of International Future Career in the Kansai Gaidai College. Furthermore, in the spring of 2025, we will establish the School of Japan and Asian Studies within the College of Global Communication and Language, aiming to cultivate individuals who can contribute to the sustainable development of the world, starting from Asia. With these additions, we continue to improve the quality of university education by anticipating the evolving needs of society.
Moving forward, we will introduce a variety of initiatives, including study abroad programs specializing in IT and a pathway program that facilitates U.S. Certified Public Accountant licensure, providing students with expanded opportunities via language learning and encouraging them to take on new challenges and unlock their full potential.
To cultivate the next generation of leaders, our faculty and staff will continue working together on university reform, demonstrating a commitment to continuous progress and forward-thinking ideas.
Profile
- 1986
- L.H.D. (Doctor of Humane Letters), Morningside College, United States
- 1992
- L.H.D., Pacific University
- 2000
- Commendation by the Minister of Education
- 2001
- Doctorado Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctorate), Santiago University of Technology, Dominican Republic
- 2004
- Commendation by the Governor of Osaka Prefecture
- 2006
- La Orden Administrador Emerito and Servidor Distinguid (Honorary Decoration), CESA (Business School), Republic of Colombia
- 2007
- Doctor Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctorate), Blas Pascal University, Argentina; Honorary Professorship, Beijing Language and Culture University, China
- 2009
- Awarded the Medal with Blue Ribbon
- 2012
- Hirakata City Award for Distinguished Service
- 2014
- Individual Performance Excellence Award, Confucius Institute, China
- 2017
- The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
- 2021
- Chancellor, Kansai Gaidai University