Message from the President

President Masao Nagasaka

Develop the Power to Surpass Yourself
Kanazawa Seiryo University opened in 1967—the earliest among universities in the Hokuriku region—as a liberal arts college. In pursuit of the founding philosophy of its parent organization, Inaoki Incorporated Educational Institution, “to nurture sincere individuals who contribute to society”, the university has produced over 24,000 graduates to date.

The origins of Inaoki Incorporated Educational Institution lie in the “Hokuriku Meisei Abacus and Bookkeeping Vocational School,” which opened 94 years ago in 1932 (Showa 7). In other words, the school began as an abacus school. The year 1932 was a time when Japan was in the throes of a severe recession known as the Showa Depression, triggered by the Great Depression that originated in the United States. It is said that Shigeo Inaoki, the first chairman of Inaoki Incorporated Educational Institution, who was just 23 years old at the time, started the abacus school with the hope that young boys and girls, not much younger than himself, would “acquire the strength to survive” and overcome the turbulent times through their own efforts.

Even now, 94 years after the school’s founding, this wish for students to “acquire the strength to live” remains unchanged. Kanazawa Seiryo University, under the motto “Develop the Power to Surpass Yourself,” offers specialized education across three faculties—the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Human Sciences, and the Faculty of Humanities—comprising seven departments. So, how does one develop this “power to surpass oneself” through specialized education?

Each specialized field encompasses both foundational knowledge—the basics of that discipline—and deeply specialized expertise. In this age where information is easily accessible through online searches, some may tend to take knowledge for granted; however, we must not underestimate the importance of acquiring knowledge. As you acquire knowledge, you gradually develop the perspectives and ways of thinking that define how that field approaches and analyzes problems. The more knowledge you acquire, the deeper your thinking becomes, and the easier it becomes to learn.
Next, you apply the knowledge (and in some cases, skills) you have acquired to real-world challenges. If you have mastered even a single specialized field, you will be able to use analogy to a significant degree to tackle unfamiliar challenges outside that field. The key is to constantly seek out new challenges and continue testing your abilities.

Finally, I would like to emphasize the importance of learning alongside others. Whether it’s discussions with seminar peers or collaboration with classmates on extracurricular activities, these collaborative efforts serve as a stimulus that heightens your motivation and interest, becoming the driving force that propels you to learn more broadly and deeply. While university faculty members are experts in their respective fields, our true value lies not in simply lecturing you, but in being fellow learners and collaborators. Please make full use of us as faculty members to “develop the ability to surpass yourself.”

Masao Nagasaka, President of Kanazawa Seiryo University