Under the leadership of successive presidents, Kyoto University of Art and Design has established itself as a rigorous, uncompromising seat of learning. In the next phase of development, we hope to build on qualities and assets unique to this university. The appointment of an active artist such as myself as university president is one indication of this new direction. As someone on the front lines of artistic activity, I have access to a variety of domestic media, exhibitions, and other outlets with living connections to the wider world. My goal is to take maximum advantage of this position as an active artist to help the university produce graduates who can function in our world and in our society.

I myself am a painter, but whether the area is art, architecture, or design, our professors are mostly active professionals who continue to produce high-quality work. This is one of the key characteristics of our university. It is precisely because they are active at the leading of edge of their fields that our faculty members are able to instruct those who would advance even further. Our aim is to keep a few paces ahead of our students as we run along with them, like senior colleagues, to help them grow into even more accomplished professionals.

It takes more than outstanding technique to go out into the world and play an active role in society. I would like our students to take pleasure in studying the liberal arts and foreign languages-areas that art students have tended to belittle.
True creativity is the product of a cultivated mind, and learning a new language gives one access to a completely different world view. This kind of knowledge is a vital asset for anyone who hopes some day to be active in the international art arena.

In this way our students refine and polish their talents by studying with a group of active professionals and acquiring a rich liberal arts education. But another important role of the university is to build paths that can bring talent to the surface. By transcending the barriers of established disciplines and assembling the diverse viewpoints of teachers working in various genres, we uncover hidden, unimagined possibilities in our students. At the same time, we offer channels through which they can put those talents to work in the wider world.

Kyoto University of Art and Design brings all these elements together in a unique mix. I believe that the university’s mission, and mine, is to make the most of all these resources to enable as many talented young people as possible to go out into the world and find a place for their talents.