Nitob e Col le ge, Hok k a ido Un iver s it y

Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network Magazine

Ju ly 15 , 2 0 2 0No.

1

Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network Magazine

Introduction

Junji Yamaguchi
Vice-Principal, Hokkaido University Nitobe College〈Contents〉

2. Alumni Updates
3. Major Programs and Events（Undergraduate Education Course）

4. Major Programs and Events（Graduate Education Course）

5. Fellow/Mentor Updates
6. Nitobe College Updates
7. Nitobe College andOther Hokkaido University
Alumni Associations① Main Street② Monument in Honor of Dr. Inazo Nitobe③ Enyu Gakusha Community Hall
Nitob e Col le g e, Hok k a ido Un iver s it y

①

②

③

I'd like to say a few words on the occasion of the first publication of Across, the Hokkaido
University Nitobe College Alumni Network magazine.
Do you know where the name Across comes from? It comes from a famous remark made by Dr.
Inazo Nitobe at age 21: “I wish to be a bridge across the Pacific.” The name was chosen thanks
to the suggestion from Professor Kazuyori Yuhazu, the assistant-principal of Nitobe College.
Let me briefly outline the history of Nitobe College. Hokkaido University launched Nitobe
College, an undergraduate education course, in April 2013 and Nitobe School, a graduate
education course, in April 2015. From their inception, both institutions offered pioneeringinterdisciplinary programs that cut “across” undergraduate and graduate studies: Nitobe College
required students to study abroad and provided in-person classes taught by Nitobe College
Fellows selected from Hokkaido University alumni, and Nitobe School offered leading-edge
education centered on group work. Both institutions, which were named after Dr. Nitobe, haddeveloped steadily until their merger in April 2019 as the new Nitobe College, a comprehensive
educational program that integrates undergraduate and graduate levels. The merger eliminatedthe name “Nitobe School,” so we apologize to the alumni who are proud of their alma materprogram and feel a sense of “school spirit” to it. I hope they'll renew their pride and “school
spirit” as Nitobe College alumni.
2020 marks Nitobe College's eighth year. During this time, various reforms have been
implemented, including the merger of Nitobe School and Nitobe College, the establishmentof many courses and a shift to a two-stage educational system consisting of the Foundation
Program and the Honors Program. The current Nitobe College has been making steady progress,
and in recognition of the college's contribution, Hokkaido University was ranked first in the2020 Nihon Keizai Shimbun's University Image Ranking survey of corporate HR managers(https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO59906530T00C20A6TCN000; Scan the QR codeat the lower right to access the page). I'm most grateful to the Nitobe College alumni who've
helped us achieve this honor. Having said that, we're far from perfect. I believe drawing closer
to perfection is possible only if we develop a network with the alumni of
Nitobe College and with those of Hokkaido University in addition to current
students, faculty, and administrative members, Nitobe College Fellows and
Mentors. This type of network was named the “Nitobe Network” in thestatement on the Nitobe College concept that was prepared at the inceptionof the program eight years ago. The publication of this alumni network The Nihon Keizai
magazine is intended to spark lively alumni communication so that we can Shimbun website
go forward together “across” the horizon.
The Hokkaido University campus
will once again be surrounded by lush
greenery. I have no doubt that those
who've studied on this verdant campus
will find themselves transported to their
university years the moment they see
the cover photo of this magazine. It's myhope that this magazine will help rekindle
happy memories.
Nitobe Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia (Canada)

Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network Magazine

ACROSS

Maintaining agood work-life balance

Exploring
animal welfare

Mai Kimura

Shen Dan

Nitobe College's 2013 inaugural class

No.1

Master of Animal Sciences,
Wageningen University &Research (Netherlands)
Nitobe College's 2013 inaugural class

Hello. I'm Shen Dan, a member of the inaugural class of Nitobe
College. I completed the Master's Programme of Animal
Sciences at Wageningen University & Research in the
Netherlands last December. I majored in livestock ethology andanimal welfare. Animal welfare is the field of study that aims to
reduce the stress experienced by domestic animals and to create
a comfortable environment for them based on ethological,
physiological, and other approaches.
In the first year of my master's programme, I took various
specialized courses, and in my second year I engaged in researchon two different topics for my master's thesis: One focused on theear postures of dairy cows as an indicator of their feelings, andthe other compared perceptions of livestock welfare among
university students in Japan to those in the Netherlands. I've led afulfilling campus life in my graduate years, engaging in study
and research, visiting farms and interacting with students ofvarious cultural backgrounds. I hope to continue my research on
animal welfare in a doctoral program.

Seeing from abird's-eye view

Utilizing your expertise,unleashing yourpotential

Yu r i ko S a h e k i

Miku Maeda

Researcher at Shiseido Co., Ltd.

Store Operations Department, Nitori Co., Ltd.

Nitobe School's 2015 inaugural class

Nitobe School, Class of 2017

I work as a researcher at Shiseido. Since the official language
here is English, it's essential to be able to communicate inEnglish. I believe that active learning and output-based learning,which I experienced in English at Nitobe School, are of greatvalue. I feel they've proved useful and beneficial to me in mywork in the workforce.
Other features of Nitobe School which I've found helpful include
its emphasis on the importance of developing one's capacity forknowledge sharing and applications for social benefit byrecognizing one's role in society. The ability to have an accurate
and objective understanding of your own position and theposition of your research in society affects your ability tocommunicate logically and persuasively. The opportunities I was
given to train and develop this ability at Nitobe School havehelped me formulate research plans and offer suggestions to mysupervisors. In fact, they're a tremendous help to me as I work
toward my goals.
Several years after completing the Nitobe School program, I still
have opportunities to meet my classmates. It's truly inspiring tosee how hard they've been working. In fact, they motivate me toaim higher.

I remember having inspiring discussions at Nitobe School. One
topic was “What is globalism?” Our five-member team discussed
the emergence of a lingua franca, an increase in multinational
companies, the expansion of free trade, and genome editing. Whatinterested me was that nobody had the same ideas.
In fact, this was one reason I chose Nitobe School. It is a place
where students who are from different graduate schools and who
have different nationalities, cultures and values work together tosolve problems using English as a common language. In graduate
school, I majored in interpretation and translation studies. To serveas an interpreter or translator, you have to accept and understandthe emotions of the speaker or writer you're working with andspeak or write from the viewpoint of that speaker or writer. At
Nitobe School, as I worked with people of diverse backgrounds, I
developed the ability to think from their viewpoints while
maximizing my expertise.
Hoping to develop an area of expertise other than interpretationand translation, I went into a career in business after completing
my graduate studies. While honing my interpretation andtranslation skills for use in business settings, I'm also embarking on
tasks in totally different fields. My experience at Nitobe School inthinking from the viewpoints of others and respecting one
another's differences has laid a solid foundation for my professional
performance in an environment where teamwork is a given.

A lumni Up date s

I'm Mai Kimura, a member of the inaugural class of Nitobe
College. I've been a local government employee since 2019.
Recently, my workplace has embraced various workstyles, suchas staggered and flexible working hours. In my first year atuniversity, I stayed in Finland on a short-term study program.
Back then, I felt that it was inconvenient when all the shops
closed in the late afternoon. I was unfamiliar with the concept of“work-life balance.” Once I joined the workforce, however, I
came to realize the need for a society that explores sustainable
workstyles that suit individuals' needs.
My experience in Finland taught me how important it is to ask
myself whether the things we take for granted are actually thebest for us. This struggle experienced during my student days
even helps me now in my life.
Given the increasing likelihood that the Covid-19 pandemic will
make 2020 a tumultuous year, I hope to make steady strides
forward without losing sight of what I should do. Lastly, I wish
everyone continued success.

2

Major Nitobe College Programs and Events
Undergraduate Education Course■ Global Foundation Course

This is a compulsory course in the Foundation Program. In the spring term, the“Global Foundation Course: International Understanding and Study Abroad” isoffered, where instructors talk about current situations and issues of theinternational community in omnibus-style classes to prepare students foroverseas study. In the summer term, the “Global Foundation Course: Leadershipand Teamwork” is offered, where students chiefly engage in group work, learn
about leadership, and strive to exercise it.

■ Dialog ProgramThis program offers the opportunity for students to have one-on-one dialogs
with Nitobe College Fellows who have worked on the front lines in their fields
in a rapidly changing society. This program helps students develop the ability tothink and act independently and offers clues for the future based on the newperspectives they gain about society and career design.

■ Short-Term Overseas Special ProgramThis program provides a great opportunity for students togrow personally and academically through various lecturesand practical training offered by Hokkaido University's
overseas partner institutions to develop the knowledge andskills required to address global issues. Photo A shows an
outdoor lecture at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, wherestudents learned about the characteristics and developmentof forests in cold regions. Photo B shows fieldwork on thebiodiversity of coastal ecosystems at the University ofWashington Friday Harbor Laboratories.

A■ Fellow Seminar

Fellow Seminar courses are designed for students to learn in small groups from
Nitobe College Fellows who play active roles in society. The courses provide
students with an opportunity for in-depth learning regarding real-life issues
facing the world. They also help students develop leadership and teamwork
skills while considering, through on-site inspections and group work, the rolesof academia and society as well as the role of sustainability in society.

■ Career Development Seminar

Career Development Seminar courses, which include an overni ght training
session, help students create a vision for their career and find clues that can help
them achieve their goals. Nitobe College Fellows and Mentors are there as
consultants and partners to encourage students to grow and thrive.

3

B

ACROSS

No.1

Major Nitobe College Programs and Events
Graduate Education Course■ Foundation I:Basics of Team-based LearningThis program helps students develop the basic knowledge and skills necessary
for those of different nationalities and areas of expertise to collaborate indelivering results: creative and critical thinking and leadership skills, as well as
professional ethics.
Themes: AI Ethics for Developers, Users and Legislators; War and Ethics:
Research Development and Dual Use; Human Remains of Ainu People andResearch Ethics■ Foundation II:Practice of Team-based LearningThis program encourages students to develop project management techniques
for the effective and efficient implementation of project-based teamwork. In the
final session, students conduct an in-depth examination of their project's
feasibility through Q&A with their Mentors.
Themes: Sustainable & Resilient City Sapporo; Refugee Response Plan in
Sapporo; Snow Removal Project in Sapporo; Tourism Management in Hokudai■ Advanced I & II:Problem Solving & Problem Finding
In this program, students work to identify and solve various problems related to
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from local and global perspectives.
They develop the ability to view things from multiple angles by getting down to
the nitty-gritty of problems through discussions about solutions and throughfield surveys.
Themes: Problem Solving: Migration in Japan; Problem Finding: Sapporo &Hakodate in 50 Years■ Nitobe College Special Seminar for Graduate Students: Demola (Issue-solving
exercise for real business) & Hult Prize Challenge

These programs help students gain an in-depth understanding of entrepreneurshipand plan projects to address corporate challenges (Demola) and social issues(Hult Prize). Hokkaido University is the first university in Japan to introduce the
Demola program. In the Hult Prize Challenge, a team including Nitobe College
students became the first team from Japan to win at a Regional Summit and tojoin a training event in the UK.

https://nitobe-college.academic.hokudai.ac.jp/g/wp-content/uploads/
fd77a582b9e646095da458bfe4785be6.pdf■ Mentor ForumThe Mentor Forum 2019 was held under the theme of “Considering Career Paths andCareer Changes.” At the event, Nitobe College Mentors who work globally in various fields
gave lectures in English and interacted with students. Learning from Mentors how studies
at Nitobe College are beneficial when graduates enter the workforce, students reaffirmed
their confidence in their academic pursuits and widened their perspectives on their career
options, including proceeding to doctoral programs or seeking to become entrepreneurs.

4Fellow/Mentor Updates
Pursuing a path of noblesse oblige toward Hokkaido's 200th anniversary

Ryoko S a s a k i
Fe l l ow

Hokkaido University School of Law, Class of 1972
President, R's Seminar Inc.
Former vice-governor of Hokkaido

The “noblesse oblige” in the title is a term that expresses the Western ideal that people with advantages are
responsible and obligated to help those without them. Dr. Inazo Nitobe equated this ideal to the spirit of Japanin his well-known book Bushido.
Having failed my bar exam, I found a job much later than my classmates. In 1995, I founded an educational
consultancy at age 49 and worked for decades in the employee training field. In 2002, when I was age 55, I
became a vice governor of Hokkaido under Governor Tatsuya Hori, who graduated from the Hokkaido
University School of Agriculture (Forestry Course). I believe that my experience in the government sector
changed me forever. Acclimatization to changing circumstances has widened my perspectives and provided mewith various opportunities to advance into various leadership positions.
I suggest that Nitobe College students make a conscious effort to do three things: listen to others, do something
helpful for others, and act on their own, rather than just gathering information from books and online sources.
By so doing and through real-life experience, you'll hone your leadership skills and find yourself infused withthe spirit of noblesse oblige.
In my role as a Nitobe College Fellow, I look forward to working with you as you unlock the future toward
Hokkaido's 200th anniversary.

Helping students realize their dreams based on their real-life experiences and Fellows' experiences

To sh i h i ko Oht omo
Hokkaido University School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 1992
Manager, Early Clinical Development Department
Translational Research Division
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Veterinarian and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

When I learned about Nitobe College, I thought, “If only there'd been a similar program in my college years,
I'd have had broader interests and experiences.”
In my college years, I never looked overseas. It wasn't until I'd changed my career goal from becoming aveterinarian to engaging in the discovery of new drugs and I'd joined a pharmaceutical company that I
realized I'd need a global perspective to make my dream come true—I'd need to look at what's going on in
the world, not just around myself.
Today, we have easy access to various information and we can readily learn something new, which is a far
cry from my student days. But there are many lessons that can only be learned through experience—throughfailure, in particular.
Nitobe College provides opportunities for real-life experience through various programs. Further, students
can relive their Fellows' experiences through dialogs and interactions with them. Students can also learn
what it is to play an active role on the global stage as if through first-hand experience. This means they canlearn about the failures and hardships that Fellows have encountered. In fact, experience at Nitobe College
helps students who are on the cusp of entering the real world to achieve their dreams.

Rediscovering the frontier spirit of Hokkaido University in the era of uncertainty

Ta ku Na k a ha ra
Hokkaido University School of Agriculture, Class of 2001
Earned a doctorate from the Hokkaido University
Graduate School of Science in 2007
President & CEO, Metagen Therapeutics, Inc.
Director, ENU Pharma, Inc.
Venture Partner, Fast Track Initiative, Inc.

5

I spent years at Hokkaido University: four undergraduate years at the School of Agriculture, three doctoral
years at the Graduate School of Science, and one and a half years as an assistant professor. Then I launched abiotech startup with technologies from Hokkaido University in the United States and worked there for roughly
six years. I've had a direct relationship with Hokkaido University for a total of approximately 15 years. It's also
been about five years since I became a Nitobe College Mentor.
The greatest academic asset that Hokkaido University offered me was the ability to build and test hypotheses.
The academic basics of developing and testing sound hypotheses amidst great uncertainty should help us
cultivate a zest for living in a time of uncertainty.
I was born a scientist who inherently loves pure science, believing that universities should never engage inso-called “practical researches.” On the other hand, I also acknowledge that to protect academia, universities
have no choice but to make positive impacts on society. Regardless of my will and preference, I guess my
mission is the latter: to make positive impacts on society by leveraging the power of science.
Since the 2010s, many top researchers and students became entrepreneurs in Japan. I've also been working asa venture capitalist and an entrepreneur in the deep tech startup world with them. However, Hokkaido
University has created only a limited number of startups. The ambitious spirits that Hokkaido University wasonce famous for appear weakened, while our academic achievements are outstanding. Hokkaido University
deserves more startups because the academic ability to develop and test hypotheses is also essential for startups.
I hope to contribute to the community through Nitobe College to foster entrepreneurship among students andyoung researchers for the era of uncertainty.

■ Fellow and Mentor System for
Undergraduate Education Course Students■ Mentor System for
Graduate Education Course Students

The Nitobe College Fellow and Mentor System aims to provide students with
opportunities for self-reflection, inspiring them to consider the meaning of life andthe significance of college education. Discussions with Fellows and Mentors who
have ample experience in the real world motivate students to broaden theirhorizons and keep their ears to the ground on global issues, enabling them toidentify what they can do to help address and act on these issues.

Mentors for graduate students are selected from among alumni of the Nitobe
College for Graduate Students (formerly known as Nitobe School) and Hokkaido
University graduate schools, as well as from other people who play active roles in
Hokkaido. Using their experience and personal contacts in the real world, they help
students in their studies and career planning. Through exchanges, mentors help
students become more conscious of their careers, broaden their perspectives, andbuild networks of personal contacts.

ACROSS

No.1

Nitobe College Updates
Undergraduate
Education Course

Graduate
Education Course■ Enrollment by department in 2019

■ Enrollment by department in 2019

(people)(people)■ Scholarships Awarded in 2019
The chart on the right includes scholarships awarded to Nitobe
College students via the Hokkaido University Elm Alumni
Association and the Hokkaido University Frontier Foundationin 2019. Those scholarships were awarded to students studying
abroad to cover their travel and living expenses and to students
with outstanding academic achievement. The scholarship
recipients have expressed their gratitude for the financial
support and have shared their experiences abroad on the Elm
Alumni Association website in addition to Homecoming Day
and other events. Going forward, their words of appreciation
will also be published in this magazine on a regular basis.
On behalf of the students who've been awarded scholarships, I'dlike to express my sincere gratitude to those who've contributed
to the scholarships.
( Junji Yamaguchi, Vice-principal, Nitobe College )■ Career Choices of Undergraduate
Education Course Students[ Private enterprises ]IBM Japan Ltd., Panasonic Corp., Shimizu Corp., Takenaka Corp.,
Hitachi Zosen Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Honda Motor Co.,
Ltd., DIC Corp., Nitori Co., Ltd., Benesse Corp., Chugai
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Jiji Press Ltd., The Asahi Shimbun
Company, Accenture Japan Ltd., and others.

[ Government organizations ]Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare; Ministry of the Environment; Tokyo
Metropolitan Government; City of Sapporo; City of Nagoya; andothers.

[ Master's programs ]Hokkaido University, The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University,
Texas A&M University (USA), Wageningen University &Research (Netherlands), Swedish University for Agricultural
Sciences (Sweden), and others.

9

7

1

2

Health Sciences

2

10 11

Education

3

5International Media, Communication, and Tourism Studies

4

Agriculture

Modern JapaneseStudies Program

1

0

12
6

Life Science24

Veterinary
Medicine
Fisheries
Sciences

Medicine

Science

Law

Economics
and Business

Education

Humanities andHuman Sciences

STEM
courses

18

10 14

8

4
Humanities

31

Agriculture

26

10Engineering

40

26

20

62

DentalMedicine

46

40
0

66

61

60

Pharmaceutical
Sciences

80

20

30

83

Humanities andHuman Sciences
Law
Information Scienceand Technology
Fisheries Sciences
Environmental
Science
Science100( 114 students in total )

9

2

1

1

3

Engineering
Chemical Sciencesand Engineering
Economics andBusiness
Medicine
Biomedical Scienceand Engineering
Global Food
Resources
Public Policy( 494 students in total )(￥1,000)
14,00012,00010,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0

Hokkaido University
Elm Alumni Association

Hokkaido University
Frontier Foundation

JASSO

International Internship Program (25)
Short-Term Overseas Special Program (15)Specialized Undergraduate Courses (4)Graduate Education Course (17)Student Exchange Program (46)*The parentheses indicate the number of donors.

■ Career Choices of Graduate
Education Course Students[ Private enterprises ]Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., DENSO Corp., Nitori Co.,
Ltd., Panasonic Corp., IHI Corp., KDDI Corp., AEON Co., Ltd.,
Komatsu Ltd., Johnson & Johnson K.K., Sony Corp., The
Hokkaido Shimbun Press, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.,
Mitsubishi Corp., Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shiseido Co.,
Ltd., Sojitz Corp., Dentsu Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Nissan Motor Corp.,
Japan Tobacco Inc., and others.

[ Government organizations ]Ministry of Justice, National Police Agency, Japan Meteorological
Agency,Hokkaido
Government,
Hokkaido
Research
Organization, and others.

[ Universities ]Hokkaido University (Research Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of
Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Hospital), Jahangirnagar
University (Bangladesh)[ Doctoral programs ]Hokkaido University

6

Hokkaido
University
Alumni
Associations

Nitobe College
Alumni Association
and registration
for membership

The Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network provides a venue for exchanges
among past and current Nitobe College students (including graduates of Nitobe School),
Fellows, Mentors, faculty, and administrative members. Access the website or scan the QR
code below for membership registration for fellowship, mutual support, and enlightenment.
Registration for Membership in
Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network

Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network
Membership Registration Form
Nitobe College Students
and Alumni（Nitobe College Alumni）

Fellows, Mentors, Faculty,
and Administrative Members

https://ws.formzu.net/fgen/S23755582/（Fellows, Mentors, Instructors）

https://ws.formzu.net/fgen/S31898088/

Join us!
Communication via Facebook
新渡戸カレッジ Alumni Association
Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network

Hokkaido University Elm Alumni Association, Tokyo Alumni Association,
Kansai Alumni Association and Hokkaido Alumni Association
Hokkaido University Elm Alumni Association

Hokkaido University Tokyo Alumni Association

The large number of alumni and extensive networks that Hokkaido University has developed overthe course of its long history have become great assets of the university. For alumni, who studied
on the same campus, it must be a great joy to foster fellowship among themselves, support one
another, and enlighten themselves.
The Hokkaido University Elm Alumni Association was founded in June 2016 with the objective ofusing those assets to help the university fulfill its goals and missions. It consists of
sub-associations, including those organized by undergraduate or graduate school and thosefounded by region in Japan and beyond.

The Tokyo Alumni Association is open to alumni either living or
working in the Kanto and Koshinetsu regions, which consist of one
metropolis (Tokyo) and 10 prefectures (Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba,
Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Yamanashi, Nagano, Niigata and Shizuoka).
Today, it has approximately 2,000 members.

Hokkaido University Kansai Alumni Association

The Hokkaido Alumni Association represents a community of alumni,
faculty and administrative members living or working in Hokkaido. It isalso open to alumni living outside Hokkaido.
Members of this network-oriented association exchange information
over the internet (e.g., by e-mail) via the Hokkaido Alumni Association
Office. It was founded on April 18, 2014 and is now accepting
membership applications.

https://www.alumni-hokudai.jp/

http://hokudai-kansai.com/

The Kansai Alumni Association was founded to promote exchanges and fellowship among alumni.
Today, it has more than 1,000 members, primarily in the Kinki region of Western Japan, and isengaged in active efforts in cooperation with Hokkaido University and other sub-associations(including those organized by undergraduate school and by region).

http://www.hokudai-tokyo.org/

Hokkaido University Hokkaido Alumni Association

https://www.hokudai-hc.com/

Hokkaido University Nitobe College Alumni Network (HU-NCAN)
Hokkaido University Nitobe College Oﬃce

Kita 17, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0817, Japan Tel.: 011-706-5414 E-mail : ncan@academic.hokudai.ac.jp

Published on July 15, 2020