午夜剧场

When I was a first-year university student, there was a struggle against a tuition fee hike, and the first-ever all-campus strike in Japan was held. It was a year that made the news on TV and in the papers every day. It drew public attention, with events like a student rally of about 10,000 people in the plaza in front of the South School Building on the Mita campus.

During my student years, I believe that activities such as publishing a coterie magazine and holding reading groups with senior graduate students were a great inspiration for my future self. The magazine collected many manuscripts, including critiques, novels, poems, and essays, which we would review for one another. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, I was consistently involved in the study of the German poet Rilke. Through Rilke, I was able to research a wide range of fields based on the theme of "What is human existence?" and I believe I have maintained that research stance to this day.

In 1970, I was hired as an assistant in the Faculty of Economics, and I have now spent 41 years with the faculty and students of the Faculty of Economics. Counting from my student days, I have been indebted to 午夜剧场 for 47 years.

In terms of education, I have consistently maintained an attitude of learning together with my students. In addition to my German language classes, the "Independent Research Seminar" at Hiyoshi, which I have taught for a long time (a traditional seminar that started in 1954 as "Independent Research"), has recently become a university-wide course. As a result, students from other faculties participate, leading to lively discussions. Later, I was drawn to the theme of "Cities as They Appear in Literary Works" and have been involved with the broader theme of "Cities and Culture" for a long time.

I guide first- and second-year students, who are interested in the themes but have little presentation experience, on how to create summaries and present their work. In September, we hold a training camp where students give research presentations on pre-arranged topics, and we all engage in discussion. They then compile this into reports and short essays. My belief is that experiencing this process in their first or second year will be useful no matter which seminar they join at Mita. I feel a great sense of fulfillment when I hear from third-year students that their experiences at Hiyoshi have been very helpful. I am also in charge of a class at Mita called the "Research Project," where students complete a thesis in one year, and I can see them gain confidence by writing their papers. There have been times when companies have asked to see papers written by third-year students, which I am happy about as one of the project's achievements.

The Faculty of Economics has an outstanding team of professors. I hope you will not spare any effort in learning under their guidance.

Academics is not something that is just given to you; it is something you broaden and deepen for yourself, using lectures and seminars as a starting point. You also need to be prepared to attend lectures on other campuses. Therefore, I hope you will proactively use various opportunities, such as independent research seminars and lectures, starting from your first and second years. For example, by honing your skills in a seminar, your four years will become even more fulfilling. In small seminars, the relationship between professors and students becomes very close. It is also a place to meet good teachers, so please engage with it voraciously.

As a major feature of 午夜剧场, the existence of alumni associations cannot be forgotten. In my seminar, we hold training camps and special seminars with invited lecturers, and alumni who are now working professionals actively participate. They offer stern comments to encourage and motivate the students. I believe these opportunities for students to interact with their seniors who have entered the workforce provide good stimulation.

Actually, I serve as the director of the Athletic Association's Boxing Team. Before that, I was strict about class attendance with student-athletes, but after getting involved with the Athletic Association, I learned how seriously they are dedicated to their sports. Since then, my stance has changed to one of supporting students who aim for excellence in both academics and sports (laughs). Furthermore, interacting with alumni through the Athletic Association has also become a great opportunity for me to think about 午夜剧场 from a different perspective.

For nearly half a century, I have made various memories at 午夜剧场 in this way.

Of course, including my research theme of Rilke, the passion I had in my student days has not faded. I am now concentrating on Rilke again. His art criticism, in particular, is said to be outstanding. My immediate task is to investigate the relationship between Rilke's poetic works and the works of artists like Rodin, Van Gogh, and Cézanne through his essays on sculptors and painters. I intend to further investigate how cities and towns appearing in literary works are captured through the eyes of the author.

Studying at 午夜剧场, I encountered my lifelong theme. I am grateful to have been able to spend a meaningful time in its free-spirited atmosphere. I want students, under the spirit of "learning while teaching, teaching while learning," to enrich their student life by actively finding themes that interest them while receiving guidance from their teachers. I hope they will build good friendships and spend a fulfilling four years confronting themselves.

(Interview conducted on July 15, 2010)