Kyoto University Fund hosts 2015 donor appreciation day (27 July 2015)

This year's Kyoto University Fund donor appreciation day took place on 27 July in blazing summer sunshine.

While the first segment comprised facility tours, as in 2014, the second part featured a lecture by President Juichi Yamagiwa who was attending his first such event since taking office last fall. The tours attracted 70 donors and the lecture, 81.

Tour participants were offered a choice of two routes.

Route One focused on "Traces of the Days Leading Up To and Through the Meiji Restoration" and consisted of visits to Sonjo-do and Kyoto University Library.

Sonjo-do was originally built to store works of calligraphy left by Yoshida Shoin (1830-1859) and his fellow imperialists and is currently used to exhibit items of historical importance excavated from the University's campuses. Participants were guided by Assistant Professor Atsushi Ito of the Center for Cultural Heritage Studies on a tour of the exhibition, which covered the Jomon Period (ca 10500–ca 300 BC) through modern times.

At their next stop, the KU Library, the guests were treated to a rare opportunity to view a wooden statue of Yoshida Shoin -- said to be the most faithful surviving likeness of the late scholar -- alongside that of one of his disciples, Shinagawa Yajiro (1843-1900). Participants were observed intently examining the statues. "It's great to be allowed near material that is not normally accessible to the public," one remarked. With Mr Hisaya Akazawa, Deputy Director of the facility's Information Services Division, serving as guide, they also got to view digital images of selected materials from the Meiji Restoration special archive which is curated by the Kyoto University Digital Library.

Route Two was devoted to "Serene Spaces for Academic Inquiry"; namely, Yukawa Hall and the Center for Informatics in East Asian Studies (CIEAS).

Yukawa Hall was built in 1952 to commemorate the 1949 awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics to Dr Hideki Yukawa, the first Japanese national to receive that honor. The tour was led by Program-Specific Associate Professors Masaki Shigemori and Masanori Hanada of the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research. Highlights included a recreation of Dr Yukawa's laboratory as well as a number of valuable historical materials associated with the laureate.

The second stop on the tour, CIEAS, is an international hub for Chinese studies housed in a unique building of Spanish Romanesque architectural design. Director Itaru Tomiya and Professor Christian Wittern guided the visitors through the facility, commenting on some of the unique features found in various areas. Several participants expressed amazement at the photograph showing Dr Yukawa with Albert Einstein, and they appeared to be deeply impressed by the steel-frame, three-story stack room stocked with an extensive collection of rare Chinese literary classics.

Following completion of the tours, the second part of the event began with a lecture by President Yamagiwa on "Attributes of an Ideal Global Leader: What We Can Learn from Gorillas", delivered in the Clock Tower Centennial Hall. The primatologist argued that there were certain qualities expected of leaders in the world of gorillas and, based on the leadership behaviors that he had observed among those animals as part of his extensive research in the field, discussed the essential attributes required in today's global leaders.

Next, Professor Yoshihiro Tokuga, Deputy Vice-President in charge of administration of the Fund, reported on the program's activities with reference to the latest developments at the University. He also described the Fund's current balance and spending plans before appealing for support for the ongoing evolution of the program.

The two-part event wrapped up with a party held in the International Conference Hall, which is located above the Centennial Hall. After being greeted by President Yamagiwa and all of the KU executive vice-presidents, the attendees enjoyed the opportunity to mingle with the officials and with each other in a relaxed atmosphere.

The 2015 appreciation day concluded with many of the donors expressing satisfaction with the program and appreciation for the Fund's activities. Comments included: "I have always wanted to learn more about President Yamagiwa's research on gorillas, he being a renowned expert on the subject, so it was great to be able to listen to his lecture," "I look forward to seeing Kyoto University continue to produce outstanding human resources," and "I want to see more one-of-a-kind research come out of the University."

KU Fund donor appreciation days provide opportunities for Kyoto University to express its gratitude to its supporters and hear what they have to say about its operations. The event also enables the University to share its vision for the future, including how it intends to utilize the financial support received in realizing that vision. Kyoto University is committed to being open to feedback from all concerned regarding its visions, thereby ensuring that the Fund will continue to be utilized most effectively to facilitate its development.