The Hasegawa Seminar Alumni Reunion was held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, starting at the residence of Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa at 15:30 hours and at Ebisu at 18:00 hours.
While new coronavirus is spreading fast throughout the world, I hope all of the former Hasegawa seminar students are fine and safe. Here is a picture of a retreat held five years ago near Lake Kawaguchi. Please let me know how you are living in this difficult time. sh(@)shasegawa.com
Chizuru Mori, Hayato Takeuchi, Yuta Nakamoto, Masashi Kano, Yumi Shinoda and Norimasa Noguchi reported on their professional works, lessons learned and future aspirations. They were joined by Nagashima-kun, Takemasa-kun and Ito-san for dinner.
Eight former Hasegawa seminar students discussed their working conditions and family lives with their former teacher.
Hasegawa Seminar First Year Student Hirano Kyoko had a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony at famous Nogi Shrine which was established in November 1923 in honor of General Nogi Maresuke and his wife Shizuko.
Kisho Tsuchiya argues “East Timor Problem” was a tragedy caused by imposition of the logic of “national Self-determination”.
At the foot of Mount Fuji, former Hasegawa students discussed the challenges facing them as well as their employers. In the manufacturing sector, they found the need for their companies to transform as well as themselves, while in the service sector, they felt the high expectations imposed on them.
They spent several hours until mid-night discussing their roles and challenges they had faced in their work, work-life balance, and universal values in enhancing their career as well as their life.
On 29 November 2014, an annual OB/OG reunion dinner was held at cafe carat. This year, it was organized by Ms. Minako Ishikawa and Ms. Yui Narikawa who are the seventh year students of the Hasegawa seminar. 34 former students kindly came and enjoyed this party. As usual, they introduced themselves and talked to each other about their recent activities. After that, Professor Hasegawa gave a presentation about his activities in 2014 as well as some messages to seminar students. He kindly mentioned the way how to survive such a globalized competitive society and how to get happiness. We also decided that the next reunion party will be held by the second year students of the seminar. All of us seemed to enjoy the dinner and miss the days of seminar activities with Professor Hasegawa. (Minako Ishikawa)
On 29th November 2014, a class union of the Hasegawa seminar class held its annual reunion in the café carat of Nakameguro, Tokyo. This party was organized mainly by Ms. Narikawa and Ms. Ishikawa who are the seventh year students of the Hasegawa seminar class. More than thirty graduates and Professor Hasegawa participated in the event. They talked about not only their good old days but also their present situation. After a pleasant chat, Professor Hasegawa made a speech entitled “How to overcome the global competitive society and how to be happy: Looking back on my activities in 2014”. He suggested that we know ourselves, especially termini ad quem of our self-actualization, with the phrases by Lao Tzu, Son Tzu and Confucius as well as Immanuel Kant. Finally, he gave us a lot of his favorite ties. As for the next class union, the second year students of the seminar will play a central role in planning and organizing. We are looking forward to your next participation and a happy reunion. (Shogo Yoshida)
Mr. Shogo Yoshida, former student of Professor Hasegawa’s seminar class (2013), is accepted by the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo (Todai) for his study in the Human Security. He will be enrolled in the international relations course with major in International Social Science. We congratulate Shogo on this accomplishment and wish him all the best in his graduate school study at the Todai.
The final Kurosawa seminar class was held on 9 January 2014. In the 4th period, Professor Kurosawa gave some important presentations to seminar students. At first, he explained about international contributions by Japanese then he referred to the structure of United Nations’ staff. After that, he showed some models to start working for the United Nations and explained some important preparations needed to work for the UN. In addition, he pointed out some fundamental skills as a member of Japanese society.
In the first half of the 5th period, Professor Kurosawa mentioned former Yugoslavia conflict, using some movies, pictures and news. He elaborated that this conflict was tripartite conflict by Croats, Muslim and Serbs. There were various opinions regarding causes of the conflict, but one of them was fear of genocide by other ethnic groups and self-protection.
Finally, all seminar students commented impressions and playbacks looking back the Kurosawa seminar’s activities of this year. Then the students presented their study reports to Professor Kurosawa.
After the seminars, seminar students and Professor Kurosawa enjoyed the last diner together. (Yasuki Uchiyama)
On 7 December 2013, Professor Hasegawa`s former students numbering as many as 46 gathered together at Place de Nostalgie table for a reunion dinner. Many came from outside of Tokyo, including Mr. Soichiro Hirabayashi who came from the southern island of Kyushu. The reunion meeting was organized by Ms. Sayuri Maruyama and Mr. Keiki Takemasa of the 6th Year Seminar Class. Each class students spoke about what they are doing after graduation from Hosei University. Mr. Yusuke Noda who is currently studying at University of Sussex in England addressed the group by a video message. Many of the participants went to a follow-on dinner after the formal reunion. (Yasuki Uchiyama)
On 28 November 2013, Professor Hasegawa visited the Kurosawa seminar for the first time in almost one year. In this seminar, first, five students made presentations about the peacebuilding in Timor-Leste referring to Chapter 5 to 8 of the “Primordial Leadership” written by Professor Hasegawa. (Uchiyama)
On 14 November 2013, Kurosawa seminar students visited ADB (Asia Development Bank) office in Tokyo, which was located in Kasumigaseki building, to report back results of a study trip to Cambodia. Kurosawa seminar students met Mr. Tomomi Tamaki, Representative of Tokyo Office. Each of governance team, human rights team and education team explained respectively what they learned in Cambodia. After that Mr. Tamaki made comments about their reports. He told that governance and education are very sensitive. ADB tackles with governance issues by project base. For education, ADB provides secondary education support. (Yuko Honda)
On 7 November 2013, two seminar students gave presentations on current situation in African countries: Somalia and the Congo. Yuko Honda explained the process of civil war in Somalia and UNSOMⅠ/Ⅱ (United Nations Operation in SomaliaⅠ/Ⅱ). Yuhi Kawase talked about conflicts in DRC and MONUC (Mission of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). After questions and answers among seminar students, Professor Kurosawa mentioned changes in a role of PKO and problems related to armed soldiers in refugee camps. (Sayaka Yatabe)
On 17 October, eight seminar students gave presentations about the themes and outlines of their seminar reports. After each presentation, many students asked questions actively and discussed various issues. Then at the end of 5th period, Professor Kurosawa described his impression about the joint session of the study tours which was held on 12 October 2013. He pointed out some points which should be improved. Students learned appropriate manners and behaviors for working in the society. (Yuhi Kawase)
On 12 October 2013, there was seminar presentation in which 5 (Mori, Suzuki, Okada, Kurosawa, Goto) seminars reported their study tours. Firstly, Mori seminar presented about policy of America regarding Asia rebalance.
Secondly, Suzuki seminar presented about relationship between Japan and Vietnam.
Thirdly, Okada seminar presented about Hong Kong.
Fourthly, Kurosawa seminar presented about Cambodia.
Finally, Goto seminar presented about Indonesia and Myanmar.
After their presentations, four professors commented about presentation of five seminars.
Goto professor: It is dangerous to believe 100% of what staff of JICA and other institutions explained, because they said only good things.
Okada professor: it is important to meet local people.
Suzuki professor: it is important to make a plan by students.
Kurosawa professor; it is important to think about oneself objectively and to think about various issues from global perspectives. (Yoon Junho)
Kurosawa Seminar’s first class of fall semester was held on September 26 of 2013. During 4th period, Yasuki Uchiyama gave the orientation about the fall semester. He explained about a plan of lecture. After this orientation, we saw a video of the study tour in Cambodia which was created by Professor Kurosawa.
During 5th period, we discussed the reports of Cambodian study tour. All of the seminar students checked the reports of the meetings of organizations which we visited, such as UNICEF, CJCC, World Bank, Japanese Embassy. Finally, Professor Kurosawa provides his comments on the reports. (Yuhi Kawase)
On 22 August 2013, Kurosawa seminar visited ADB (Asian Development Bank) office in Tokyo, which was located in Kasumigaseki building.
Mr. Tomomi Tamaki, Representative of Tokyo Office, explained us about outline of ADB.
The main salient points are as follows:
– ADB was founded by 1966, headquarter was located in Manila, Philippines.
– The member countriesof ADB are 57.
– Main purpose is to help developing countries in Asia.
– Main investment countries are Japan and America.
– The number of professional staff from Japan in ADB is 149, while the number of total professional staff is 1076.
– The share of Japanese staff is about 15.3%.
– There are two types of financing in ADB; one is OCR (Ordinary Capital Resources), the other is ADF (Asian Development Fund).
Comparatively developed country in Asia such as India can receive OCR. OCR is concessional loan, so country which accepts OCR should repay back.
On the other hand, a poverty-stricken country such as Bangladesh can receive ADF. ADF has a low interest rate, but country which accepts ADF has responsibility of explaining how they use money for their country. ADF is usually used for project such as education, social security. More a poverty-stricken country receive grant. Also some countries receive both OCR and ADF.
– The share of Japanese and American contribution to OCR is same percentage, but Japanese contribution to ADF is much higher than America.
– ADB has long-term strategy for 2020.
There are three development agendas for Asia and the Pacific;
1. Inclusive Economic Growth
2. Environmentally Sustainable Growth
3. Regional Integration.
5 core areas of operations:
(1) Infrastructure
(2) Environment
(3) Regional cooperation and Integration
(4) Finance Sector development
(5) Education
(Yoon Junho)