Happy New Year!
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional kindness and support we received throughout the past year, and I would like to extend my best wishes for 2026.
In 2025, two researchers from Japan were awarded Nobel Prizes―Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi received the Prize for Physiology or Medicine, and Dr. Susumu Kitagawa received the Prize for Chemistry. This marked the first time since 2015 that two Japanese researchers received a Nobel Prize in the same year, reaffirming to the world Japan’s enduring strength as a nation of science and technology. The fact that years of steady and dedicated research have culminated in achievements that illuminate the future of humanity is a great encouragement to all of us engaged in academic pursuits.
At Chubu University as well, we have achieved steady progress in both education and research. In the Asahi Shimbun Publications University Rankings 2026, released last year, Chubu University ranked first nationwide in post-graduation employment rate for the third consecutive year, solidifying our standing as a university with strong student support. In addition, Professor Hisashi Yamamoto, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Peptide Research Center, was awarded the Order of Culture by the Japanese government, while Professor Mitsuo Sawamoto (Executive Advisor of the Frontier Research Institute) and Fellow Yuki Konagaya (Academy of Emerging Sciences) were selected as Persons of Cultural Merit. These honors attest to the high caliber of research excellence at our university.
Furthermore, Chubu University Haruhigaoka High School celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025, marking another milestone as it further enhances and develops its educational environment, advancing the creation of an even more attractive school. Going forward with an integrated academic management framework for our Educational Corporation, we will continue to strengthen our ties with the local community and grow together.
Finally, in April 2026, we will launch the Chubu University Educational Corporation Vision 2026–2030 Action Plan. This will be the third phase and will build on the achievements of the current 2021–2025 Action Plan. This new vision is founded on two pillars—the deepening of academic learning and robust organizational management—and aims to further elevate education, research, and collaboration with the community. Through our new platform for co-creation of knowledge, the “Greater Chubu University Initiative”, we will pursue sustainable development. Looking ahead to our 100th anniversary in 2038, we will continue to grow together with the community while enhancing Chubu University on a global scale.
Guided by our founding principle, “Acta, Non Verba,” we will continue to take on new challenges, and we ask for your continued support and guidance. I wish you a wonderful year, filled with hope.
January 2026
Chubu University Educational Corporation
Chair
Yoshimi Takeuchi