NEWS

1 January, 2013 KORENAGA Shun President, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Vice-Chancellor, The Ritsumeikan Trust

My greetings to you all as we celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

Although almost 68 years have passed since the end of the Second World War, East Asia continues to be faced with standoffs that cloud our prospects for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. Changing this uncertain outlook into a forward-looking and positive one will be an uphill task that requires an atmosphere conducive to the open and frank discussion of the issues. We remain confronted with the tough task of facing up to our history as we contemplate our future. However, by rising to these challenges we can open up new peaceful horizons for East Asia.

“Creating a Future Beyond Borders” is Ritsumeikan Academy’s vision for 2020. This vision looks towards a world where borders are overcome and where new ideas and actions take place. But it also embraces people’s hopes for the future. Ever since APU was established we have pursued a mission of “Freedom, Peace and Humanity” and together with our Academy’s vision for 2020, we look forward to welcoming a bright new future. By providing a venue for different people to come together and interact on common ground, APU is a suitable environment for developing global minds and we will continue to produce robust and skilled graduates in the years to come.