NEWS

The 34th Joint ICU-Sophia International Symposium was held on the ICU campus on December 20. This annual event, co-sponsored by ICU and Sophia University, brings together an international group of noted scholars to discuss specific interdisciplinary themes related to peace and conflict resolution. This year’s symposium was titled “Beyond Nationalism? Peacebuilding and Religion in Asia.”

ICU graduate Ariana King (June ’14) spent four years at ICU and was very involved on campus, both in the classroom and in the Global House dormitory. SInce then, she has maintained an active connection to both ICU and the Japan ICU Foundation.

Since it’s founding, ICU has been committed to fostering peace and reconciliation. Indeed, the “Plan for a New Regular University,” the document that first envisioned the establishment of ICU, begins by stating that the new university’s primary objective will be, “To contribute to the establishment of the peaceful nation and of the progress of the world culture through education based on the spirit of Christianity.” This dual commitment to peace and international concerns continues to guide ICU and the work of the Japan ICU Foundation.

Ms. Kazuko Ishihara Love, ICU graduate and Chapter Leader of the ICU Alumni Association of Hawaii, shared her reflections with the Japan ICU Foundation on what ICU has meant to her through the years.

The grand tunnel of sakura trees lining MacLean Avenue has become a symbol of ICU’s beautiful campus. After 60 years, some of the trees noticeably show signs of deteriorating vitality. In order to maintain and pass this symbol of ICU on to the next generation, the “Sakura Replanting Project” has been launched and ICU has created the “Sakura Fund” to support and promote this project.

In support of ICU, The Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) traveled to Chicago in late October to attend both a regional College Fair and an ICU Alumni Chapter gathering.

The Japan ICU Foundation Staff recently returned from a wonderful 8 day trip to Tokyo, Hiroshima and Osaka. The ICU Homecoming Tour had a wide range of activities and the participants and presenters were equally diverse in their experiences and backgrounds. The one thing that tied everyone together was their love for ICU, a strong belief in its mission to be an exemplary liberal arts university in Tokyo and its vision to be a leader in creating the next generation of peaceful, global citizens. Below is a brief description of the programs and events that were part of the ICU Homecoming Tour of October 2014.

The Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) Staff and Board of Trustees held a very successful meeting with ICU President Junko Hibiya and Dean of International Affairs Shaun Malarney in Seattle this past September. This meeting, one of two Trustees’ meetings held annually, was a great opportunity to discuss the way forward for further collaboration in the ICU-JICUF partnership.

The following is an interview of Class of 2011 ICU graduate Lilla Dent. Lilla graduated from the Division of Languages at ICU and is currently pursuing a career as a visual artist. You can see her work by visiting her website.

On September 26, ICU was selected for the Japanese Ministry of Education’s Super Global University Project. A highly selective program, ICU was one of 24 universities to be chosen for the Type B designation. The Super Global University Project aims to encourage Japanese universities to become global leaders in higher education.