Chancellor's Message

NIU was established through a public private partnership between our parent organization, Kyushu Bunka Gakuen, the Prefecture of Nagasaki, the City of Sasebo, and key local stakeholders. Nevertheless, what sustains us is the great enthusiasm and cooperation we receive from the community. 

 The heart and soul of our university is tied to the tea ceremony. Spanning the more than 70 years since Kyushu Bunka Gakuen was founded, the tea ceremony has occupied an integral part of our educational principles. The tea ceremony is more than an art form; it is a philosophy. Contained within it are the history of ideas and culture which provide it with a certain transcendent quality.

The tea ceremony is based on the idea of the "seat". The person who serves the tea and the person who drinks it both sit and share the same space. In the context of a university, it encompasses the concepts of teacher and student, and of junior and senior, both viewing each other with mutual respect. In light of these qualities, the heart and soul of NIU can be expressed by the term hospitality. I believe that the principle of hospitality which is to be found in the tea ceremony can be beneficial to all people regardless of department of study, area of specialization or future plans. Many universities are founded on the principles of Christianity or Buddhism. One could say the same about the tea ceremony at NIU. 

My wish is for students to continue to refine in themselves the principle of hospitality, develop as individuals and pursue their hopes for the future. In this way, they will be able to give back to the community who will, in turn, respect and value their contributions.

Naoki Abe
Kyushu Bunka Gakuen Group, Chancellor