Today marks 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
On behalf of Tohoku University, I once again offer my deepest condolences to all who lost family members, friends and loved ones, and to those in our community who continue to live with the effects of this tragedy.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to everyone whose lives have been affected by disasters in the years since, including the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes and the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. Our thoughts remain with all communities still working to recover and rebuild.
The events of March 11, 2011 profoundly changed Tohoku University. Before that day, universities were not always closely connected with society. Yet through the unprecedented and shared experience of the earthquake and tsunami, we came to recognize the importance of standing with and working alongside our communities. Over the past 15 years, we have mourned and healed together. We have also drawn strength from knowledge and experience, transforming ourselves into a university that works in close partnership with society.
Today, we are moving beyond reconstruction to become a center for sharing knowledge on disaster prevention and mitigation, both in Japan and around the world. As part of this commitment, we have recently announced the establishment of a new Disaster Science Course at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies. It is a program that is the first of its kind in the world.
We are advancing our Science Park Initiative to the Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture. And our Center for Fundamental 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 on Nuclear Safety and Decommissioning is working towards the safe decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
Through these efforts, our university is committed to addressing every stage of disaster response, from preparedness and prevention, to recovery and reconstruction. As a University for International 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 Excellence, we are not only supporting recovery but fostering talent, driving impact and creating lasting change. By drawing on the lessons of the past, we will help cultivate leaders who can guide us toward a safer and more resilient future.
Teiji Tominaga
Tohoku University, President
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Tohoku University PR Department
Email: public_relations
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