Associate Director for Administration
Stanford Institute for International Studies
hearing the cuckoo’s cry―
I long for Kyoto.
This road―
no one goes down it,
autumn evening.
The whitebait
opens its black eye
in the net of the law.
Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)
Kyoto is a very special place, made even more beautiful by the kind and generous spirit of the people who live and work there. After seeing the Center in Kyoto last December and learning more about the research and teaching efforts being undertaken there, I was enlightened. I left Kyoto very much impressed. Both Shiho Barbir and I appreciated the warm welcome and the gracious hospitality extended to us by Nakamura-san, Naoko, Kita-chan and others during our time in Kyoto and Tokyo.
We are getting close to the end of the academic year here at Stanford. It is a busy time at the Institute with numerous events, budget meetings, and our bi-annual Board of Visitors meeting in May. Much has been accomplished this past year under the leadership of our new director, Chip Blacker. The Institute has had continued success with all of the Center’s research and teaching efforts; developed a stronger fund-raising and outreach program; been involved in helping to develop and implement the new initiative in the area of international studies to extend Stanford’s global reach; and welcomed many new staff and visitors over the past year. We are currently talking with
prospective donors about ways to increase our strength in Japanese politics and Korean Studies. Our new outreach program, under the direction of Associate Director for Communications, Klas Bergman, working closely with faculty and staff throughout the Institute, has resulted in a new name, a new logo, a new newsletter, Encina Columns, and a new electronic newsletter SIIS on-line, a redesigned SIIS website, and new Center and Institute annual reports.
When the Stanford Japan Center was established in 1989, the objective was to conduct education and research that furthers mutual understanding between Japan and the U.S., and to contribute extensively to friendship and exchange through academic activities. Many people who are no longer at the Institute had the vision and leadership to develop the Center in Kyoto. Fifteen years later, encouraging collaboration across institutional and disciplinary boundaries is critical to achieving the mission of the Institute, and multidisciplinary research and teaching have been identified by Stanford’s president and provost as a key part of Stanford University’s mission today. While many
challenges lie ahead for SIIS, SJC-R, and the University in fulfilling our mission, the original founding objective of the Stanford Japan Center has most certainly been met.
