Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University appoints Soichi Noguchi as special assistant to the president
“I want to inspire students and researchers and tell them that the possibilities of space are expanding,” he said at his inauguration press conference.
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Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, President: Yoshio Nakatani, hereinafter referred to as Ritsumeikan) is a former JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut who has completed three space flights and is a leader in Japan’s manned space
activities. Mr. Soichi Noguchi has been appointed as special assistant to the president. We also announced the appointment of Special Assistant to the President Noguchi as a research advisor to the Ritsumeikan University Space and Earth Exploration Research Center (ESEC), which was established by Ritsumeikan University in July 2023. We would like to report on the inaugural press conference held on December 1st at the Ritsumeikan Tokyo Campus.
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“Developing human resources with comprehensive knowledge to pilot the future of Ritsumeikan.” President Nakatani
At the outset, President Nakatani stated that Ritsumeikan aims to create social coexistence value and become a next-generation research university, and spoke about the reasons for the appointment and expectations for the position of Special Assistant to President Noguchi.
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“The great challenges that Special Assistant to the President Noguchi has taken on so far have given us great hope.I strongly believe that this is the same as our school vision for 2030, “More freedom to take on challenges.” I felt that way.When I asked him to serve as a pilot for Ritsumeikan in the future, he readily accepted.Ritsumeikan Academy offers a diverse range of learning opportunities in a consistent educational and research environment from elementary school to junior high school, high school, university, and graduate school. We offer you the opportunity.
You can develop human resources with comprehensive knowledge from a medium- to long-term perspective. We look forward to creating a bright future for the next generation, and would like to ask for your cooperation in spreading the word about our university’s efforts to the world.”
He emphasized that the role played by Special Assistant to the President Noguchi is particularly important at ESEC. “The next five to 10 years will be a very important period for space exploration and development. We established ESEC as a flagship university with a strong desire to contribute to Japan’s space exploration and peaceful uses of space. ESEC’s vision of “contributing to the maintenance and expansion of humanity’s right to exist” is truly an unprecedented challenge.To realize this goal, only 12 Japanese people who are experts in human spaceflight and who have seen the Earth from space will be able to achieve it. I thought that the knowledge of Mr. Noguchi, who is one of those people, is essential.”
“We will be able to carry out meaningful activities based on Ritsumeikan’s wonderful vision.” Special Assistant to President Noguchi/ESEC Research Advisor
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At the inauguration press conference, ESEC Director Saeki also appeared, and ESEC’s statement video was shown. The fact that ESEC is focusing on “Phase 2”, which opens up the “field” of space development, such as the development of exploration bases to establish a human survival zone in space, and the specific role expected of Research Advisor Noguchi, We explained the research activities pursued by ESEC. Center Director Saeki said, “I am very excited and happy to have Professor Noguchi as a research advisor. ESEC has researchers in a variety of fields. Professor Noguchi’s experience as an astronaut and other We would like you to leverage your experience working internationally with astronauts and researchers to become a hub that connects researchers, and also connect our activities with the government and society. We would like to work together to maintain international peace in resource development and the subsequent development of space exploration as a common challenge for all humankind.We also want to make it possible for children to dream about the future of space exploration. I think the students will be excited to hear about Professor Noguchi’s appointment.”
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Soichi Noguchi Special Assistant to the President / ESEC Research Advisor Profile
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Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1965, Ph.D. (academic).
He holds the Guinness World Records as the world’s first astronaut to successfully complete three spaceflights and return to space in three different ways. Selected as one of the “100 people in the world” by the international NPO “Genius 100” Foundation. He has received numerous awards, including the YouTube Creator Award for his “Live Performance of Chopin from Space” video, the Japanese Essential Psychology Society Essay Award for his “Study of Space Personnel,” which delves into space experiences and views on life and death, and the Boy Scouts of Japan Federation Special Achievement Award. Director of the International Social and Economic Research Institute, advisor to the United Nations WFP Association, honorary fellow of the Space Section of the International Economic Forum (WEF), project professor at the University of Tokyo, project professor at Nihon University, and others.
His publications include “How to Live: Let’s Talk About Hard Times” (Ascom), “Going to Space is Learning About Earth” (Kobunsha Shinsho), and many others. My hobbies are cooking, camping, writing lyrics, and flying airplanes.
In 2023, he became a special assistant to the president of Ritsumeikan University and a research advisor to the Ritsumeikan University Space and Earth Exploration Research Center (ESEC).