Irreplaceable Encounters and a Place Where I Could Share My Thoughts with Ease

Creating a Space Where “Peace” Becomes a Personal Issue

Before entering Eikei University of Hiroshima, I had a clear goal: to establish a peace‑focused outreach hub that would encourage people to think about the future of Hiroshima before I graduated. As hibakusha continue to age, I felt a strong desire not to let peace remain merely a historical memory. Instead, I wanted to create a place where anyone could engage with peace as their own personal issue. My aim during university was to design and put into practice a new model of peace communication—one that would enable young people of my generation to participate easily and naturally.

I chose Eikei University of Hiroshima because it offered the ideal environment to realize this goal. To continue engaging meaningfully in peace activities and social issues in Hiroshima, I needed a university located in an urban area where it would be easy to establish a base for such work. I also needed a place that would allow me to develop multi‑perspective, interdisciplinary thinking, along with an international environment where I could encounter diverse values and worldviews.

Moreover, I was drawn to the fact that it was a new university with small class sizes, enabling deep dialogue with peers and faculty. I was confident that this was the place where I could bring my ideas to life—and that conviction ultimately led me to enroll.

Gaining the Ability to Generate Results Through Practical Processes and Diverse Learning Experiences

At Eikei University of Hiroshima, my perspective on social issues expanded significantly through interactions with students, professors, and working professionals of various ages and nationalities. As I engaged in discussions with many different people, I found that my past experiences—along with the questions and sense of discomfort I had long carried—began to connect in meaningful ways. This allowed me to recognize the deeper, more fundamental issues underlying societal challenges.

The learning experiences that influenced me most were Project-Based Learning (PBL), the Experiential and Practical Programs, and my Degree Project. Through these opportunities, I was able to practice the full cycle of identifying questions, analyzing them, shaping ideas, and guiding them toward solutions.

In particular, PBL taught me how dramatically the approach and quality of final outcomes can change depending on the composition of the group and the characteristics of its members. Working in diverse environments forced me to think critically about how I should position myself within a team to help bring out its full potential. Through continuous trial and error in real-world settings, I gained invaluable experience in motivating team members and advancing projects—strengthening my Energetic drive, one of the five competencies fostered at Eikei University of Hiroshima.

Evolving Toward a Clearer Vision — And the Path Ahead

Through these practical learning experiences, my aspirations grew beyond simply becoming a “planner.” They evolved into a far clearer vision: to create mechanisms through which every individual’s voice can genuinely reach society—and ultimately contribute to real, tangible change.

After graduation, I hope to contribute to building a society where no one is overlooked. To do so, I aim to address the often‑invisible barriers that exist between individuals and social issues—barriers such as the difficulty of engaging or the challenge of feeling personally connected to an issue. I want to approach these obstacles with care, helping to ease them step by step.

I believe that true progress begins when each person develops their own thoughts and opinions about why a particular issue matters and why it should be addressed—and feels comfortable expressing those views naturally, without hesitation. Creating an environment where this becomes possible is, I believe, the key to fundamentally solving social issues.

Message to Prospective Students and Juniors

During your university life, I encourage you to meet people from all walks of life—regardless of their background or age—and engage with them again and again. By “engage,” I do not simply mean casual conversation, but meaningful dialogue where you come to understand each other’s thoughts and values at a deeper level. As you encounter diverse perspectives, take the time to articulate what you felt and how you thought about it, and record those reflections. From my own experience, I can say that this practice is incredibly valuable.

For me, Eikei University of Hiroshima has been a place where I could share my thoughts without fear—
a place that gave me irreplaceable connections and a true sense of belonging.

KAJIWARA Momoe – EIKEI UNIVERSITY OF HIROSHIMA(Japan)