Mari Hirotsuru – Summer in JAPAN

Opening Messages

Summer in JAPAN President and Founder: Mari Hirotsuru

Opening Speech Summer in JAPAN 2025

Eager students, esteemed instructors and honoured guests from across Japan and the world, welcome to Oita! It is a true pleasure and privilege to greet all of you here at SIJ 2025. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for gathering in the spirit of curiosity, growth, and connection.

To every Harvard instructor and participating student: I hope you find this experience not only intellectually enriching, but also personally transformative, and that the joy of learning together here stays with you for a lifetime. I’d also like to express my appreciation to Governor Sato and the representatives from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Akita International University, and Oita City.

I want to start by showing you this picture. What could this be? What could it mean? This is actually alien language from the movie Arrival. In this movie, aliens make an “arrival” on Earth, and they only communicate with these circular ink patterns.

At first, no one could understand these octopus shaped creatures. People are afraid, but one linguist Luiset begins by telling them “Hi, my name is Louise.” “What’s your name?” “What’s your purpose on Earth?” As she learns their language day by day, she recognizes, just like this ink they spit is nonlinear, their ideas also have no past, no present or future, so a concept like ‘purpose’ does not make sense because they can already see the beginning and the end.

No spoilers, right? Sorry, but with this new language as a tool, she unlocks new understandings of time and space, enabling her to learn from the aliens and ultimately save the Earth.

Why am I sharing this with you?

Because I believe languages are connected to how cultures view the world. Arrival itself is the product of many voices: a French-Canadian director, a Taiwanese-American author, English speaking actors, and this diversity made the story profound and thought-provoking .

At SIJ, you have the opportunities to work in that same international environment. However, our fears and anxieties can create barriers that keep us from talking to new people. English can help you break through these walls, and give you the bravery to share yourself with the world.

For me, too, organizing SIJ is a challenge. I search for not just excellent and authentic teachers but the ones who have empathy, and are respectful of students’ individual challenges in order to bring out their hidden talents. To do this, I use both English and Japanese. I use English to collect people who can make an impact because English is clear, direct, and confident. I use Japanese to build harmony and trust with local partners and supporters. Being multilingual allows me to do more.

Finally, I want to remind you that there are two different functions of speaking.

First one, everyday conversation can be a soft, graceful tool to connect gently, from a safe emotional distance. For example, when I say, “looks like it’s going to rain.” I’m not forecasting the weather. I’m saying, “I care so much about you.” It creates space for warmth without intrusion. Small talk is a key to success in your daily relationships.

Second one, public speaking is a bold, focused tool. It empowers you to share your ideas with clarity, strength, and conviction. You can influence, inspire, and lead. When you give a speech, like I am today, you have to believe in your words and yourself.

So, during your time at SIJ, I encourage you to practice both. Speak as the persuasive YOU, who seeks to make today’s headlines. But also embrace the relaxed YOU, who simply enjoys the moment over a shared laugh.

We need both clarity of speech and compassionate silence. We need the courage to connect, and the humility to listen. Let us begin with being good to each other, take this opportunity to learn, grow, and spread your wings to fly high!

Thank you.