I have assumed the role of President of Kobe University as of April 1, 2015, and will lead this institution during the next four years. Established in 1902, Kobe University is a large-scale comprehensive university with a long tradition and I am humbled to take on the role of President at such an established university The origin of Kobe University can be traced back to Kobe Higher Commercial School, an institution of higher education founded in 1902. Presenting an opportunity to look back over the one hundred plus years of the university's history, and to gain a perspective for the future, the Compilation Committee for the Centennial History of Kobe University is currently in the process of publishing a chronicle titled, "The Centennial History of Kobe University." It may also be relevant for the university to gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of how each successor institution built on the achievements of its predecessor and eventually integrated into the present day Kobe University.