On October 3, 2025, the opening ceremony for the third cohort of the Doctor of Business Administration program jointly offered by Hong Kong Business School and Josai International University was grandly held in the large conference room on the 6th floor of Building 1 at Josai International University’s Tokyo Kioicho Campus.

Attendees included Mr. Du Kewei, Minister-Counselor of the Education Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan; Mr. Kitamura Yukihisa, Managing Director of the Josai University Group (School Corporation); Mr. Kurabayashi Masato, President of Josai International University; Dr. Xu Huijun, Dean of Hong Kong Business School; Mr. Wang Jiaxun, President of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Japan and Chairman of the Japan International Advanced Education Association; along with several professors from Josai International University and newly enrolled students.

Mr. Du Kewei expressed his appreciation for the in-depth collaboration between Hong Kong Business School and Josai International University, encouraging further cooperation to contribute to the friendly exchanges in education between China and Japan. He also encouraged the students to become envoys of Sino-Japanese friendship.

Managing Director Kitamura Yukihisa and President Kurabayashi Masato detailed the specific guidance and requirements provided by Josai International University regarding dissertations. They noted that the learning journey is demanding and expressed their hope that the students would strive diligently, overcome challenges, and achieve outstanding results.

President Kurabayashi Masato particularly emphasized that new knowledge is not the only answer, and discussions with professors are crucial. He encouraged students to integrate their exceptional work experience with their studies and hoped that through learning, they could address challenges encountered in their work and business operations. He shared a metaphor: "The biggest difference between a tourist and an explorer is that a tourist brings back souvenirs, while an explorer brings back experiences." He urged the students to become explorers and transform their gains during this journey into academic achievements.

Dean Xu Huijun pointed out that this Doctor of Business Administration program is a vivid embodiment of Hong Kong Business School’s philosophy of "Integrating Knowledge and Action, Bridging East and West." He presented three expectations for the students: first, to be builders of ideas, not merely inheritors of knowledge; second, to be connectors of civilizations, not just crossers of regions; third, to be bearers of value, not merely seekers of degrees.

President Wang Jiaxun expressed gratitude to the leaders of Hong Kong Business School and Josai International University for their collaborative efforts, which enabled the educational strengths of Hong Kong and Japan to empower each other. He also extended a warm welcome to all new students embarking on this learning journey.

On behalf of the new students, Zhao Wenjie delivered a speech, stating that his motivation for pursuing a doctorate was to transition "from seeing flowers through fog to sailing through waves," and his original aspiration for choosing this program was to journey "from the shores of Hong Kong to the path of blooming cherry blossoms." He quoted Confucius: "Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous," highlighting the importance of integrating reflection with study. He also shared the Japanese concepts of "kaizen" (continuous improvement) and "温故知新" (reviewing the old to understand the new), emphasizing the significance of persistent refinement. Finally, on behalf of his peers, he set three goals: first, to become collaborative and progressive scholars; second, to serve as a cultural bridge between China and Japan; and third, to grow into pillars of society dedicated to contributing to the greater good.