Former JAXA Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa Appointed as Special Professor at Kyorin University, Encourages Freshmen at Entrance Ceremony
Former JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa has been appointed as a Special Professor at Kyorin University's Faculty of Medicine as of April 1, 2026. He delivered a special lecture at the entrance ceremony to inspire the new students.
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- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 23:35
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 15:00
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 14:49 (287h 49m after Collected)
【Highlights】
- Former JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa has been appointed as a Special Professor at Kyorin University's Faculty of Medicine as of April 1, 2026.
He delivered a special lecture at the 2026 academic year entrance ceremony, introducing his work and life in space based on his own experiences. He sent a supportive message to the incoming students, expressing his desire to encourage their challenges.
- He introduced the "four skills" he believes the younger generation should acquire.
【Overview】
Kyorin University (Mitaka City, Tokyo; President: Takashi Watanabe) announces that former JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa has assumed the position of Special Professor at Kyorin University's Faculty of Medicine as of April 1, 2026. Mr. Furukawa chose the path of a university professor with the desire to utilize his experiences and learnings from working in international teams with colleagues of various expertise to support the growth of the younger generation in university education.
At the entrance ceremony held on Sunday, April 5, Mr. Furukawa gave a special lecture for the new students. During the lecture, he introduced aspects of work and life on the International Space Station, accompanied by videos. As a lesson learned from his experiences in space, he stated, "Just as 'gravity', which we usually take for granted, is not a given in space, it is sometimes necessary to question what is called common sense." Furthermore, as a congratulatory message to the freshmen, he offered encouragement: "Your university years are a precious time when you can gain various experiences. Broaden your horizons and take on many challenges. I am cheering for your endeavors."
The "Four Skills" Mr. Furukawa Wants Students to Acquire
Upon joining Kyorin University, Mr. Furukawa spoke about the skills he wants students to acquire as follows:
"1. The ability to continue learning"
- Learning is not only for your student days; it is necessary to continue it throughout your life.
-> Finding and mastering a learning method that suits you.
"2. The ability to think independently"
- Thinking with your own head without swallowing information unquestioningly.
- Thinking logically and being able to make decisions even in situations where the correct answer is unclear.
- Being able to explain the reasons for your decisions in your own words.
"3. The ability to work in a team"
- Being able to demonstrate leadership and followership depending on the situation.
- In human relations, valuing both others and yourself (= assertive).
- Former JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa has been appointed as a Special Professor at Kyorin University's Faculty of Medicine as of April 1, 2026.
He delivered a special lecture at the 2026 academic year entrance ceremony, introducing his work and life in space based on his own experiences. He sent a supportive message to the incoming students, expressing his desire to encourage their challenges.
- He introduced the "four skills" he believes the younger generation should acquire.
【Overview】
Kyorin University (Mitaka City, Tokyo; President: Takashi Watanabe) announces that former JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa has assumed the position of Special Professor at Kyorin University's Faculty of Medicine as of April 1, 2026. Mr. Furukawa chose the path of a university professor with the desire to utilize his experiences and learnings from working in international teams with colleagues of various expertise to support the growth of the younger generation in university education.
At the entrance ceremony held on Sunday, April 5, Mr. Furukawa gave a special lecture for the new students. During the lecture, he introduced aspects of work and life on the International Space Station, accompanied by videos. As a lesson learned from his experiences in space, he stated, "Just as 'gravity', which we usually take for granted, is not a given in space, it is sometimes necessary to question what is called common sense." Furthermore, as a congratulatory message to the freshmen, he offered encouragement: "Your university years are a precious time when you can gain various experiences. Broaden your horizons and take on many challenges. I am cheering for your endeavors."
The "Four Skills" Mr. Furukawa Wants Students to Acquire
Upon joining Kyorin University, Mr. Furukawa spoke about the skills he wants students to acquire as follows:
"1. The ability to continue learning"
- Learning is not only for your student days; it is necessary to continue it throughout your life.
-> Finding and mastering a learning method that suits you.
"2. The ability to think independently"
- Thinking with your own head without swallowing information unquestioningly.
- Thinking logically and being able to make decisions even in situations where the correct answer is unclear.
- Being able to explain the reasons for your decisions in your own words.
"3. The ability to work in a team"
- Being able to demonstrate leadership and followership depending on the situation.
- In human relations, valuing both others and yourself (= assertive).