On Saturday, July 19th, 2025, amidst this scorching summer, the Atsumi Foundation fellows attended the Director's lecture and barbeque party, hosted at Associate Director Imanishi's home. While I had attended a number of events hosted by the foundation before, this was an especially memorable day as it was a home event, with this special space making the atmosphere much warmer and relaxing. The amiable air since greeting each other at the entrance, participants chatting naturally even as they met for the first time, this quick opening up to each other left an impression on me.

First, Executive Director Atsumi gave a lecture in the living room. I was very touched that the drawings made by the fellows at the Nirasaki workshop last month were put on display in this pleasant room. Apparently, normally our senior fellows can also join, but because of the space limitation this time, the 2025 fellows and their families were prioritized this year.

The Executive Director's lecture explained the journey, as well as the principles behind the establishment, of Kajima Corporation. What I understood is that the company, established in the late Edo period, constantly pursued innovation while meeting the demands of the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and present era, and what enabled that was the company's sincere investment in human resource development and technology. The Executive Director brought up various tangible examples, from the "Cut and Take Down Method" of demolishing building quietly from the ground up, to a future-oriented project of building residential base in space, to share with us the broad and deep vision of Kajima.

In the questions and answers session after the lecture, some raised sharp questions related to management strategy such as "how is Kajima maintaining the motivation to technological innovation" or "are there plans to expand into sectors beyond construction." I learned from the Executive Director's answer to view technology not merely as a means to an end, but as something that should coexist with human values and cultures. This was a thought-provoking perspective to an aspiring academic such as myself as well.

After the lecture, the long-awaited barbeque party began. This time, a professional catering team served us with perfectly grilled meat and vegetables, and we could not hide our blissful reactions from our face. There was also a watermelon smashing session, and we had a lot of fun with all the cheering echoing.

Interacting at a dining party brings certain realization and connection that is hard to get in a more official setting. By not being too serious and going with the flow, the conversation about our research theme, career and interests naturally got deeper, giving me a lot to learn. What was especially memorable was that I was able to greet a senior fellow who also specializes in modern Japanese ideological history for the first time. Previously my only connection was through academic writings, but unexpectedly, I was able to have a long conversation in this kind of setting. This made me realize again how strong the connection the Atsumi Foundation fosters is.

Furthermore, the senior fellows gave a lot of advices without reservations with regards to my concerns and anxieties in my path after receiving a PhD. These were very reassuring and meaningful. The fact that there are friends facing the same challenges despite our different fields and positions, and that we could listen to the voices of our seniors who have over come those challenges, give me great strength to face the future.

As we socialized, the night grew darker. Time always flies by when you are having fun. While I longed for more, I returned home, looking forward to future communions with the Atsumi family. Once again, I am extremely grateful for being able to share such a precious time with others, thanks to the Atsumi Foundation.

Written by: Liu Sheldon (2025 Fellow)

Picture from the event