We extend our heartfelt condolences to those affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred on January 1 of this year. We sincerely wish for a swift recovery and reconstruction. As a university located in the affected area, we are committed to contributing to these efforts.

As you are aware, contemporary society is filled with various problems and contradictions. There are countless issues that could be listed. We believe the role of the humanities and social sciences in addressing these societal challenges is significant.

In response to this, researchers connected to Kanazawa University have gathered to confront these various challenges, engage in discussions and disseminate research findings, leading to the establishment of this center. The members consist of researchers from diverse fields such as literature, sociology and economics. The role of this center is to consolidate these research outcomes and provide solutions to the issues facing contemporary society.

With the establishment of this center, members will bring together their individual research findings and insights, refining them through collaborative research to contribute to and make recommendations for society. Active discussions have already begun in each division, and there is ongoing progress in utilizing mutual research insights to scale up and publicly share research outcomes.

The Noto Peninsula Earthquake caused various types of damage. Among them, important heritage such as customs, traditions and literature preserved in each region is at risk of disappearing, as you may already be aware. While the earthquake itself was an unavoidable disaster, the cultural and social damage that arose from it can be minimized through the wisdom that humanity has cultivated over time and future-oriented research. We are committed to ensuring that this center functions as a foundation to confront this significant challenge without turning a blind eye to it.