Daisetz T. Suzuki and Kitaro Nishida, both former students of Kanazawa University (formerly known as the Fourth High School), left behind world-class achievements in the fields of philosophy, thought and religion.
In tribute to these two great scholars, the Kanazawa University International Award (the “KUI Award”) has been founded in 2017 by Dr.Mitsuru Usui, who graduated in faculty of Medicine in Kanazawa University, to honor scholars or researchers who have made internationally outstanding achievements in the fields of philosophy, thought and religion.
The “KUI Award” aims to facilitate international cooperation and the further advancement of academic research in the world through Kanazawa University as a global academic and research institution.
Message
WADA Takashi Kanazawa University President
The “KUI Award” has been founded in 2017 in commemoration of Daisetz T. Suzuki & Kitaro Nishida, both graduates of Kanazawa University. This Award aims to facilitate international cooperation and the further advancement of academic research in the world through Kanazawa University as a global academic and research institution. We hope that Kanazawa University as a global academic contributes to international society, research institution through this award. Furthermore, we expect to throw up outstanding researchers followed by Daisetz T. Suzuki & Kitaro Nishida unceasingly.
Philosophers with connections to Kanazawa University
Daisetz T. Suzuki (鈴木 大拙)
Kitaro Nishida (西田 幾多郎)
Daisetz T. Suzuki（1870-1966）and Kitaro Nishida（1870-1945）are two of the most prominent philosophers and thinkers of modern Japan. Daisetz T. Suzuki made major contributions to the introduction of Eastern thought, particularly Zen, all over the world. He pursued a lifelong quest for spiritual awareness, recognizing it as the core of Buddhism. Kitaro Nishida, the originator of a unique philosophical movement resulting in the world of “Nishida’s philosophy”, educated numerous scholars and researchers in what came to be known as the “Kyoto School.” Nishida won the Order of Culture in 1940, and Suzuki won the same in 1949.
Both Suzuki and Nishida were born and raised in Ishikawa Prefecture and studied at the Fourth Advanced Middle School, the predecessor of the Fourth High School established in Kanazawa City under Japan’s former education system. That these two great talents both appeared in Kanazawa can be put down to the city’s history as an academic center characterized by a unique spiritual climate and a culture based on thought and philosophy. In 1899, Kitaro Nishida was appointed a professor at the Fourth High School, where he taught for around 10 years.
※The Fourth High School is one of the predecessors of Kanazawa University.
Mitsuru Usui Doctor
The Kanazawa University International Award was founded in 2017 with my donation as one of the founders because of the recognition that it is necessary to disseminate the characteristics of Kanazawa University and ancient city Kanazawa, as well as Japanese culture, to the world in response to the selection of the university as a Top Global University.
In commemoration of Kitaro Nishida and Daisetz T. Suzuki, two of Japan's leading philosophers both of whom are associated with Kanazawa University, we introduce Japanese philosophy and culture to the world.
It is my great pleasure that the international recognition of the Award attracting outstanding researchers mainly in the fields of philosophy, thought, and religion, which has a prize of 5 million yen, is increasing more and more.