Welcome

Welcome Message from the Dean

Kurozumi, Eiji
Professor, Dean of Graduate School

The world has undergone significant changes since the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and global climate change have driven up resource and food prices, while Japan’s long-standing deflation (declining prices) is shifting toward an inflationary trend. As prices rise, the prolonged era of low interest rates has come to an end, and we are now entering a period of increasing interest rates. However, wage growth has struggled to keep pace with inflation, resulting in sluggish real wages. Additionally, exchange rates have fluctuated significantly, with the Japanese yen experiencing a prolonged depreciation. In such a highly volatile and uncertain world, how can we overcome these challenges and continue to progress? Today, the ability to identify and solve problems has become essential, with "problem identification and resolution skills" increasingly emphasized even in junior high and high school education. But how can we develop these skills? Economics serves as a powerful tool for this purpose, and at the same time, personal self-improvement through continuous learning ("self-discipline") is crucial.

Economics is a systematic discipline that emphasizes logical reasoning. By learning it step by step from the basics, one can develop strong "logical thinking" skills. Observing global events objectively and analyzing them from an economic perspective helps identify underlying issues. Through economic reasoning, one can then determine appropriate solutions. A crucial aspect of this process is not merely relying on economic theories alone but supporting arguments with data—namely, evidence-based logical thinking. By making judgments based on both evidence and the logical reasoning derived from economics, conclusions go beyond theoretical abstractions and become meaningful, practical insights.

The Faculty of Economics at Hitotsubashi University offers specialized courses systematically numbered by level-100, 200, and 300-allowing students to progress step by step from basic to advanced topics. The 100-level courses include core subjects such as Introduction to Economics, providing a structured foundation for students beginning their studies. The 200-level courses build on this basic knowledge, enabling students to take more specialized subjects. From the third year onward, students can further deepen their expertise through small-group seminars.

For those seeking additional academic challenges, we offer a Five-Year Combined B.A. and M.A. Program in Economics, in which both Bachelor and Master degrees in Economics are to be completed within 5 years, one year shorter than a regular two-year master course program. At the graduate level, the Master's program includes core courses at the intermediate and advanced levels, along with a variety of specialized subjects. Additionally, selected students participate in an Advanced Professional Training Program based on four types of Professional Analyst Courses. Hitotsubashi University also has partnerships with many overseas universities, providing students with valuable opportunities to study abroad. I strongly encourage students to take full advantage of these opportunities.

While lectures and guidance from faculty experts are essential for mastering economics, it is ultimately up to each of you to determine how to apply that knowledge for the benefit of society. To effectively use the skills you acquire in the real world, you must think independently and put them into practice. Professors can offer hints and guidance, but since each individual's circumstances vary, making your own judgments and taking proactive steps is crucial. This is why your commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement is essential. I encourage you all to engage in self-discipline and personal growth as you develop your abilities.

I hope that through your studies at the Faculty of Economics and the Graduate School of Economics, you will develop the skills and expertise needed to be successful in various fields, both domestically and internationally.


Policy of the Graduate School of Economics

The Faculty of Economics and the Graduate School of Economics have been core faculty of Hitotsubashi University since 1949 when the institution first became accredited as a university, and have educated economists and business-people active both in Japan and abroad who have made significant contributions to the improvement of Japan's international status through their leading role in developing the Japanese economy. Additionally, we have also produced many outstanding researchers at the forefront of academia in a wide range of social science fields who have dramatically raised the level of economics in Japan. At Hitotsubashi University, education that reflects the latest research inspires students on a daily basis and plays a very important role in their personal development.

This virtuous cycle of research and teaching has been a tradition since the founding of our predecessor institutions, the Commercial Training School in 1875, which is recognized as the first business school in Japan, and the Higher Commercial School in 1887, both of which shaped modern Japan by leading the industrial development of the country since the Meiji period. In the 20th century, the activities of the Faculty of Economics and the Graduate School of Economics of Hitotsubashi University in the postwar period greatly enhanced the practices of our predecessors by moving Japan’s development into the international sphere, helping Japan and the rest of the world to progress together.

Today, in the 21st century, we are in the midst of globalization, with its unpredictable speed and complexity. In a world where people, goods, money, and information are swirling around us on a global scale in an instant, we must be able to accurately grasp and analyze these movements. However, in addition to understanding these short-term effects, we must also be able to accurately perceive economic and social trends that change over the medium- and long-term, like the gradual ebb and flow of the tides beneath the whitecaps on the surface of the surging sea. Understanding trends over multiple time frames is important because we cannot predict when and how the doors of a new era will open, precipitated by such changes as technological innovation or evolving social norms.

Both the Faculty of Economics and the Graduate School offer a number of programs designed to nurture individuals who can clearly identify these issues and conduct advanced world-class research. Through seminars and lectures, students learn how to accurately grasp the fundamental socioeconomic issues underlying observed phenomena and analyze them empirically. We hope that you will not only learn a great deal about the principles of economic thought but also acquire an attitude of "social freedom" that supports objective, value-neutral scientific discussion.

The Diploma Policy, Curriculum Policy, and Admission Policy of the Faculty of Economics and the Graduate School of Economics (Master's Course and Doctoral Course) at Hitotsubashi University are as above. This set of policies is designed to respond appropriately to contemporary needs. In the future, as the missions of our faculty and graduate schools are re-examined and revised to reflect changes in the Japanese and international economy and society, these policies will be updated along with adjustments to the university’s mid-term plan and goals.