Message from the Director General

   The Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB) of Keio University is an "academic venture" established in 2001 through a unified initiative of Keio University, the City of Tsuruoka, and Yamagata Prefecture. Located in Tsuruoka, Yamagata--a city where a rich spiritual culture and educational philosophy harmoniously coexist with cutting-edge industries and pastoral landscapes--the Institute has continued to grow as a global pioneer at the forefront of data-driven life sciences.

   IAB serves as a world-leading hub in the fields of whole-cell simulation, metabolomics, and biomaterials, spearheading numerous collaborative research projects both in Japan and internationally, and driving innovation across these disciplines. Beyond advancing fundamental science, the Institute is committed to nurturing new industries rooted in cutting-edge basic research, thereby contributing to regional revitalization while helping to shape the future of humanity.

   Today, not only academia but society and technology as a whole stand at a critical turning point. In such turbulent times, true paradigm shifts do not emerge from simply following trends or conforming to the logic of "selection and concentration," but rather from challenges grounded in free thinking and genuine curiosity. This requires dismantling barriers of discipline, position, and age, and fostering a culture in which professors and students alike respect one another as fellow explorers who enjoy science together--learning from one another, teaching one another, and embracing the spirit of wholehearted intellectual "play." As Yukichi Fukuzawa advocated, it is precisely through a stance of han-gaku han-kyō ("half learning, half teaching"), and by pursuing ideas without fear of being labeled unorthodox, that genuine innovation can be achieved.

   Creative thought rarely flourishes amid constant noise and competition. Tsuruoka City--home to hot springs, beaches, and ski resorts in close proximity--boasts three Japan Heritage sites and is designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. It is in this environment, rich in both nature and culture, that we aim to pursue and advance a form of science uniquely possible in Tsuruoka.