Statue of Mineo Nakajima
“Born in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture on May 11, 1936, Mineo Nakajima studied at Matsumoto-Fukashi High School and the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, graduating from the latter in 1960. He published Studies of Modern China in 1964 while a student at the Graduate School of International Relations at the University of Tokyo. Since then, he was at the forefront of modern China studies for half a century. After teaching as a lecturer, assistant professor, and professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies since 1966, he led the university as president from 1995 to 2001, proving his excellence in management skills in its internationalization and campus relocation as well as in editing its centenary publication. Since early on, he advocated for strengthening the international competitiveness of Japanese universities. Invited by the Akita prefectural government, he since 2001 participated in conceptualizing a new university to establish a model to reform higher education. In 2004, he became the first president and chair of the board of trustees of Akita International University. He accomplished great success in leading the establishment of an epoch-making education system for global leaders, travelling across Japan to represent the university and globally to establish a network of partnerships with foreign universities. He loved students and music. While working to establish the best university in Japan, he became ill and passed away on February 14, 2013 at Akita Red Cross Hospital. He was awarded the Jusammi (junior third degree of honor), and posthumously the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star by the Government of Japan. Furthermore, he was honored for his distinguished service in the field of culture by the Akita prefectural government.” (Translation of the inscription in Japanese.)