Wystąpienie dr. Yohei Sasakawy

Przemówienie dr. Yohei Sasakawy, 
Doktora Honoris Causa Uniwersytetu Morskiego w Gdyni, 
w dniu 27 stycznia 2026 roku

Professor Dr. Adam Weintrit, President of Gdynia Maritime University,
Your Excellency Akira Kono, Ambassador of Japan, 
Distinguished guests, dear colleagues, and friends,

I am both deeply honoured and humbled to be here today. I would like to begin by expressing my sincere respect for Gdynia Maritime University, an active member of the International Association of Maritime Universities, established by the Nippon Foundation – an institution that has consistently nurtured professionals who safeguard our important oceans. It is my sincere wish that the bonds among member universities will grow ever stronger in the years to come, based on cooperation and a shared understanding.

I feel deeply grateful for the honour you have bestowed upon me today. I understand that this honorary doctoral degree recognises my contribution to maritime policy and the promotion of safety at sea, as well as my broader engagement in peace building and international cooperation through my humanitarian activities – yet, for me, this honour is not a conclusion: it is a reminder of why I came to devote myself to this lifetime commitment.

81 years ago, when I was six years old, Japan was engaged in a devastating war with the United States – a war that ended in our defeat. I lived through the air raids on Tokyo with my mother, during which 108,000 people were burned to death in just two and a half hours – yet we miraculously survived. This early childhood experience has become the driving force of lifelong engagement in international humanitarian activities.

Japan’s maritime industries were also completely destroyed. As an island nation surrounded by the sea, we could do nothing without ships – not even transport food. It is for this reason that the Nippon Foundation was established to advance the reconstruction of shipbuilding and maritime capacity as a key policy of national recovery. Over many years, the Nippon Foundation has been engaged in a wide range of fields, including shipbuilding, maritime traffic and safety, and maritime education. I am thoroughly convinced that without maritime universities around the world, and in particular institutions such as Gdynia Maritime University, which has graciously hosted us today, the development of maritime industries and safety at sea would not have been possible.

Even today, more than 90% of global logistics is supported by maritime transport, making the safe navigation of ships indispensable to the survival of humankind. At the same time, with the ongoing development of hydrogen engines and other technological innovations in the maritime sector, we are entering an era where seafarers will be required to acquire new skills. In this context, the importance of maritime universities, including Gdynia Maritime University, which is dedicated to training the next generation of maritime professionals who are able to respond to new demands, will only continue to grow.

It is my sincere wish that the Gdynia Maritime University will continue to be the leading force among the maritime universities and further strengthen its contributions to the global maritime community.

Distinguished guests and participants, once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the distinguished honour I have received today. I receive this honour together with all those who have worked with me over the years. In closing, I would like to express my profound respect for the achievements of Gdynia Maritime University, and my heartfelt hope that the education fostered here will continue to inspire and empower the next generation.