Campus environment
Environment surrounding the campus
Hokkaido has created stories of battles with harsh nature, frontier spirits, setbacks and successes since the early days of its development. People released from the old world of feudalism moved to this free and open new land. The ease of entry for newcomers, frank and open human relations and an innovativeness unhampered by tradition derive from the history of Hokkaido.
Sapporo, the central city of Hokkaido with a population of 1.8 million, is fostering a northern-city culture, which is rare in Japan. The appropriate scale of the city allows the establishment of a highly convenient and comfortable living environment, as well as a local human network, from which grass-roots government-industry-academia collaboration has emerged. The forests and farmland spread around the city, as well as the beautiful seasonal landscapes, give zest and comfort to the minds of the people.
Hokkaido University was founded and exists in such an environment.
All research buildings, except for the Graduate School of Fisheries Science (which is on the Hakodate campus) and field research facilities, are on the Sapporo campus situated in the city center, making internal and external cooperation easy. The campus, where urban and university environments blend together, is extremely convenient and comfortable for both faculty members and students. There are also abundant natural features that make the campus environment beautiful.
The natural, economic and social environments surrounding us create ideas and styles for the people living in them. As an example, according to the analysis of a Stanford University research program, the essence of Silicon Valley is in a "vital habitat (environment) that supports innovation and entrepreneurship," rather than in an institute or a system.
Hokkaido University has made outstanding contributions to Japanese industry and society since its early days. As can be seen from the recent example of graduates playing leading roles in the information technology industrial cluster known as "Sapporo Valley," we have been serving the local community in the same way as Stanford has in Silicon Valley.
From this environment, we are creating innovative research and human resources capable of changing the future.
