The Professional Institute of International Fashion Different by design

Former director general of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Kondo’s other responsibilities have included deputy secretary-general of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) in Paris, minister in the Embassy of Japan in the US and ambassador, permanent delegation of Japan to UNESCO. Since retiring, in addition to holding teaching positions at the University of Tokyo, Keio University and other institutions, he has contributed to the development of culture and the arts and promoted international exchange as a visiting professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts and in other roles. He is a recipient of the Gold and Silver Star of the Order of the Sacred Treasure and a chevalier of the French Légion d’Honneur.

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Fostering leaders in the fashion industry

Society today is undergoing a historically unprecedented transformation. Divergences in values, globalization and the increasingly rapid progress of information technology, along with the synergies generated by these factors, have often left people bewildered. To address this trend properly and improve individuals’ life skills, what we need is not just ever deeper professional expertise and the ability to apply this in practice. What we also need, amid all these large-scale trends crossing the boundaries of disciplines, geographical areas and eras, is appropriately localized, broad and deep education, and an internationalist mindset.

The fashion business is one of the areas most in need of such a balance. In demand are professionals who can fully leverage well-honed expertise and abilities amid the global trend toward changing lifestyles and when communicating with local communities.

In the vanguard of the first reform of our university system in 55 years, the Professional Institute of International Fashion will develop professionals who can fuse the Japanese tradition of sophisticated design with world trends to lead society’s transformation. For this purpose, we have invited a diverse line-up of academics and fashion industry leaders to become members of our teaching staff. Also, our university offers learning opportunities both to young people and to mature students who would like to return to education, as well as providing a place for stimulating interaction between Japanese and international students.

I am certain that you will find exciting challenges here.