Distinguished alumnus joins university leadership on a special trip to Japan
Twenty-five years ago, Case Western Reserve established the Japan Alumni Chapter for graduates living there to stay connected with each other—and the university. To mark the anniversary, President Eric W. Kaler and his wife, Karen Kaler, will travel to Tokyo in early October for an event at the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel.
Also joining the trip is two-time alumni award winner Hiroyuki Fujita, PhD (GRS ‘98, physics). An adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve and active university volunteer, Fujita resides in Cleveland, but his career takes him all over the world—including to his home country of Japan.
He is founder and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics, a global developer and manufacturer of magnetic resonance imaging technology and equipment. In 2019, the company became a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Canon Inc., with Fujita serving as chief technology officer of Canon Medical Systems Corp.’s CT-MR Division. He is also chairman of Canon Healthcare USA, Inc., newly established and headquartered in Cleveland.
Additionally, Fujita serves as the inaugural honorary consul of Japan in Cleveland, appointed by the Government of Japan. Fujita’s responsibility as honorary consul is to promote relationships bilaterally between Japan and the U.S., making this visit particularly significant.
The Alumni Association sat down with Fujita to learn more about the importance of the trip for Case Western Reserve and alumni living abroad.
Why should alumni stay connected to CWRU and to each other?
We are living in a highly complex and global society. If you want to do something, you cannot do it alone. It’s important to have that network of people who bring shared values, different skill sets, knowledge and background. It’s teamwork—that’s what we need today to make a difference for our community and our students.
Why is this visit important?
When people in Japan think about innovation [in the U.S.], they think about Silicon Valley or the East Coast; the Midwest isn’t emphasized. Case Western Reserve is a hidden gem, and I feel it is important for the university to be known more widely in the Japanese community, whether in industry, government or higher education, to promote the strategic collaboration and thus the exchange of researchers and students.
What are you most looking forward to on the trip to Japan?
I want to help expand the university’s network in a very meaningful way with key leaders, to make it easier for President Kaler to explore international collaborations. At the end of the day, it all comes down to people-to-people relationships. I myself know both [Japanese and American] cultures very well, so I believe I can help this mission, based on my own experiences and network.
Interested in staying connected as an international alum?
The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University recently welcomed Elizabeth Miller to the team as director of international alumni engagement. She comes to our team from the Center for International Affairs, where she was assistant director for student advocacy in International Student Services for six years.
Email exm295@case.edu so we can learn more about you—and you can learn how to engage with CWRU from anywhere in the world.
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