Yohei Sasakawa is the Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation. Under his leadership, the foundation established scholarship funds that have supported more than 400 international deaf students at Gallaudet University and other institutions.
Honorary Chair Sasakawa received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Gallaudet’s Commencement 2026 ceremony. He also gave the graduate commencement address.
The text of Chairman Sasakawa’s address is shared below. Video of the address can be viewed in the recording of the Commencement 2026 Graduate Ceremony.
President Roberta Cordano, distinguished guests, and above all, the graduating class of 2026, my warmest congratulations to each and every one of you.
Now, please allow me to continue to address you in English. I have been working to learn sign language, but I am afraid I am not quite at the level you deserve.
Instead, it is my pleasure to introduce an outstanding interpreter–Ms. Ikumi Kawamata, a graduate of Gallaudet University with degrees in social work, international development, and public administration. She currently serves actively as a staff at The Nippon Foundation.
I am deeply honored and sincerely grateful to have been invited to this prestigious occasion and for the honor of being awarded the honorary degree of Doctors of Humane Letters. It is my profound privilege and a source of great personal joy to be recognized by Gallaudet University, an institution which has long led the world in Deaf education and leadership development worldwide.
Throughout my life, I have worked guided by a simple philosophy that “both problems and solutions are found in the field.” I have experienced that by going directly to the field and listening closely to the voices of those most affected, one inevitably comes to understand the true nature of the challenges and the pathways to overcome them.
For instance, in one country in Southeast Asia, there was a strong hesitation to use sign language in public. There I witnessed, firsthand, how the inability of deaf individuals to freely use sign language–their own language–significantly limited their opportunities for education and social participation.
I realized that it is essential to build a better society for the close to 1.3 billion persons with disabilities worldwide so that they themselves can take pride in their identity, raise their own voices, and engage with society.
Based on these field experiences, I have long emphasized the importance of those directly affected to become the agents of social change themselves, and I have been particularly committed to promoting social participation of persons directly affected, including the deaf and the hard of hearing people.
Based on this conviction, The Nippon Foundation established a fund here at Gallaudet in 1992 and has since provided scholarships, primarily to deaf students from developing countries, with the hope that they will become leaders in their respective countries and regions.
Many have studied here, returned home, and are now working to bring about meaningful change in fields such as education, government, and business. Each time I encounter their achievements, I am reminded of the power of education and the vast potential within each individual. I firmly believe that when those educated here at Gallaudet assume responsible roles and extend a positive influence to those around them, they become a powerful force for steady social progress.
Graduates, you are precisely those individuals. The knowledge you have gained here, the experiences you have shared, and the networks you have built, will support your journey and serve as a foundation for creating new values in your respective fields. I encourage you to believe in your own abilities and as leaders work toward a society in which more persons with disabilities can fully participate.
As for myself, I am still an 87-year-old young man, and I take with me today’s honor with great pride. Guided by my commitment to the principle of working in the field, I will continue to strive toward the realization of a society in which no one is left behind.
In closing, let me once again express my heartfelt appreciation for today’s invitation and the honor bestowed upon me. And to all of you graduating today, I wish you every success in the path ahead. Thank you very much.
To learn more about the Nippon Foundation, visit the foundation’s website.
To learn more about Gallaudet’s services for international students, including financial aid, visit our International Student and Scholar Services webpage.
