Toru Chino

I accepted the post of Hokkaido University Ambassador in North America out of a hope that I would help the university expand its global network for the peace and wellbeing of the world. I began by promoting Hokkaido University to the universities, research institutes and government agencies in the United States with which I already had connections.

I worked worldwide as an environmental engineer and launched a business in the Silicon Valley before moving to Denali in Alaska, where I have run the Denali Chino Nature Center since 2006. The aim of the center is to foster human resources who can contribute to global peace and wellbeing by drawing on experiences they will gain through various activities in the natural splendor of the Denali State Park. The center also serves as a site for fieldwork to develop natural energy technologies that will enable self-sufficient lifestyles also in Japan. In August 2017, the center hosted a group of 12 Hokkaido University students and faculty members with the cooperation of the University of Alaska. It also hosts students from other Japanese universities as part of their study-abroad programs.

I believe the university needs a North American Office to expand its global reach, and will continuously work with the university to open the office in AY2019 as currently planned.