Tokyo Christian University Restructures Leadership, Announces Next President and Two New Vice Presidents

Tokyo Christian University (Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture) has appointed Professor Yoichi Yamaguchi as its next President beginning in April 2018. The university has also created two vice presidential posts. Provost Shohei Yamato will serve as Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and Professor Randall Short will serve as Vice President for International Affairs. Professor Akio Ito will assume the post of Dean of the Graduate School of Theology.

Through establishing these two vice presidential posts, TCU aims to strengthen its support system for promoting the growth of its diverse Japanese and international student body, and to strengthen its partnerships with overseas institutions and organizations for the sake of promoting theological higher education in Japan and abroad. TCU will also work at university reform and strengthening church relations, based on its new guiding concept, “Stand in the Gap: Christ’s Peace in Broken Places.”

Profiles

President – Yoichi Yamaguchi
Yoichi Yamaguchi was born in Gunma Prefecture in 1958. He graduated from Kanazawa University, Tokyo Christian Theological Seminary, and Rikkyo University Graduate School (M.A.). He served as Pastor of Tokumaru Christ Church (Japan Alliance Christ Church) from 1985 to 1990, and Pastor of Agatsuma Church (United Church of Christ in Japan) from 1993 to 2003. He was President of Tokyo Christian Theological Seminary from 2004 to 2011. In 2011, he became Professor of Japanese Church History and Practical Theology, and in 2012, Director of the Church Ministries Program, and Dean of the Graduate School at Tokyo Christian University. Prof. Yamaguchi also served as Pastor of Ichikawa Evangelical Church (Japan Alliance Christ Church), member of the Japan Alliance Christ Church Board, and in various other capacities from 2005 to 2017.

Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs – Shohei Yamato
Shohei Yamato was born in Osaka in 1955. He graduated from Kansai University (Faculty of Law), Tokyo Christian Theological Seminary, Bukkyo University, and Bukkyo University Graduate School, Department of Buddhist Studies (M.A.). He served as Pastor of Kyoto Bible Church (Japan Gospel Fellowship) from 1984 to 2009, when he was commissioned by Japan Gospel Fellowship to serve at Tokyo Christian University, where he is currently Professor of Eastern Thought and Practical Theology, and Provost since 2014. Prof. Yamato’s publications include A Pastor Interprets the Heart Sutra (Hannya Shingyo) and An Introduction to Christianity through Reminiscences and Famous Sayings (both in Japanese).

Vice President for International Affairs – Randall Short
Randall Short was born in the U.S.A. (Alabama) in 1970. He graduated from the University of Alabama (B.A. in Asian Studies, including one year abroad at Chiba University), Tokyo Christian Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Harvard University Divinity School (M.T.S. and Th.D.). Since 2006, he has taught in both the English and Japanese tracks at Tokyo Christian University (and at the Graduate School since 2012), where he is currently Professor of Old Testament. He has served as Coordinator of the Asian Christian Theological Studies for English Speakers Program since 2008, Assistant Academic Dean since 2013, and Global Programs Director since 2015. Prof. Short is the author of The Surprising Election and Confirmation of King David (Harvard Theological Studies, 2010), and the translator of Philosophical Interpretations of the Old Testament by Seizo Sekine (de Gruyter, 2014).