Kazunori Ishikawa (L) and his doctoral advisor, Professor Yin Jie. [Photo/xinmin.cn]

Kazunori Ishikawa, from Japan, is a doctoral student specializing in ethics at Fudan University. This is his ninth year of study at Fudan University's Handan Road Campus, Shanghai. 

"On the path of seeking goodness and truth, Ishikawa has always been very diligent," remarked his mentor, Professor Yin Jie. 

Ishikawa's research focuses on meta-ethics, neuro-ethics, and medical ethics. Due to his doctoral advisor having a background in medicine, Ishikawa diligently supplemented his knowledge in medical fields. Realizing that basic medical knowledge alone was insufficient, he understood that delving into hefty foreign medical literature and understanding them was a prerequisite to keeping pace with his mentor. Ishikawa acknowledged the strictness of his mentor, and thus, during his doctoral studies, he focused more on research.

Ishikawa was born in Tokyo in 1995. His mother, a Shanghai native, decided to send him to Shanghai for a more solid basic education when he was seven years old. Despite initial struggles with Chinese language learning, Ishikawa gradually overcame the language barriers and excelled in both Chinese and Shanghainese by the time he graduated from primary school. His experiences shuttling between Shanghai and Tokyo provided him with a unique perspective on the world.

Ishikawa aims to follow a career in teaching in the future. Despite limited exposure to the professional world beyond a brief internship at an advertising company, his passion for academia and teaching remains unwavering.

Ishikawa said that he envisions a future where he continues to thrive in the diverse and intellectually stimulating environment of Shanghai. His journey as a student in Shanghai reflects a blend of cultural experiences, academic pursuits, and a commitment to excellence, all of which have shaped him into a dedicated scholar.