#  Graduate Profile: Riku Kohatsu , MTS '23  

 





May 16, 2023

 

 

     ![Riku Kohatsu looking at the camera](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/6x4_rikukohatsu.png?itok=t51GfiJ5) 

Photo courtesy of Riku Kohatsu

 



 

**Favorite Class or Professor**

One of my favorite classes at HDS was Professor Francis Clooney’s “Who Needs God? Rethinking God in Light of Hindu and Christian Theologies.” It was my first time learning about Hinduism in an academic setting, and I enjoyed the unique learning experience of cross-examining the notion of God from the perspectives of the two religions. With the thoughtful guidance provided by Professor Clooney, the insights I gained from this course helped me not only to deepen my academic interest in various religious thoughts but also to find the missing piece to clarify my personal understanding of who God is.

**Message of Thanks**

I am very thankful for my adviser Janet Gyatso, who directed me throughout the program to have the best learning opportunities during my time at HDS, and to my friends and professors that I met here whose memory I will cherish even after completing the program. I extend my gratitude to my friends and family back home and to Bishop James Whitaker for always giving me the support I need to keep pressing on.

**Future Plans**

During the program, I developed a new interest in studying the relationship between religion and digital technology. I want to give special credit to Professor Helen Hardacre for offering courses that introduced intriguing outlooks in religious studies, which sparked my interest in this new field. Rather than immediately continuing my studies in the academic environment, I will pursue my interest by joining a company in the IT industry. I will return to Japan to start the next chapter of my life to carry on the passion I found during my stay at HDS, and I look forward to seeing how the experiences I had here will shape the years to come.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Student Activities and Interviews ](/discover-stories-about/student-activities-and-interviews)
- [ Commencement ](/topic-tags/commencement)
- [ Commencement 2023 ](/topic-tags/commencement-2023)