Heisei 31 Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Entrance Ceremony Speech

Heisei 31 Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology United Graduate School of Agricultural Science This is the entrance ceremony speech.

April 9, 2019
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Chief Hiroyuki Ohno

Congratulations to all of you who have enrolled in Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology United Graduate School of Agricultural Science. On behalf of the faculty and staff, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations. I would also like to express my sincere congratulations to my family and everyone involved who has supported me so far.
This year, a total of 42 United Graduate School of Agricultural Science graduate students (17 Department of Biological Production Science, 6 Department of Applied Life Science, 9 Department of Symbiotic Science of Environment and Natural Resources, 6 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, and 4 Department of Science on Agricultural Economy and Symbiotic Society will join the graduate program, including 7 international students from 3 countries around the world. I hope that you will not only learn various things and advance your research through your future research students activities in graduate school, but also make many friends. Some of your friends will become lifelong friends through research and work even after graduating from graduate school. Human networks will be extremely important in the society of the future. While enjoying campus life to the fullest, I hope that you will make many friends and maintain relationships that have a positive influence on each other.
Now, the field of agriculture that you major in encompasses a very wide range of research fields. With the development of science and technology, modern society has come to face many global issues such as the environment, energy, food, health, safety and security, and disasters. In order to solve various problems related to the maintenance of an environment in which living organisms can coexist on the earth, the securing of safe food, the securing of resources and energy that support our lives, and the maintenance of health, it is precisely the "agricultural science" that you learn is necessary. This United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, which you will learn about, was established in collaboration with the three universities of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Ibaraki University, and Utsunomiya University, to make the most of their respective characteristics and complement each other, and to conduct research on cutting-edge agriculture with a rich international flavor and sophistication. This is exactly the concept of diversity, which is rapidly gaining importance today. This distinctive organization provides in-depth education and highly specialized research. In addition, in order to develop human resources who will be responsible for this, we have a unique curriculum that includes overseas field training. As a member of United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, you will be required to be more independent and independent than ever before. Those of you who have studied basic studies that have had only one answer so far, from now on, you will be oriented toward practical studies with a focus on applied development, so there may be several candidates for solutions. Or maybe there is no optimal solution. Even if you are stuck in an uncertain task or difficult problem, you must solve it on your own. By all means, I hope that you will gain a lot of experience at this graduate school so that you can derive solutions that can be obtained by looking to the future, rather than solutions derived from past experiences. The society of the future, in which you will play an active role, will continue to change at an astonishing speed in the future, including in the field of agriculture. Rather than chasing these changes, I would like you to acquire the ability to play an active role not only in Japan but also in the world and lead society as people who bring about further change. For this purpose, a doctoral degree, which is a passport as a researcher, is mandatory. You have a lot of potential for the future. In order for you to make a leap forward, I hope you will learn a lot at our graduate school and obtain a doctoral degree.
Finally, I would like to add an important point. Academic research is important to think, but it is not something that is done only from the neck up. Maintaining a high level of motivation and promoting research requires mental toughness and perseverance. In addition, various experiments require physical strength. Please maintain a healthy mind and body. To do this, it is also a good idea to sweat it out in various sports. Don't forget the lofty goals and dreams you set for entering United Graduate School of Agricultural Science today, take good care of your health, and have a fruitful university life. We, the faculty and staff, will continue to do our utmost to support you in all aspects.
Today, I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing all of you who have entered United Graduate School of Agricultural Science a great deal of growth, and by expressing my welcome to all of you as members of our university.