New Year's Greetings 2024

Happy New Year!
We would like to express our heartfelt congratulations on being able to welcome the year 2024, Reiwa 6, with renewed spirits together with all of you.
As we enter this new year, I hope that this will be a valuable opportunity for us to think about what the year ahead will bring, both for our university and for each of us individually, and to set even bigger goals.
As you may know, 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of our university. The predecessors of our current agricultural and engineering organizations were born together as separate educational and research institutions in what is now Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Although they underwent different transitions thereafter, 75 years ago, these two institutions were reborn as one university, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. This year will be a memorable one in which we look back on our long history up to the present day and look forward to the next new era.
What we need to do now is to think carefully about what we should do now, with an eye on the next 50 or 100 years, and to act with a broad vision. Today, the situation surrounding the international community is changing rapidly beyond our expectations, and it often feels difficult to even imagine the future of Japan. At such times, we believe that the role of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology is to look firmly at the ideal future of society and the global environment, and to show and practice the guidelines we should follow with strong conviction. To achieve this, the university must be more conscious of its connections with the local and international communities than ever before, pursue the exploration of science and technology with an advanced perspective, and play a greater role in opening up the future together through the education of students who will carry it on.
At this important juncture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology is proactively strengthening the creation of a system and environment that will be the foundation for strengthening world-class research capabilities, namely reforming the personnel system, further expanding facilities and equipment, and securing various financial resources to support educational and research activities, as well as creating a system that allows students and faculty to fully play an active role in various collaborative relationships both domestically and internationally. Through various activities such as study, academic research, and exchanges at the university, students are deepening their scientific exploration and connections with society, and are expanding the various learning opportunities and places for interaction that will allow them to continue to play an active role in their own way for the rest of their lives even after graduation and completion of their studies. It goes without saying that the university is able to walk this path of sustainable growth thanks to all the faculty and staff who spare no effort and ingenuity to support the university every day. I would like to express my deep gratitude once again.
Furthermore, the fact that expectations for Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology are increasing means that we can have even greater vision and work with a sense of purpose. We hope to use this 150th anniversary year of our founding as a year of new beginnings for ourselves as well.

I sincerely hope that this year will be a wonderful one for all of you. Thank you for your continued support this year.