Heisei 25 Graduate School United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Entrance Ceremony

April 12, 25
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Cho Matsunaga Kore

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 all those who have supported me in the shadows and sunshine until now. Today, the day of enrollment has arrived, and I am sure that I am deeply moved to see you climb the stairs of your life one by one. We hope that you will continue to watch over them as they grow through various experiences as students of our university.

This year, there are a total of 41 new students: 14 Department of Biological Production Science, 7 Department of Applied Life Science, 5 Department of Symbiotic Science of Environment and Natural Resources, 8 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, and 7 Department of Science on Agricultural Economy and Symbiotic Society. This includes six international students from three different countries. These 41 students will become comrades, so to speak, who will work hard toward their dreams at our university. Please take a moment to think about your dreams. What are your dreams? Regardless of the career paths and specializations they have decided on, I believe that we all have the same high aspirations to achieve results in those fields and play a role as scientists in creating a better society. For those of you who have such a bright future, there is something I would like to talk about today.

Physicist Torahiko Terada wrote an essay in Showa 8 called "The Scientist and the Heart." Some of you may have heard of it. If you haven't already, you may want to read it once because it's not a very long sentence. To sum it up in a nutshell, I'm saying that scientists have to be smart and bad at the same time, and I think this seemingly contradictory statement is a bit cynical, but it's actually very accurate. As we all know, being a scientist requires logical thinking and precision above all else. Some of you will have the insight to accurately and quickly analyze the status of the problem and the results of the experiment, and to see the future. In that sense, scientists have to be smart. On the other hand, however, it is also true that smart people tend to be in too much of a hurry because they perceive the difficulties and wastes that may arise in the path and easily detect the mistakes of others, overlook the truth that can only be understood by actually diligently experimenting, and forget about their aspirations and efforts. Rather, if you have a kind of brainlessness that is not afraid of failure to the point of insensitivity, tries everything you can do, and just walks patiently and persistently, you can humbly and take the time to consider things, notice what smart people could not find, and finally achieve wonderful results that contribute to society.

All of you here are an elite group of people who have come together to pursue a Ph.D., the highest degree in the field of agriculture. They possess a high level of qualities and brains, and a desire to pursue the next level of academic research. However, I think we tend to aim to be scientists who are only smart. As you continue your research, you will probably face much more severe difficulties than you have experienced so far. You may also experience failures and frustrations that you can't resolve. In such a case, if you focus only on the point and smarts, it will be difficult to recover. Rather, if you show your smarts, work humbly, flexibly, and carefully, and keep moving forward without giving up, there is probably no barrier that you can't overcome.

As you know, with the evolution of mankind and the development of society and economy, modern society has come to face many global crisis problems related to the survival of humankind, such as problems such as the environment, energy, food, health, safety and security, and disasters. In order to solve these problems, we need the power of science and technology that we scientists can lead and create. In particular, the field of agriculture can be said to be the academic field that is most directly related to the healthy survival of humankind, regardless of whether it is in terms of the environment, resources, or food. The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science that you will enroll in was established in collaboration with Ibaraki University and Utsunomiya University beyond the framework of universities, and to develop cutting-edge agricultural research that is more sophisticated and useful with an international flavor, while making use of and complementing the characteristics of each research. The curriculum has a variety of characteristics that are ideal for fostering human resources who will drive the construction of a sustainable recycling-oriented society from a global perspective and contribute globally to the coexistence and welfare of humankind. Since you are conducting research in this United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, I would like you to make effective use of these characteristics, take on challenges tenaciously and boldly, and gain a wide range of experience. I would like you to become a truly high-quality scientist who will play a central role in solving problems and contribute to the construction of a bright future in which humanity can develop beautifully and richly with compassion for others while coexisting with the natural environment.

Finally, I would like to add one more thing that may seem obvious, but it is very important. The path of academic research can be mentally and physically demanding at times. You can't continue without a healthy mind and body. Especially for those who come from rural areas and overseas, I think that there are many things that make you anxious in an unfamiliar place. Please take good care of your health and have a fruitful university life. The University will continue to do its utmost in all aspects so that we can provide even stronger support to you. I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my hope that all of you who are enrolling today will not forget your feelings today and grow greatly toward your dreams, and that you will once again welcome all of you to become members of our university.