Reiwa 4th Graduate School United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Graduation Ceremony Announcement

Reiwa 4th year graduate school United Graduate School of Agricultural Science graduation ceremony announcement.

Speech President

Congratulations to all of you who have completed the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Graduate United Graduate School of Agricultural Science and received your doctoral degree today. In particular, you must have had to overcome tremendous difficulties in order to promote your research activities in the midst of being forced to be greatly inconvenienced by the coronavirus pandemic, which no one has ever experienced before, which has lasted for more than three years. I think it is truly wonderful that you have devoted yourself to your daily research without succumbing to it, and as a result, you have opened up a new world of academia.

There is no doubt that obtaining this degree will be a great foundation for you to continue to study and pave new paths. In addition, it is also an essential part of your studies to use your own insight to look closely at the various problems the world is currently facing, as well as natural phenomena that no one has yet noticed, and the essence of what drives society. What should the world be like in the future, and what role can you play in it? What is required of a doctorate is to have the imagination and practical ability to clearly answer these questions, and to make them a reality. In reality, it is not easy to realize your dreams through such activities, and you will probably encounter unpredictable difficulties one after another. However, I believe that in the process of obtaining your degree, you have had many experiences where things did not go as you expected or did not go well. This should serve as the power to achieve your goals, supported by a strong belief that you can overcome even large obstacles, and it should motivate you.

At the same time, you must not forget to be grateful to those close to you who always support you, and to society at large. In order to become a doctor, the support of Supervisor, laboratory members, academic societies, family, and friends must have been invaluable. Furthermore, it is only thanks to the support of many people, many of whom cannot be seen, that you were given the precious opportunity to devote yourself to research activities. Not forgetting this will lead to understanding the feelings of people facing various difficulties and trying to help them as much as possible. As a result, you will surely have the strong driving force to attract people and involve many people, and be able to courageously face the important things that really need to be done. This is what a truly powerful doctor is, and I hope that you will be the person you are from today onwards. I believe that a doctor is someone who can clearly see the world as it has been and the world as it will be, and who can have conviction and responsibility for the important things that the world needs, and can fulfill his or her role firmly.

It is my sincere hope that all of you, who have now become doctorates and hold the diplomas in front of you, will go on to demonstrate even greater abilities that you yourself are not yet aware of, and will play an active role as indispensable people for the future.

We offer our heartfelt congratulations and great expectations for you all.
Congratulations today.

March 15, 2023
Kazuhiro Chiba President Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology