Reiwa 3 United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Graduation Ceremony Announcement

Reiwa 3rd year United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Graduation Ceremony Speech.

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, the spread of the coronavirus infection over the past two years has forced various inconveniences, and I must have had to overcome more difficulties than ever before in writing my doctoral dissertation. I think it is truly wonderful that you have been able to devote yourself to your daily research activities and open 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 and the essence of what drives society that no one has yet noticed. What should you do from now on? What kind of people should you work with? What preparations do you need to make to carry out important research or projects? The high level of work required of a doctorate is to have the imagination and practical ability to clearly answer these questions, and to realize them. In reality, such activities are not easy, 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 of things not going as you expected or not working well. This can serve as a driving force to achieve your goals, supported by a strong belief that you can overcome even the biggest obstacles, and can 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, the fact that you were given the precious opportunity to devote yourself to research activities is only possible thanks to the support of many people, many of whom cannot be seen. Not forgetting this will also 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 a strong driving force that attracts and involves people, and will 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. A doctor is someone who can clearly see the world as it has been and the world as it will be, and who can fulfill his or her role with conviction and responsibility for the important things that the world needs.

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, 2022
Kazuhiro Chiba President Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology