New Year's Greetings 2025

Happy New Year.
Reiwa 7, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on being able to welcome 2025 with you all anew.

Since the establishment of the predecessor of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 1874 in the current Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, our university has evolved with the development of society, focusing on the two fields of agriculture and engineering, which are the core of Japan industries, and has continued to develop with the vision of "becoming a world-class research university that turns the earth." The important raison d'être of our university is to continue to be a university that can open the way for independent sustainable development in cooperation with the international community, local communities, and other institutions, and to bring out the creativity of students and acquire the ability to play an active role in the world of science, technology, and business. As you know, last year, with the cooperation of faculty, staff, students, and alumni, we were able to hold a number of anniversary commemorative projects and further deepen our ties with society. I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again.

For about 20 years, the university has made it a university-wide goal to do its best to create a sustainable society on a global scale. The important thing here is what exactly should be done for that clear goal. This cannot be achieved simply by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing food production to meet population growth, and securing energy. We need to have a firm perspective on how all our actions, including social and economic activities, are interconnected and what is causing them. Naturally, human activities have a tremendous impact on nature itself, and various global issues such as energy and environmental problems are piling up, making it increasingly difficult to understand how the world will change in the future. There is no such thing as the state of social systems and industries, and it is necessary to have the intellect, judgment, and action to constantly draw a new image and realize it with the spirit of reform. I also believe that the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology is a place where students of our university can have great learning opportunities and receive various stimuli, and develop to the stage where they can discover and demonstrate their own abilities that they have not yet discovered. In addition to creating new knowledge, meeting many people, learning through actual research activities and various activities inside and outside the university, what you like, and the experience of spending moments that you are immersed in are all very meaningful in university life. To this end, I believe that we should take a close look at the many challenges facing the world and take on challenges with courage, even if they seem difficult to solve immediately. I am convinced that if we have a scientific eye on each issue, think seriously, and work on it with a strong will while understanding people's feelings, we will play an even greater role in the world in the future.

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology will always put "people" at the center of creating and putting future value into practice, and will continue to move forward this year toward the grand goal of "creating the foundation of the earth where people can do it quickly."

I sincerely wish you all that this year will be a wonderful year, and I would like to make my New Year's greetings. Thank you for your continued support this year.