2022 New Year Greetings

Happy New Year.

How are you all spending this new year? I think New Year's is a precious moment when we can forget the hustle and bustle of the end of the year, feel truly clear in our hearts, and have new expectations for what is to come. It is at this time when we can feel so fresh that it is important for each of us to set our own goals for the year. Looking back at this time last year, we were hit one after another by problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic from the very beginning of the year, and students and faculty and staff were forced to make great efforts to deal with the unusual daily life. I would like to once again express my sincere gratitude to everyone who did their best to help the university return to as peaceful days as possible under such circumstances. Now that we have entered the new year of 2022, I am filled with prayers that this year will be a peaceful one.
Starting this April, the university will begin a new Medium-term Objective period, which is held once every six years. In the preamble to this specific goal and plan, we ask ourselves: Can humanity achieve the feat of eternal development, something that no other living creature on Earth has been able to achieve before? We have also expressed our strong will to tackle this challenge sincerely and to educate students who can take on the future of the world and lead it to solutions. This may be too big a challenge for a university to set as a goal, but I think it is very important that we all think seriously about this, communicate to the world what is important and what specific actions we should take, attract many people, and put it into practice ourselves. In order to move forward step by step toward the big goal we set, each and every action we take today and tomorrow based on firm conviction is the foundation. To do this, it is also important to actively explore important phenomena and principles that no one has yet noticed from a new perspective. We must interact with people with various values, respect their individuality and diversity, and expand our activities that demonstrate our own originality. Furthermore, we must not forget to have the generosity, courage, and compassion to sincerely celebrate others' joys and successes, and to take the initiative to lend a helping hand when others are facing difficulties.
With the efforts of all members, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Agriculture and Technology will tackle these enormous challenges and fulfill its responsibilities together with the students who will carry the future of the university. In the bright spirit of the new year, I look forward to sharing with you all a bright and hopeful future.

Thank you all for your continued support this year.