Speech at the 2022 Graduation and Completion Ceremony

This is the speech at the 2022 graduation and completion ceremony.

Speech

Congratulations to all of you who have graduated and completed your studies today. I am truly pleased that we are all able to celebrate this auspicious day together.
Above all, the impact of the spread of the coronavirus on our daily lives for over three years has been enormous, weighing heavily on everyone. All of you here today have been caught in the middle of it all, and have been forced to endure major inconveniences in many areas, from your university activities such as lectures, practical training, and research activities leading up to graduation and completion, to your everyday lives. It is truly the result of your efforts that we have been able to overcome such difficulties and reach this day. At the same time, please do not forget to be grateful to Faculty Member, friends, and family who have supported your research activities and life up to now.
　
Now, as I stand before you all, who are celebrating this major milestone in their lives, graduating and completing their studies, I naturally recall my own experience at the same time. When I was about to enter graduate school and embark on a new life as a working member of society, I was filled with hope for the future, but I cannot forget that I also felt a great deal of anxiety. It was already more than 40 years ago, but one day, while I was feeling this way, I casually stopped by a bookstore and happened to see a book that I picked up. It was a collection of essays called "Opening the Way" written by Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of what is now Panasonic, and what was then Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Many of you may already know this book, but it has been read by millions of people. It contains many of his stories of how he lived his life as a working member of society, as well as the things that we should value as people, written with strong conviction. When I read it, I was still a student about to step into society, and I had no idea what the real world was like, but I felt that the mindset of a working member of society is not something special at all. I came to understand in my own way that it all comes down to what you value as a person, how you set goals, and then working seriously towards them, whether at university or in the real world. I resolved to courageously take on a new world, even though I knew nothing about it.

When I thought of giving this talk to you all at today's graduation ceremony, I unexpectedly vividly remembered coming across that book in a bookstore a long time ago and the image of myself holding it in my hands. Furthermore, when I reread it now, I remembered many of its contents vividly. Even though I read every day, I usually forget it soon after, but this is probably because over the years, I have had many opportunities to repeat it in my mind as encouragement and admonition here and there. There are many aspects of the academic process, such as learning through reading, knowledge gained through meeting people and many conversations, and practical experience through research activities. However, looking back now, I have realized how precious the handful of things that remain in me, among the many that I forget, are. I am convinced that they will continue to live on in me as my own beliefs or values, and will surely lead to my next new guidelines for action.

At this turning point, I would like you to take a fresh look at the various problems the world is currently facing, think about what we should do from now on, or what kind of technology or social reforms can help us overcome these problems, and clearly draw up your own vision. If you think deeply, you will realize that what seems to be happening in a faraway world is connected to the events around us and our own actions, and you must recognize that you are also bearing part of the responsibility for them. I believe that it is very important for you to grasp these unclear figures and connect them to your next actions. In many cases, the answer is not something that can be found immediately, and the solution cannot be proposed immediately. However, I believe that the things that you have learned and experienced at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology so far will eventually change their form and become the fundamental force that will support you in the future, and lead you to speak to people in your own words and take a step forward and act yourself.

To all of you who are graduating and completing your studies on this auspicious day today, I hope that through your studies at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, you will develop courage and humility, and become people with the capacity to move people's hearts, as you continue to forge ahead toward your own aspirations.

I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing you all my heartfelt best for your continued success and prosperity.
Congratulations today.

March 24, 2023

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Chief Kazuhiro Chiba

Farewell Address

To all graduates, congratulations on your graduation today. It is my sincere pleasure to be with you on this glorious day.
And, above all, the impact of the spread of coronavirus infection on our daily lives over the past three years has been enormous and has weighted heavily on all of us. This is especially true for those of you present here today, who have been caught in the middle of the disease and have had to suffer great inconvenience in many ways, from lectures, practical training, research activities, and other university activities leading up to graduation and completion of your studies, to your daily lives. The fact that we have been able to overcome such difficulties and reach this day is truly due to the efforts of all of you. At the same time, please do not forget to express your gratitude to your faculty members, friends, and family who have supported you in your research activities and daily life.
　
Standing in front of you as you celebrate the major milestones in your lives, graduation and completion of graduate degrees, I am naturally reminded of my own time in the same period of my life. When I entered graduate school or started out on my new career path as a member of society, I remember how excited I was, but also how anxious I was about the future. It was more than 40 years ago, but one day, while I was in that frame of mind, I casually stopped by a bookstore and picked up a book that I happened to see. It was a collection of essays titled "The Path" written by Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of what is now Panasonic, then Matsushita Electric Industrial Company. In the book, he wrote about his life as a member of society and his beliefs about what was important to him as a human being. This book, as many of you know, has now been read by millions. When I read it, I was still a student just before stepping out into the world and had no idea about the real world, but I learned that the mindset of a working adult is not something special. I understood that both in university and in the real world, it is all about what you value as a human being, how you set goals, and how seriously you work toward them.

When I thought of telling you this story at today's graduation/completion ceremony, surprisingly, I was reminded vividly of the book, including how I had encountered it in a bookstore in the distant past and held it in my hands. And even more so now that I read it again, I vividly remember much of its contents. While I usually forget things quickly after reading a book, I think it is probably because I have had many opportunities over the years to repeat it in my mind as an encouragement and a reminder to myself in various situations here and there. There are many processes of study, such as learning through reading, knowledge acquired through meeting people and having many conversations, and actual experiences through research activities. However, I now realize how precious are the handful of things that have been forgotten, the handful of things that remain with me forever. I am convinced that they will live on in me as my beliefs and values, and will surely lead me to my next new course of action.

At this milestone moment of your graduation, I hope that you will take a fresh look at the various problems facing the world today, think about what you should do in the future, and what kind of technological and social reforms will help you overcome these problems , and draw a firm vision of your own. And if they think deeply, they will realize that what seems to be happening in the far-off world is connected to events around them and to their own actions, and that they bear some of the responsibility for these events. I think it is very important for all of us to recognize this lack of clarity and to make the next move. In many cases, the answers will not be immediate, nor will the solutions be immediate. However, I believe that what may be a small part of your precious learning and experiences at TUAT will eventually change its form and become the fundamental power that will support you in the future, speak to people as your own words, and lead you to take a step forward and take actions yourselves.

I hope that all graduates who are celebrating this fine day today will, through your studies at TUAT, become people of large capacity who will eventually move people's hearts with your courage and humility, and will strive to pursue your own serious aspirations.
I would like to conclude my greetings by wishing you all the very best in your future endeavors and development.

I extend my sincere congratulations to all of you today.

March 24, 2023

President of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Kazuhiro Chiba