2013 United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Entrance Ceremony

April 12, 2013
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Tadashi Matsunaga, Director

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Congratulations to all of you who have enrolled in the new school. On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the families and other people who have supported you behind the scenes and in the sun. I am sure that you must be deeply moved to see yourselves climbing up one more step in your lives on this day of entrance into the university. I hope that you will continue to warmly watch over them as they grow and develop through their various experiences as students of this university.

This year's new students are Department of Biological Production Science 14, Department of Applied Life Science 7, Department of Symbiotic Science of Environment and Natural Resources 5, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering 8, and Department of Science on Agricultural Economy and Symbiotic Society 7, for a total of 41. This includes 6 international students from 3 different countries. These 41 students will be your comrades, so to speak, as you work hard to achieve your dreams at this university. I would like to ask you all to think about your dreams once again. What is your dream? Although the career path you have chosen and the field of specialization you have chosen may vary, I am sure that all of you have the same high aspirations to achieve results and play a role as a scientist in creating a better society. I would like to reiterate something to all of you who have such ambitious aspirations.

In 1933, the physicist Torahiko Terada wrote an essay titled "Scientists and the Brain. Some of you may have heard of it. If you haven't, you might want to read it because it is not very long. To sum it up in a few words, he says that scientists must be both smart and bad at the same time, and I think that this seemingly contradictory statement, although somewhat cynical, is actually very true. As you all know, scientists need logical thinking and precision more than anything else. They must be able to analyze the situation and the results of experiments accurately and quickly, and they must be able to foresee the future. In this sense, it can be said that a scientist must be smart. On the other hand, it is also true that smart people tend to rush ahead too quickly, overlook the truths that can only be discovered through hard work and experimentation, and forget about ambition and effort, because they are able to detect potential difficulties and futility and easily find mistakes in others. Rather, it is better to be insensitive, to be unafraid of failure, to be eager to try everything that can be tried, and to be patient and persevering in your efforts. And finally, they can achieve wonderful results that contribute to society.

You are all here, an elite group of people who have come together to earn a doctorate, the highest degree in the field of agricultural science. D., the highest degree in the field of agriculture. You are highly qualified, intelligent, and motivated to pursue even higher goals in your academic research. However, I believe that we tend to aim to become scientists who are just smart. In the course of your future research, you will probably face far more severe difficulties than you have ever experienced before. You may experience failures and setbacks that you cannot solve. At such times, it will be difficult to recover if you focus only on your ability to get things done or your intelligence. Rather, if we exercise our lack of smarts, work humbly, flexibly, and carefully, and keep going without giving up, there is probably no obstacle that we cannot overcome.

As you know, with the evolution of mankind and the development of society and the economy, modern society has come to face many critical global-scale problems that affect the survival of the human race, including issues related to the environment, energy, food, health, safety and security, disasters, and so on. The solution to these problems requires the power of science and technology, which we scientists lead and create. In particular, agriculture is the field of study that is most directly related to the healthy survival of mankind in terms of the environment, resources, and food. The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, where you will enroll, was established in cooperation with Ibaraki University and Utsunomiya University beyond the framework of universities, in order to utilize and complement the characteristics of each university's research, and to develop more sophisticated and useful front-line agricultural research with an international flavor. The curriculum has a variety of unique features that are ideal for fostering human resources who will be the driving force in building a sustainable, recycling-oriented society from a global perspective and contribute to the coexistence and welfare of humankind on a global scale. As you pursue your research here at United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, we hope that you will make effective use of these features, boldly take on challenges with perseverance, and gain a wide range of experience. I hope that you will play a central role in solving problems and contribute to building a bright future in which humankind can develop beautifully and prosperously in harmony with the natural environment and with consideration for others.

Finally, I would like to add one more thing that may seem obvious but is very important. The path of academic research is sometimes mentally and physically demanding. It is impossible to continue without a healthy mind and body. In particular, those of you who have come from rural areas or overseas may be anxious about many things in an unfamiliar place. Please take good care of your health and enjoy a fruitful university life. Our university will continue to do its utmost to support you in every way possible. I would like to conclude my address by expressing my hope that all of you who are entering the university today will not forget the feelings you have experienced today and that you will grow and develop toward your dreams, and by welcoming you once again to be a part of this university.