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平成31年度入学式(大学院課程) 式辞

協調と挑戦でいこう!

平成31年度4月入学式式辞は英語で行われました。

Ladies and gentlemen. Good afternoon.

It is my great pleasure to hold the Tokyo Tech 2019 Spring Entrance Ceremony for master's and doctoral program students. In the presence of the Board of Directors, deans, directors, and special guests, we have gathered here to celebrate the new students joining us today. Let us also congratulate and express our gratitude to your parents and families, also lifelong Tokyo Tech community members, who have dedicated so much time and effort to your life and academic success.

This spring, 1,608 students are entering the master's degree program, 32 students are entering the professional master's degree program, and 255 students are entering the doctoral degree program. Among you, we welcome 214 students from overseas.

Congratulations to you all.*

You are all now valid representatives of Tokyo Tech — ambassadors of an inclusive, multicultural community which values the unique ideas and perspectives of each individual.

Tokyo Tech has a 138-year history of developing professionals who create lasting impact through various fields in science and technology. Here, I would like to introduce one example of Tokyo Tech research, which has had a great impact on telecommunications technology. All of you have a smartphone or mobile phone in your pocket. Your mobile phone and the base station communicate using precisely the same, stable frequency. A temperature stable quartz crystal is used to produce an electronic oscillation in the equipment. Tokyo Tech Professor Issac Koga (Issaku Koga) discovered the cutting angle of quartz crystal with zero temperature coefficient of frequency in 1932. This quartz crystal technology is used in your phones and all wired and wireless communication systems. Recently, Koga's achievement was recognized as an IEEE milestone, an accolade only presented for the most outstanding technological accomplishments that benefit humanity. You can see the IEEE plaque on our Suzukakedai Campus and also in the Tokyo Tech Museum here on Ookayama Campus. The museum is located beside the main gate of Ookayama Campus. The plaque is displayed on the second floor of the museum, so visit the Tokyo Tech Museum after this ceremony.

I hope that such achievements, as well as the talented members of the Tokyo Tech community — both present and past — will inspire all of you to create significant impact in science and technology, and in other fields.

Last year, Tokyo Tech was selected as the only science and technology-focused institution in the country to lead society into the future as a Designated National University. This means that, more than ever, society is looking to us — the Tokyo Tech community — to solve the most pressing issues, to challenge the status quo, and to create a better future. As the Institute responds to these calls for collaboration, I strongly encourage all of you to do the same — begin embracing collaborative challenges from today.

I spent many years as a researcher at Tokyo Tech and other locations in Japan and overseas. When I became president last year, I suddenly had a bird's-eye-view of the Institute, and I was quickly reminded of the excellence of all our students, faculty, and staff. Looking at all of you today, I feel an excitement and anticipation that makes me long to be a student again. Still, as the world — and science and technology — continue to change at a remarkable speed, some of you may be experiencing a sense of uncertainty. The fact is that, as science and technology professionals who want to create lasting impact, we are expected to step further and further outside our comfort zones. We must combine our technical specializations with an extensive knowledge of other fields so that we can offer effective solutions to interdisciplinary challenges.

The learning and research environment at Tokyo Tech is designed to prepare you comprehensively for these challenges. Our broad, student-centered curriculum encourages each of you to pursue your passions autonomously. Our faculty members ensure that you have instant access to world-leading science and technology research. Our liberal arts experts are present throughout your journey to offer new angles and perspectives that sharpen your interdisciplinary acumen. I encourage you to take full advantage of these unique characteristics, and allow yourselves to grow into a new generation of professionals who are willing and able to create a better future.

In conclusion, I would like to leave you with this thought. During your time here, you will all create your unique, individual stories. Some of you will be students here for two years, others for longer. But all of you will be Tokyo Tech alumni for the rest of your lives. Therefore, however your story unfolds here, and wherever your path leads from here, always wear your Tokyo Tech badge proudly.

The new era of Reiwa will begin next month. Your lives as Tokyo Tech graduate students begin today. Once again, congratulations to you all, and welcome to the Tokyo Tech community!

April 2, 2019
Kazuya Masu
President, Tokyo Tech

*
President Masu acknowledged the significant international presence at the ceremony by offering his congratulations in ten other languages in addition to English.

お問い合わせ先

東京工業大学 総務部 広報課

Email pr@jim.titech.ac.jp