President's Address at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Entrance Ceremony, April 2026

(Faculty, Department of Marine Science, Department of Marine Science, Graduate School)

　Congratulations to all those who have been admitted to the Faculty of Marine Life Science, the Faculty of Marine Engineering, and the Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, as well as to those who are currently on a training voyage or preparing for departure and are absent from this day, and to all those who have been admitted to the Department of Marine Science and the Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology.

　Furthermore, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Itsunori Onodera, Member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Kazuaki Matsumoto, Chairman of the Rakusuikai Association, and Mr. Hiroshi Sekine, Chairman of the Kaiyokai Association, for attending today despite their busy schedules.

　To all new students and those continuing their studies, today marks the start of a new chapter in your learning as students of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. We hope you will quickly adapt to life at our university so that you can enjoy a fulfilling campus life.

　At our university, guided by the motto "Know the sea, protect the sea, and utilize the sea," we offer an original and practical educational curriculum. Various practical training sessions conducted at our on-campus experimental facilities, five research stations, and three large training vessels allow students to touch real objects, observe them firsthand, and tackle challenges while thinking for themselves. This allows the academic concepts and theories learned in the classroom to merge with what is learned through hands-on experience, accumulating as a solid, systematically organized body of knowledge. This sparks intellectual curiosity, leading students to want to learn more and understand more, so we encourage them to actively learn a wide range of subjects beyond their own specialization.

　The ocean connects the entire world, so many ocean-related problems, such as rising sea surface temperatures due to global warming, affect people's lives on a global scale. To solve such problems, it is important for many people to cooperate, transcending national borders, nationalities, races, and gender barriers. People who possess such qualities are called global talent. At our university, in addition to specialized education in faculties and majors, we are also focusing on developing global talent. The "OQEANOUS Plus Program" conducts educational exchanges with three maritime universities in Japan, China, and South Korea, as well as four top-level universities in ASEAN countries. The "METIS Program" works with six universities in Norway and Denmark to cultivate highly skilled professionals who can play an active role globally in improving and revitalizing the productivity of the marine industry and solving various global challenges surrounding the ocean.

　To facilitate participation in such international educational programs, our university introduced a four-term system with 105-minute classes starting in 2024. Under this system, it is possible to set up semesters with fewer required courses, known as gap terms, and students can use the longer summer break to take advantage of extended learning opportunities outside the university, such as studying abroad or participating in internships. For those who aspire to work on a global stage in the future, we encourage you to actively venture out into the world while you are still a student and gain invaluable experiences that cannot be obtained domestically.

　Furthermore, our university is also focusing on data science and AI education. In 2023, we received accreditation at the "Literacy Level" of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Accreditation System for Mathematical, Data Science, and AI Education Programs," and in 2025, we received accreditation at the "Applied and Basic Level." In addition, we launched the "Marine AI and Data Science Degree Program" in 2024 to train marine industry AI professionals. In Japan, where a population decline is certain, there is a need for people who can utilize mathematical, data science, and AI technology to create diverse value. We encourage not only those who love computers, but also those who are not familiar with programming, to actively take these courses, as they will broaden their expertise and add another strength to their resume.

　On the other hand, entrepreneurship courses are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for students interested in venture companies and startups. Entrepreneurship is translated as entrepreneurial spirit, but it refers not only to establishing a new company, but also to the qualities necessary to launch new businesses even within existing companies. I believe that acquiring entrepreneurial qualities will be beneficial to your studies and research. This is because research results produced at universities are not only presented at academic conferences as papers, but can also be applied to and developed in our lives, in other words, "implemented in society," which can make our daily lives more comfortable and bring happiness to many people. In other words, if you keep the keyword "social implementation" in mind as you study and research during your student life, it will lead to the creation of a prosperous future for people. If you are interested, please take an entrepreneurship course.

　Finally, I would like to share some information that I hope you will remember. Our university has two alumni associations: Rakusuikai and Kaiyokai. They hold seminars for current students, provide support for studying abroad, and offer advice on career paths and job hunting. Many alumni who graduated from Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, which is celebrating its 23rd anniversary this year, and from its predecessors, Tokyo University of Fisheries and Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine, are always there to help make your student life fruitful. Their respective offices are located on campus, so I encourage you to contact Rakusuikai or Kaiyokai and become a part of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology network.

　As I have explained above, you can learn a wide variety of things at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. I hope that through your studies at this university, which begin today, you will envision your future selves and fully enjoy your new student life.

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Toshio Iseki, President of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

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congratulatory address

　Congratulations on your admission.

　Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology has produced many talented individuals in various fields, including former Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki, as well as members of the National Diet, local assemblies, and mayors.

　Standing here today, I realize that the biggest turning point in my life up to this point was choosing to enroll in Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.

　The marine field, which you will be specializing in from now on, is a crucial field that holds many clues for humanity, Japan, and what we should aim for in the future. The ocean actually plays the biggest role in much of the Earth's environment, including global warming. When the ocean warms, global warming progresses, and changes in the ocean drastically alter marine resources and the weather. By understanding the ocean, we can understand the environment.

　Furthermore, the global population continues to grow, leading to competition among nations for food resources. Japan has played a pioneering role in the cultivation of marine biological and food resources, and this culture has spread throughout the world. Now, people around the world are competing to utilize marine biological resources. Resource management and aquaculture are extremely important fields, and it is up to all of you to take on this responsibility.

 　Tensions are currently rising in the Middle East over the Strait of Hormuz. Japan has historically been a country that relies on overseas sources for resources, including oil. However, looking out over the ocean, there are various valuable mineral and natural resources within Japan's territorial waters. Recently, the term "rare earth" has become increasingly common. Rare earths and rare metals are extremely important in the production of various goods. Although they are hardly found on Japanese land, it is said that the waters near Minamitorishima, which are within Japan's territorial waters, contain the world's largest rare earth or mineral resources. Developing these resources is actually the job of engineers who are responsible for the sea.

　I believe that by the time you all become active in society, the utilization of these resources will become a reality. I think you have truly chosen excellent fields. I hope that you will diligently hone your skills at this university and contribute to the world, not just Japan, in your respective fields.

February,8
Member of the House of Representatives Itsunori Onodera

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congratulatory address

 

　Congratulations to all incoming and advancing students!

　I would like to offer my congratulations on behalf of the guests. My name is Kazuaki Matsumoto, and I am the ninth president of the Rakusuikai, a general incorporated association that serves as the alumni association of this university.

　I am delighted to be able to celebrate this wonderful day with all of you, including the students, parents, guests, and faculty and staff.

　Established in 2003, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, along with its predecessors Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine and Tokyo University of Fisheries, has produced nearly 45,000 talented individuals for industry, government, and academia over its more than 150-year history, making a significant contribution to society.

　This is entirely due to the dedication of faculty and staff to education and research, and the earnest efforts of students, all under the university's vision of being "a world-class, outstanding university that produces leaders from industry, government, and academia who will play an international role in the marine field." Today, I hope that all of you who have entered or advanced to undergraduate, graduate, or specialized courses will learn from the research and education conducted under the university's vision and make a significant contribution to society.

　Currently, global climate change caused by global warming is triggering various changes in both land and sea areas that humanity has never experienced before. Even in the waters surrounding Japan, the catch of popular fish has become unstable, and securing food resources is a greater concern than ever before. As a result, there are high expectations for securing a stable supply of seafood through the growth of the aquaculture industry. Furthermore, in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which are said to be the cause of global warming, the Japanese government has declared its intention to achieve carbon neutrality, meaning that greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to zero overall by 2050. As a result, the industrial sector is beginning to take concrete steps towards utilizing renewable energy such as offshore wind power generation, and new uses of the ocean, such as the mining of seabed mineral resources like rare earth elements, from the perspective of industrial security.

　To all of you who have entered or advanced to university today, you will be studying a variety of subjects related to the ocean. We hope that you will study at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, whose motto is "Understanding the sea, protecting the sea, and utilizing the sea," and that you will become strong individuals who will forge a brighter future for the ocean and contribute to solving the various problems occurring in the sea. Society has high expectations of you and is waiting for you to make your mark. We sincerely hope you will do your best.

　In closing, I would like to offer my congratulations on your enrollment and advancement to higher education, and I pray that you will learn many things and have a fulfilling student life. This concludes my congratulatory address on behalf of the guests.

February,8
Rakusuikai Chairman: Kazuaki Matsumoto

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congratulatory address

　I am Sekine, Chairman of the General Incorporated Association, Kaiyokai. On behalf of the alumni association, I would like to offer a few words of congratulations. 

　Congratulations to all the new students on your admission! We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to the families and everyone involved with the new students.

　I about50Years ago, I stood in this auditorium, just like all of you, and attended my entrance ceremony. I still vividly remember the joy I felt at having overcome the challenges of studying for entrance exams and finally standing here. I'm sure you all feel the same way. On the other hand, I also had a little anxiety about entering the unknown world of university, so different from high school, wondering what I would learn and what kind of life I would lead.

　Your upcoming university life will truly be an "encounter with the unknown." So, what will you actually learn and how will you grow during these next four years at university? I believe that university learning consists of the following three pillars.

　The first thing is mastering your specialization. You have all chosen your own faculty and department, where you will find many advanced and specialized lectures and practical training sessions. From my own experience, I remember feeling bewildered by the unfamiliar subjects, but also finding the content incredibly interesting, and I was excited to attend lectures every day. I encourage you all to bravely tackle unfamiliar subjects and hone your expertise.

　The second is liberal arts.　(Liberal Arts) Liberal arts are nourishing for the human spirit. In Japan, liberal arts are translated as "general education" or "liberal arts education." Our university offers many subjects related to the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. For example, psychology, sociology, astronomy, economics, and law. Through these subjects, you will gain knowledge in a wide range of fields and learn logical and flexible thinking methods. These will be fields you have never known before, and a new world will surely open up for you. These subjects will cultivate the ability to respond appropriately when you encounter unexpected situations or difficulties. These are the studies necessary to become a well-rounded person, and university education cannot be considered complete without them. We encourage you to take these courses actively.

　And the third is learning from campus life. This involves not only gaining information from lectures, but also acquiring your own way of thinking and judgment criteria through campus life. For example, there is interaction with friends and professors. Interacting with people from different backgrounds, environments, and with different values ??helps you learn understanding and tolerance towards others, and broadens your worldview. In addition, there are many extracurricular activities such as internships, club activities, and cultural festivals where you can interact with people other than your classmates. Through these, you may gain the ability to cope in a global society and hints for living a fulfilling life. 

　Thus, university is not only an academic institution where you deepen your expertise, but also a place where you cultivate your character. However, you must not forget this: your active participation is a prerequisite for all three of these fields. The next four years are actually a very short period in your life. That is why you should actively make the most of this short period that has been given to you, or earned, and create the best campus life for yourself. 

　Now, let me share a little secret about Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. Actually, it's not really a secret. Our university boasts one of the highest employment rates among all national universities in Japan. What does this mean? It's proof that society values ??Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology and has high expectations for our graduates, and for you, the students. Be proud to be studying in such an environment and enjoy your university life to the fullest. 

　Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again to your families and those who have nurtured and supported you, and I hope that you will grow into well-rounded individuals.

　Once again, I sincerely hope that you all enjoy a healthy and fulfilling university life. Congratulations on this special day.

February,8
Hiroshi Sekine, Chairman of the Marine Society

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In addition to the above, we have received various forms of congratulations, such as congratulatory telegrams, from related companies and institutions.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude.

Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology