Congratulations to all of you who have completed your programs and received degrees today.

On behalf of the faculty and staff of Nagasaki University, I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to your families, friends, and academic advisers who have supported you so far.

This year marks an important milestone, the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing.

Nagasaki Medical College, the predecessor of our university, suffered devastating damage from the atomic bombing, claiming the lives of many students, faculty, and staff members. Last December, Nihon Hidankyo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum held the following day, Dr. Masao Tomonaga, Professor Emeritus at our university, took the stage to introduce the results of his many years of research as a hematologist. We believe that the research into the effects of radiation that Nagasaki University has been conducting for half a century also contributed to the award.

The research is underpinned by each A-bomb survivor’s precious experience and cooperation, as well as by the sincere attitude of the researchers who strive to respond to them. This shows us that research is not merely an intellectual endeavor, but an act that involves human dignity and responsibility for the future.

Meanwhile, in modern society, the distance between basic research and society is rapidly shrinking. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines were made available in just one year. Moreover, since its launch in 2022, ChatGPT has quickly spread to a wide range of fields, including education, medicine, and business. We are now in an era where science, technology, and innovation directly affect each country’s competitiveness.

In these circumstances, the Japanese government has placed focus on AI, IoT, big data, carbon neutrality, and other key areas in the upcoming 7th Science, Technology and Innovation Basic Plan, while emphasizing the importance of creating diverse “knowledge” in preparation for an unforeseen future. Here, the “knowledge” does not simply refer to the accumulation of information, but the kind of knowledge, technology, and discoveries that will pave the way to the future and create value for society.

In January of this year, Nagasaki University was selected from among national, public, and private universities across the country as a recipient of support under the Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS). By combining the three fields of global health, global risk, and global ecology, and promoting interdisciplinary research across the university, we are striving to become an educational and research hub that can contribute to the realization of planetary health.

This J-PEAKS grant is not simply research funding, but is intended to build research frameworks that enable universities to generate “knowledge” and translate it into social implementation. In other words, the grant is designed to build “knowledge ecosystems.” Those who will play a key role in these systems are not researchers alone. The key also lies in the growth and engagement of URAs and other research management personnel and highly specialized human resources. We are working to strengthen our research support system by providing support for diverse forms of career development, including the promotion of PhD holders.

The world is changing rapidly. Nagasaki University is also continuing to evolve in step with such changes. In this environment, you have created “knowledge” through your research, and it is an irreplaceable resource for the university, Japan, and the world. We hope that you will continue to utilize this knowledge to contribute to society and the world.

Please enjoy taking on challenges to pave the way for the future for yourself.
I sincerely hope that your future paths will be bright and promising.

Once again, I would like to express my warmest congratulations to you all.

Takeshi Nagayasu

President of Nagasaki University