Congratulations on your graduation.
I would like to extend my congratulations to the families and relations of all who are graduating today.
Also in attendance are Ochanomizu University supervisors, Administrative Councilors, the Chairman of the Alumni Association Ouinkai, trustees, and emeritus professors. Thank you for attending.

Four years ago, when you were just starting your studies here, I made my first address as university president. We have all spent the last four years together and come thus far.
One big effort over the past four years has been the educational reform in our undergraduate courses. The reforms were manifested in two original educational systems: the new liberal arts education that unites humanities and sciences, and the Multiple Program Elective Course System that enables students to voluntarily reach beyond their specialties.
It will be a while before these new educational systems bear fruit, but I am certain that you will use the education you received here in individual, creative ways. The most shocking, devastating event that happened during the past four years was the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Some of our students and their parents were directly affected. On that day, 500 people spent the night in our auditorium and gymnasium. I remember perceiving the composure and tolerance of everyone on campus that day. Students, faculty members and staff members alike responded to the constantly changing situation with sound judgment, and took action with forethought and consideration. It is for this reason that we were able to overcome the crisis.
It is a disaster that we cannot forget, even if we may wish to do so. It was also a valuable lesson in which I recognized and felt proud of the compassion shown by everyone on this campus.
More importantly, however, the disaster became an occasion for us to completely rethink the role we play as a higher education institution, that is, in response to the great earthquake and the following nuclear power plant accident. Today we are forced to reconsider the meaning of science and technology.
Since modern times, the development of natural sciences has changed the very quality of society. The pursuit of science taught us more about nature, and the development of