2026 Fall Graduation Ceremony speech by Naoto Ohtake, president and CEO

Science Tokyo President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Naoto Ohtake
September 24, 2026

Good morning, everyone.

First of all, to all the students completing their degrees, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your graduation.

In the face of rapid change and uncertainty, including the Covid-19 pandemic and unstable international conditions, your determination, creativity, and resilience have been truly remarkable, and we celebrate together the culmination of your hard work.

You had the rare experience of seeing your university's name change while you were enrolled here as students. Like President and CAO Tanaka, I want you to take pride in being Science Tokyo graduates.

To the families, friends, and loved ones who have tirelessly offered their comfort and support: Thank you, on behalf of everyone at Science Tokyo, for entrusting these individuals to us, and for everything you have done during these challenging times.

On this special day, 97 students graduate from Science Tokyo with bachelor's degrees, 262 students graduate with master’s degrees, 9 students graduate with professional master’s degrees, and 168 students graduate with doctoral degrees.

Graduates: Throughout your time at the Institute, you have explored not only your specializations, but also the humanities and social sciences to formulate your own distinctive vision of the world. You have sought the questions and answers that define your path to new discoveries and a better, brighter future. I want to congratulate you for these efforts, and thank you for adding a new page to the history of Science Tokyo.

Our vision for Science Tokyo is to create a vibrant and compassionate university where the students, faculty, and staff work conscientiously, and together with the broader community, to envision a better life, society, and planet. This means taking on challenges such as creating new academic disciplines and industries, as well as addressing societal issues like pandemics and carbon neutrality. We want to share this vision with everyone connected to Science Tokyo, including, of course, our alumni. Through dialogue, we strive to be one unified, dynamic team working together to create truly innovative solutions. I, together with President Endo and Chairman Asano of Science Tokyo's alumni association for science and engineering and the medical and dental sciences, respectively, warmly welcome you, the newest graduates of Science Tokyo, to join us in turning this exciting vision into reality.

As you take strides toward new challenges — much like Science Tokyo — I would like to touch on the concept of “contingency,” which you will continue to experience as you advance to the next stage of your life.

I am sure you have all sensed contingency throughout your studies, research activities, and lives. Perhaps you made an irreplaceable friend through a chance encounter. Or, maybe you ran into an unexpected question at an academic conference, and the process of thinking about the answer led to the next phase of your research.

In the book When Life Suddenly Takes a Turn, co-authored by the late philosopher Makiko Miyano and Professor Maho Isono from Science Tokyo’s Institute for Liberal Arts, Miyano ponders the topic as follows: “The reality in which we live is shaped by a chance convergence of various causes that gives rise to the present, taking on new and unexpected forms. Because chance shapes the present as we move toward an unknown future, ‘actuality is the product of contingency,’ as suggested by philosopher Shuzo Kuki.”

I hope that all of you — whether you are about to enter the workforce or continue your education — will continue to examine your experiences with contingency. These experiences are not limited to people. They may be the words of scientists or philosophers, or they may be found in books or movies. Among them, you will find ideas that resemble and differ from your own. However, by embracing these ideas, reflecting on them, and giving them meaning through your eyes, you will grow significantly.

So, Class of 2026: As you move forward, will you allow these “contingencies” to simply pass you by, dismissing them as coincidences? Or will you welcome them as meaningful experiences, and allow them to converge into yet unseen landscapes and discoveries? From today, the choice is yours.

I look forward to seeing you all thrive in your careers, and your lives. Once again, congratulations on your graduation.