Happy New Year.
 
On this occasion of the New Year , when I reflect on the previous five years or so, I am reminded that the world has faced serious adversities , including the historic outbreak of new infectious diseases, extensive international conflicts  in Europe and the Middle East, and a sharp destabilization  of the economic and political situations of key countries .

Japan is no exception to these adversities. However, if we examine the situation calmly , we must realize that the conflict areas are geographically distant from Japan, prices and economic activity are relatively stable, and there are few serious domestic conflicts. I believe that we should not take such circumstances in our country for granted  but value them.

There are different retrospective views on  Japan's landscape  during the Heisei and Reiwa eras, including recent years. Some view the country as stable, while others perceive it as stagnating. However, in my opinion, these were inevitable years of painstaking efforts to at least correct the various negative aspects of Japan's economic activities that had expanded dramatically during the Showa era.

This also holds true for  research activities in Japan. Fortunately, the international credibility of the research capabilities and commitment of Japanese researchers has remained solid and unwavering. While preserving the culture of excellence in scientific research built and developed by our predecessors, what goals should we be pursuing? 

This year, I intend to ask myself this question attentively.