I am Toshiharu Kishi, newly appointed President of the Alumni Association for the 2025 academic year. I am honored to serve alongside two distinguished Vice Presidents: Mr. Hiroyuki Saito of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Professor Eiji Hato from the Department.

Our major annual event, the General Alumni Meeting, will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, October 11, at the Hongo Campus. This year, we will once again host the popular "Everyone's Classroom" program, which was launched two years ago and has been well received. This year's session will bring together members commemorating the 20th and 40th anniversaries, as well as the 10th and 30th, each group planning a unique and engaging program. We warmly invite you to also join us for the cross-generational social gathering "Let's Meet" in the evening.

One of the important responsibilities of the President is to connect with regional branches. On Saturday, May 31, I attended the joint site tour and social gathering of the Hokuriku Branch of the Civil Engineering and Urban Engineering Alumni Association of the University of Tokyo. On Friday, July 4, I participated in the regular meeting of the Tohoku Branch. Thanks to the leadership and hospitality of each branch’s president and committee, both gatherings were truly warm and enjoyable. I was also reminded of the tremendous contributions of Secretary General Ayuko Akaiike, who regularly attends regional events and actively fosters alumni connections. I look forward to visiting more branches whenever possible.

On Thursday, June 12, the Board of Directors meeting was held at HASEKO KUMA HALL (Engineering Building No. 11), where we approved last fiscal year's activity report and financial statement, as well as this year's activity plan and budget. Thanks to your continued support and the efforts of the Secretariat, the number of dues-paying members increased. With the support of many companies through advertising, we just barely ended last year in the black. However, the financial situation remains challenging, and further increasing the number of contributing members is a key issue.

In response, this year we have separated the directory fee from the annual membership fee, and reduced the latter. Those who wish to receive the printed directory will be asked to pay the fee separately. Going forward, we plan to transition the directory to an online format, and encourage you to take full advantage of ShakiNet, our alumni platform.

Ensuring the sustainability of alumni association activities is an urgent challenge. While the current Secretariat has been in place for 10 years and Secretary-General Akai has shouldered ever-growing responsibilities, the alumni association has not received sufficient involvement from the Department as a whole, partly due to the annually rotating presidency. To ensure greater stability and future revitalization, we acknowledge the need for stronger organizational support. In light of this, and based on a proposal from the Secretariat, we have decided to begin formal discussions on incorporating the Alumni Association. We will continue to consult with the Department, define a desirable organizational structure, and work toward an official launch of this initiative.

We sincerely appreciate your continued understanding, support, and cooperation in all alumni association activities.

June 30, 2025