It is a great honor for me to take over as President of the Hoso Bunka Foundation that has thirty-seven years of history and tradition, from Mr. Toshio Kawatake. I have been serving in the foundation for twenty years, and even before that, I was privileged to receive the very first HBF grant for my research on the Broadcast Law. I am determined to continuously make every effort to improve the undertaking of the HBF.

In April this year, the HBF has made a new start as a public interest incorporated foundation. Under the new system, I would like to, as we have always done, throw enormous energy into HBF’s three major programs: providing awards, offering grants and training human resources, and further move forward to our public goal of contributing to an extensive development of broadcasting service.

As the broadcasting industry is approaching the significant era of all-digital broadcasting that provides multi-media and multi-channel services, and moreover when we are all suffering from the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the role, the significance of existence, and the quality of content of the broadcast media including television and radio are once again being questioned. At this crucial period, I am keenly aware of the importance of the role that the HBF should play.

I look forward to your further support and guidance for the HBF in the future.

June 13, 2011