As for my past activities, I worked for many years in the development and implementation of broadcasting technology at NHK, and more recently, I fulfilled those duties from a viewpoint encompassing all of NHK’s broadcasting technologies. Amid rapid changes in both the social environment and technology development, my experience in continually questioning the role of broadcasting has reaffirmed for me the importance of ITE as a foundation of knowledge supporting image information media. At the same time, I have come to be keenly aware of the importance of securing sustainable activities based on limited financial resources and of achieving both efficiency and quality.

 The year 2026 marks a special milestone in the history of image technology in Japan. It was exactly 100 years ago on December 25, 1926 that engineer Kenjiro Takayanagi displayed the Japanese katakana character “イ” on a cathode ray tube by electronic television based on the concept of “wireless remote viewing.” Despite being limited to only 40 scan lines, this experiment demonstrated that an image could be processed as an electrical signal and visualized again elsewhere. It marked the origin of image information media in Japan with a spirit that clearly led to the later development of broadcasting technology, display technology, and visual expression.

 At ITE, we view this milestone as “100 years of the ‘イ’ character.” Through a variety of activities including a special feature in the November 2026 issue of the Journal of the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, one of our important missions will be to share again the technical significance of this achievement and the pioneering spirit of our predecessors and to pass this legacy on to the next generation. I believe that looking back at this historical achievement can provide us with an opportunity to envision image information media of the future.

 The FY2026 business plan of ITE calls for “value creation through co-creation and collaboration.” Keeping this in mind, we will move forward based on the three pillars of revitalizing ITE, pioneering new fields, and enhancing public relations activities and member services. We will work to enhance our Annual Convention and research meetings, strengthen our support for young researchers and students, and deepen our collaboration with academic and professional societies both in Japan and abroad. At the same time, we must address key issues such as ethics and social responsibility in light of the recent advancements in generative AI while promoting dialogue and communication across industry, academia, and government.

 As someone who has been directly involved in on-site broadcasting activities, I feel that a process that implements research results in society and a cycle that feeds back issues arising in the field to research are highly important. I will undertake the management of ITE while engaging in careful and ongoing discussions with the board of directors, the various committees, and all members. My goal here is to make ITE into a site that brings the knowledge of researchers, engineers, and administrators together beyond their individual positions and that fosters effective collaboration and the creation of new value. Looking ahead to the next 100 years, I will make every effort to develop ITE even further while keeping in mind the role of image information media in society and the importance of learning from ITE itself. To all ITE members, I look forward to your understanding and cooperation in the year to come.