The annual new year speech by Director General of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan at Mitaka was televised to Mizusawa, Nobeyama and Okayama. He emphasized in the speech that this year ALMA is entering a new phase of its construction plan with the antenna assembly on site and its installation. He also touched on a new equipment development plan of Subaru telescope and initial results of Hinode satellite. The picture shows Shoken Miyama, Director General of NAOJ delivering a speech. At the beginning of his speech, he said he saw the old year out and the new year in, tolling bells at a temple (performed as a Buddhist ritual to purify people to enter a new year). This kind of episode may only be introduced by a person like Miyama who is also a Buddhist monk.