ARCHIVE

At Hongo campus on December 25, The University of Tokyo (President: Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama), Kyoto University (President: Dr. Kazuo Oike), Keio University (President: Dr. Yuichiro Anzai), and Waseda University (President: Dr. Katsuhiko Shirai) have signed an agreement for inter-university student exchange in graduate school education. The main aim of this agreement is to provide opportunities of diverse education and research experiences to students of graduate schools with perspective of development of academics and nurturing leaders. ?

The ceremony for presentation of the President’s Award for operational improvements in FY2007, sponsored by the Operational Improvement Project Promotion Headquarters, was held in Yasuda Auditorium on Friday, December 21. Applications were solicited from academic and administrative staff members for projects relating to operational improvement that they had initiated themselves. Altogether 60 applications were received. After a rigorous screening process, President’s Awards were presented for overseas training (one award) and training in Japan (two awards), and two Operational Improvement Project Promotion Headquarters Director’s Awards and one Management and Planning Department General Manager’s Awards were presented.

The presentations were followed by an address from University of Tokyo President Komiyama, in which he strongly encouraged staff members to build a new model university staff to ensure the further promotion of the Action Plan, aiming for the global “pinnacle of knowledge on the strength of students, academic and administrative staff.” Following the president’s address, presentations by the staff honored with awards concluded the ceremony, with initiatives to be undertaken in the following year very well received by the attendees. More than 550 staff members participated in the award ceremony.

Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chair of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which won the Nobel Peace Prize, visited on Tuesday, December 18, and talked with President Komiyama of Todai. They eagerly talked for about an hour regarding 1) how the scientists should contribute to the issue of the global sustainability including the climate change 2) what is necessary to structure the knowledge and to present the vision toward the solution, and 3) a role of the leaders.

The 58th Komaba Festival was held on Friday, November 23th, Saturday, November 24th, and on Sunday, November 25th at the Komaba campus. Many visitors enjoyed over 400 events on a variety of themes organized by students.

Todai-Asahi Symposium on “Higher Education in the 21st Century ? Comparison among Japan, Europe and the US” was held at Yasuda Auditorium on November 17. This symposium was the second of the series jointly sponsored by Todai and Asahi Shimbun under the umbrella title of the “Intellectual Core Summit”, which was also one of the commemorative events of Todai’s 130th anniversary.

President Komiyama of Todai opened the symposium with a keynote speech, followed by guest speeches from Vice-Chancellor Alison Richard of University of Cambridge and Chancellor Henry T. Yang of University of California Santa Barbara, and a panel discussion including Vice-Chancellor Honma of Ritsumeikan Trust, Chairman Niwa of Itochu Corporation, President Miyata of Tokyo University of Arts, and Executive Vice-President Asashima of Todai. Discussion focused in particular on possible forms of cooperation between society and the university in the construction of research and education.

Including visitors and members of The University of Tokyo, approximately 600 attended the symposium.

On November 10, The University of Tokyo 130th anniversary ceremony and memorial lecture were held in Yasuda Auditorium. After an opening address by Chairperson of the 130th Anniversary Project Professor Junichi Hamada, Nobel Laureates and former University of Tokyo members Dr. Leona Esaki, Mr. Kenzaburo Oe and Honorary Professor Emeritus Masatoshi Koshiba gave commemorative speeches titled “The University of Tokyo and I”. Following the 130th anniversary ceremony and President Hiroshi Komiyama’s address, Senior Vice Minister of MEXT Ms. Yasuko Ikenobo, President of Peking University Dr. Xu Zhihong and Vice Chair of The University of Tokyo Gakuyukai Mr. Hajime Sasaki gave congratulatory addresses. Despite the rain, the Yasuda Auditorium was filled by attendees for a splendid ceremony.

The Todai-Yale Initiative Opening Ceremony was held at 6pm on Friday, November 2nd at the Yale Club of New York City, New York. Approximately 150 people attended the ceremony, including representatives from The University of Tokyo, Yale University, the Japanese Embassy and Consulate General in the United States, Japanese companies active in the United States, and the New York Ichokai, among whom were University of Tokyo President Komiyama; Yale University President Levin; His Excellency Mr. Ryozo Kato, Ambassador of Japan to the United States; His Excellency Mr. Yukio Takasu, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations; and His Excellency Mr. Motoatsu Sakarai, Ambassador and Consul General of Japan to the United States in New York.

At the ceremony, welcome addresses from President Komiyama, President Levin, and Mr. Junji Masuda, President of the Friends of Todai, were followed by a congratulatory address from H.E. Mr. Kato. President Komiyama, in his welcome address, noted “The University of Tokyo now celebrates her 130th anniversary. To mark this occasion, we are now launching 130 overseas laboratories, of which 34 have already been established, with a further 53 in the pipeline. Our new program with Yale University is the most important of them all. It is thus with great pleasure that I, with President Levin, inscribe a new entry into the history of our mutual friendship.”

The Todai-Yale Initiative comprises a Japanese Studies Laboratory established by The University of Tokyo with the cooperation of, and within the campus of, Yale University. Opened this autumn, three faculty members will be stationed in the laboratory. In addition a new NPO “Friends of Todai”, centered on the New York Ichokai, has been established to carry out activities in support of the Todai-Yale Initiative.

In advance of the opening ceremony, the university presidents signed an agreement on academic exchange between the two universities.

Photo:Prof. Takeuchi, Vice President for International Relations, President Komiyama, Yale University President Levin, His Excellency Mr. Ryozo Kato, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, Mr. Junji Masuda, President of the Friends of Todai Inc.

The Todai-Yake Initiative
Friends of Todai, Inc.

On every Saturday from September 22 to October 20, The University of Tokyo held the Open Lecture. It was the 107th series of Open Lectures and attended by 5841 people in total at the Yasuda Auditorium.

Right: President Komiyama giving his closing remarks.
Left: Professor Inoue giving his opening remarks.

At Hongo Campus, “Kaitoku Gate” became ready for use on October 19. The part of brick base on the old “Kaitokukan” (the mansion of the duke MAEDA) has been placed at the gate side.

A special class for elementary school children, called “Special School for Preventing Global Warming,” was held by Team Minus 6% (the Ministry of the Environment), IR3S (Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science) and TIGS (Transdisciplinary Initiative for Global Sustainability) at the Yasuda Auditorium on Monday, October 8th.  The aims of this event were to provide exact messages by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) 4th Assessment Report, and deepen the children’s knowledge of global warming and understanding what they should prevent it.  Approximately 250 children listened to the lecture made by Professor Akimasa Sumi, the executive director of TIGS and other speeches.

Photo 1: At the press conference
Photo 2: The Minister of the Environment appealing for CO2 reduction

At a press conference held on October 1st, University of Tokyo announced officially the launch of “Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe”, which had been chosen for the World Premier International Research Initiative by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and would be established as a new research institute. This program aims to establish within Japan a“highly visible global research center”, and government support is assured for at least the next ten years.

University of Tokyo President Hiroshi Komiyama, Managing Director and Executive Vice President Sadanori Okamura, Director Hitoshi Murayama of the Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, and Director Suzuki of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research were present at the press conference. President Komiyama expressed his strong support including for the establishment of a new research center in the Kashiwa Campus; Director Murayama explained that by bringing together theoretical and experimental physicists, astronomers and mathematical scientists from a range of fields from within Japan and abroad, he hoped to create an unparalleled research institute.

This event took place with the participation of the invited crews of the University of British Colombia (UBC), Seoul National University (SNU) and Kyoto University, and marked a climax of the international student exchange programs on culture and sports proposed by The University of Tokyo Athletic Association.
In advance of the event, on September 21 (Fri), a panel discussion between students of the 4 universities was held, in which the students discussed their university life?including balancing between study and training?and future plans, thereby promoting mutual understanding and friendship.
The regatta was held on September 23, attended by President and Mrs. Komiyama, Director Vice-President Hamada, Director and Mrs. Yamada, and alumni of The University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. In the commemorative race, the University of British Columbia dominated the competition and reached the goal first. Our crew regrettably ended up the third place after a neck-on-neck dead-heat with Kyoto University. Seoul National University, although finished fourth, received warm applauds from the spectators.
Ultimately, the day ended splendidly for The University of Tokyo with a landslide victory over Kyoto University in the day’s main event race: the 58th Junior Eight race, assuring a bright future for our rowing club. Overall, the regatta was a great success with the participating athletes and staffs cheering each other.

Structuring” at Yasuda Auditorium and Bldg. 2 of the Faculty of Engineering on Saturday, September 15. About 800 people, including graduate students, faculty members and people from the general public participated the symposium. This symposium was composed with the lecture part held at Yasuda Auditorium and the poster session part at Yasuda Auditorium and Bldg, 2 of Faculty of the Engineering. During the lecture part, a representative from each of the 6 Faculties and Institutes participating gave a lecture on a new topic in the life science field. In addition, 327 papers were registered at the poster sessions, and lively discussions took place at each site.

Most of devastating large earthquakes occur in marine area. Because hypocenters of earthquakes in the marine area can not be estimated precisely by land-based seismic observations, it is essential to observe earthquakes on the sea floor near a source region. It is not easy to install seismic stations on the sea floor, because of high water pressure and lack of power supply and communication system at the sea floor.

To observe earthquakes on the sea floor, scientists and engineers at the Earthquake Research Institute (ERI), The University of Tokyo, have been developing a Pop-up type Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS). Three-component seismometers with a leveling mechanism, a digital data recorder with a large recoding capacity, and lithium batteries are contained a sphere-shape pressure vessel which is made of titanium. An OBS is fallen from a research ship, and starts data recoding after a soft landing on the sea floor. The OBS can obtain seismic records on the sea floor up to 6,000 meters depth and for more than a year. When the OBS receives an acoustic command from the research ship, a weight is released from the pressure vessel and the OBS ascends to the sea surface. We studies large earthquakes and the earth’s interior by observing earthquakes using OBSs on the sea floor.

At this exhibit, important components of the state of the art ocean bottom seismometer are shown.

1) Three-component 1 Hz seismometer mounted on leveling mechanism

This is a seismic sensor that converts ground motion into electric signals. To make precise measurements, sensors have to be precisely placed on the level. Because of free-fall deployment, the sensor may be slanted off the horizontal. This sensor is mounted on a leveling mechanism developed by ERI. The leveling mechanism works automatically after landing before starting an observation.

2) Digital seismic recorder with a resolution of 24 bits

This records seismic signals from the seismometers in a digital format. The electric signals from the seismometers are converted into 24-bit digital data with 200 Hz of sampling and stored on hard disk drives. The recorder also has a precise crystal oscillator to keep timing for more than 1 year. Because large capacity hard disks are available, more than 1 year seismic data can be recorded.

3) Transponder system with a function of acoustic communication

The transponder system establishes an acoustic communication link between an OBS on the sea floor and a research ship. The system enables us to control the seismic recording system and check a status of seismic recording. The most important function of the system is to release a weight for recovery of an OBS by receiving acoustic signals of a command from the research ship.

Earthquake Research Institute

Main Building 1st Floor Exhibit, Historiographical Institute

Color woodblock prints (duplicates) and typeset versions of Dai-Nihon-Shiryo (Historical Materials of Japan) and Dai-Nihon Komonjo (Old Documents of Japan) in the institute’s collection are currently on display in the Main Building 1st Floor.

<Items on exhibit>
(1) Tokyo Meisho Hongo no Fukei (Famous Places in Tokyo, Scenes of Hongo) (duplicate) (original: Historiographical Institute collection) [photo left]
(2) Typeset versions of Dai-Nihon-Shiryo, Vol.9, No.15, and Dai-Nihon Komonjo, Daitokuji document No.11 (Historiographical Institute related materials 2-7) [photo right]
(3) Dai-Nihon-Shiryo printed manuscript sample, Dai-Nihon-Shiryo, Vol.10, No.8

<Explanation>
Item (1) is a color woodblock print depicting the Meiji Emperor during a brief rest stop in the watchtower at the Maeda Kaga-han residence in Hongo during a visit to Hikawa Shrine on October 27, 1868.  Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige, published by Ebiya Rinnosuke.  The scene is depicted centered in front of the Akamon and it is thought that the two-story structure on the right is the watchtower.
Item (2) Typeset versions of the Dai-Nihon-Shiryo, Vol.9, No.15, and Dai-Nihon Komonjo, Daitokuji document No.11, published in 1977
It need not be said that typographical printing technology gave rise to a major revolution in the dissemination of knowledge and informatization. 
The Dai-Nihon-Shiryo and Dai-Nihon Komonjo, publication of which started in the first year of the 20th century, are truly collections of historical materials that could only be carried out through typographical printing technology.  That contrasts with the various handwritten documents of the Hanawa Shiryo, forerunner of the Dai-Nihon-Shiryo, plans for which started precisely a century earlier in 1801, with no intention whatsoever using a printing press.
Now in the 21st century, the printing process itself has become digitized and the Dai-Nihon-Shiryo and other works in the institute’s collection are in a printed form while they can also be used in a digitized form, culminating in their worldwide use via the Internet.

Historiographical Institute website

The College of Arts and Sciences held a four-day camp on Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea from 6 August through 9 August. The camp was called ‘UT Philosophy Camp for 16-year-olds: Thinking about the location of humanity between the sea and sky’. Intended for high school juniors, the camp was organised by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Komaba Organization for Educational Development and Liberal Arts Development for Colleges and Schools in Japan sponsored by Benesse Corporation. It was designed as a part of UT outreach activities for liberal arts education in high school.
Twenty-two students from both Japan and abroad took part in the camp. The lecturers were Professor Yasuo Kobayashi and Associate Professor Takahiro Nakajima of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While called a philosophy camp, the event was intended not to teach philosophy but ‘to do philosophy and write philosophically’. Its full programme of activities included museum tours and exploration of the island. Mr Soichiro Fukutake, President of Benesse Corporation, also gave a lecture and enjoyed talking to the high school students at a grill party.
In the rich natural yet artful environment of Naoshima, the participants gained rare experience in ‘pure thinking’, something seldom achieved in their high-school lives, through discussions with the lecturers and dialogues among themselves.

Open campus was held at the Hongo campus on August 1 with about 5,800 participants and at the Komaba campus on August 2 with about 1,800.

Photo: Scene of the general reception area on the gingko-lined avenue (Hongo Campus)

130th anniversary commemorative event “Lotuses ? History and dreams”

Friday, July 20, - Friday, August 10.  Blooming lotuses cultivated at the Experimental Station for Landscape Plants, Faculty of Agriculture, are on display in the open space in front of the Yasuda Auditorium.  Since it is an outdoor display, they can be viewed during this period during hours when the university gates are open.  In addition to the 130 large flower pots reflecting the 130th anniversary of the university, small-size lotuses (so-called “bowl lotuses”), which have increased in popularity lately, are also on display at the site.  The objective is to make the “Ohga Lotus” and other lotuses as well as the Experimental Station more widely known among the students, faculty members and residents of the community by selecting more than 70 varieties, just under 30% of the total varieties cultivated at the Experimental Station, for the exhibit.  A talk about on lotuses and a lotus leaf tea tasting party will be held at 10:00-11:00 on Tuesday, July 31 (cancelled in the event of rain).  The tea tasting will conclude when all of the tea is consumed.
An exhibit regarding this event is being held at The University of Tokyo Communication Center.  In addition, as related products, the perfume Lotus Eau de Parfum, blended from fragrances extracted from the Ohga Lotus and lotus oil blotting paper are on sale.
The pamphlet “Lotuses ? History and dreams” is also being distributed.  Why not stop by?

　
University of Tokyo Communication Center
Adjacent to the Akamon on the north side, Hongo Campus
Hours: 10:30-16:30, Monday-Saturday
Tel: 03－5841－1039
ＵＲＬ：http://www.utcc.pr.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Photo: Taken in front of the Yasuda Auditorium

The cruiser team of the university’s yacht club succeeded in entering the J/24 World Championship held in Mexico and returned home to a hero's welcome.  After taking first place in the Kanto J/24 Championship in October, the cruiser team went on to place a marvelous seventh in the Japanese J/24 Championship in November.  It thereby won the right to enter the world championship and earned a place in the event held in Mexico.

Campus Magazine　This is covered in a special feature in the Campus Magazine (no. 1361).

The UT Forum 2007 in Seoul was held at the Seoul National University and Korea University on Monday and Tuesday, June 25-26.  This is the sixth such UT Forum.  At the Seoul National University, fora were held in two fields, humanities and electricity/engineering, which were attended by about 120 and 150, respectively.  There were furthermore about 150 participants in the forum in the field of education at the Korea University.  Student fora were also held in these three fields at the two universities and both the student and faculty fora ended successfully.  People from The University of Tokyo included President Komiyama, Trustee and Vice President Asajima and Director Takeuchi, Division for International Relations, as well as 21 faculty members representing ten organizations on the campus and 37 students, who further enhanced academic and human exchanges with the students and faculty members of the Seoul National University and Korea University.
In addition, on Monday, June 25, a lecture, hosted by the Seoul National University, was presented by President Komiyama.  Besides the 150 faculty members and students who attended, President Komiyama also held dialogs with the presidents of Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University.

Division for International Relations website

Informal officer gatherings are convened to enable the university president and trustees to gather together and discuss important matters that affect the university overall.  This is one of the mechanisms of distributed autonomous cooperation, which promotes the sharing of issues and communication among the officers.  Various important items are decided based on those discussions.
They are held twice a week in the president’s office.  If you pay close attention, you will notice the serious looks on their faces.

Prime Minister Abe toured the radiation therapy facilities at The University of Tokyo Hospital at 10:00am on Friday, June 15, prompted by the cabinet decision, Basic Plan for the Promotion of Anticancer Measures.

Photo left: President Komiyama greeting PR Abe
Photo right: Director Nakagawa, Department of Palliative Medicine (right) giving an explanation of the linac equipment to PR Abe (center) and New Komeito party leader Ota (left)

The University of Tokyo Hospital website

The ThinkingForest Project is a series of art projects with participation by all graduate students, faculty members and related persons of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies making use of the temporary white-colored steel fence that encloses the site of the new dormitory Informational Studies/Fukutake Hall, now under construction next to the Akamon on the Hongo Campus, and vicinity with a length of about 160m.
It is a new movement planned and managed primarily by graduate students in the department, promoting collaboration that crosses over numerous walls including, needless, between humanities and sciences as well as graduate students and faculty members, students and non-students and the university environment on the 130th anniversary of the founding of the university and the eighth anniversary of the department.

ThinkingForest of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies website

“Ancient city mounds and goddesses, dawn of primitive farming villages in “Mesopotamia,” a special exhibit commemorating the university’s 130th anniversary, was held at the University Museum on Friday, May 25, and was attended by Prince Akishino, Princess kiko and Prince Mikasa.
This exhibit will be open until Saturday, May 26.

University Museum website

Kenzaburo Oe presented a lecture at the Yasuda Auditorium at 2:00-5:00pm on Friday, May 18, as a part of the events commemorating the 130th anniversary of the university’s founding.  It was sponsored by the Department of Literature and co-sponsored by the department’s Fuse Academic Foundation.  In the lecture, entitled “Pursuit for worldwide universal liberal arts to become intellectuals,” which included reminiscences of his former teacher Professor Kazuo Watanabe and other personal episodes, he emphasized the role of intellectuals in present-day society and left a strong impression on the audience that filled the hall (about 1,100).  Oe graduated from the university in 1959 with a degree in French literature and received a Nobel Prize in literature in 1994.

The development of three entry gates has been promoted at the Hongo Campus this year.  Of these, the Kasuga Gate (located next to the Hongo Fire Station) opened on Monday, May 14.  The name Kasuga Mon was approved and decided after deliberation by the Campus Planning Office, release of the proposed plan on the university’s website and the solicitation of opinions.
Passage was totally blocked during the construction period, causing considerable inconvenience to users.  The gate will be open as indicated below.

Start of usage: Monday, May 14, 2007
Hours: 7:00am ? 12:30am.

A portable microscope and other medical instruments used during the Taisho period (1912-25), in the collection of the Institute of Medical Science and usually part of the permanent exhibit at the Medical Science Museum, are currently on exhibit on the first floor of the main building.

<Items on exhibit>
Portable microscope (photo right)
Scene of microscopic examination by Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato, the institute’s first director

The Medical Science Museum was established with the hope of promoting a broad understanding of medical science to date and its future by preserving and introducing valuable historical materials and expanding operations at the Institute of Medical Science

Medical Science Museum（access）

Comprehensive academic lectures are being presented for the summer session 2007 consisting of “Sustainability from the perspective of society - Peace, development and human rights” on Tuesday, 5th period, and “The World of mathematics ? in pursuit of a new century of numbers” on Thursday 5th period.  The first lecture, “Sustainability from the perspective of society,” also serving concurrently as a lecture to welcome new students, was given by Mrs. Sadako Ogata, current president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and also former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee, on Tuesday, April 10.  Students gathered in front of the hall that day more than one hour before the lecture started, filling the large lecture hall of the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences as well as classroom #900, where the lecture was relayed simultaneously, demonstrating the students’ mounting interest and awareness of the problems that Mrs. Ogata addressed.

A lecture by Prime Minister Romano Prodi of Italy, entitled “Italy and Japan ? Their appeal and challenges for various shared problems,” was held at the Graduate School of Medicine Tetsumon Memorial Hall starting at 10:40am on Tuesday, April 17.
PM Prodi and the university president engaged in an informal discussion prior to the lecture and there was a question-and-answer session after the lecture between PM Prodi and the students.

The 4th University of Tokyo Life Science Symposium was held at the Yasuda Auditorium on Saturday, April 14, 2007, sponsored by the Network for Life Science Education Support (network director: Professor Fukuda, School of Science) as part of the events commemorating the 130th anniversary of the university.
The symposium, launched with an opening address by President Komiyama, consisted of a succession of talks regarding the most recent research by the thirteen departments with which life science researchers are affiliated, concluding successfully with a closing address by Trustee and Vice President Asajima.
In addition, life science related research in the relevant departments and graduate schools were introduced in the booths of the sixteen departments affiliated with the Network for Life Science Education Support set up in the lobby of the hall, which bustled with students aiming to advance into the life science field and ordinary citizens with an interest in life science.

The university entrance ceremony for 2007 was held at the Nippon Budokan on Thursday, April 12.
The ceremony was attended by about 3,100 new students as well as some 5,400 parents and other interested persons.  Ceremony addresses by President Komiyama and Professor Norimichi Kojima, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, were followed by congratulatory greetings by Associate Professor Satoshi Fukushima of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology.  The ceremony concluded with the group singing of the university’s song “Tada Hitotsu” (“Just one”).

Address by President Komiyama
Address by President Komiyama (video)
Greetings by Associate Professor Satoshi Fukushima, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
Greetings by Associate Professor Satoshi Fukushima, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (video)

106th (spring 2007) University of Tokyo public lectures on the theme of “Globalization  - People, goods and money encircling the globe ? in the light and shadow“

Public lectures on the theme of “globalization” are being provided as a part of the events commemorating The University of Tokyo’s 130th anniversary.  The first day’s lecture was held at Yasuda Auditorium on Saturday, April 7, before an enthusiastic overflowing audience of 1,100.
The public this time are centered on a theme that enables participants to join together in considering the various aspects of globalization ? not only the bright aspects but also the dark ? in order to make it possible to cope appropriately with globalization, which will undoubtedly continue to advance on further in the future.

Requests to attend are also accepted on the days when the lectures are given (first 200 applicants) and you are cordially invited to come.

Saturday, April 7 - Globalization and the nation, society and economy
Kazuo UEDA, Hiroshi TAKAYAMA, Kazunori ISHIGURO and Tatsuo YANAGIDA
Saturday, April 21 ? Globalization, food and agriculture
Nobuhiro SUZUKI, Masayoshi HONMA, Motoshige ITO and Shinichi SYOGENJI
Saturday, May 12 ? Globalization and safety
Susumu YAMAKAGE, Yutaka KONDO, Kazuhiko KOBAYASHI and Toshio KOIKE
Saturday, May 19 ? Globalization and technology
Ken SAKAMURA, Takahiro FUJIMOTO and Hiroshi WATANABE
Saturday, June 2 ? Globalization and people
Yasuhiro YOSHIKAWA, Ryouko TSUNEYOSHI and Motohisa KANEKO

Note: Please access the website below for the application method and other details
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/gen03/d04_01_01_j.html

Spring has come to the Komaba Campus.
The cherry trees surrounding the ground are in full bloom.
The university entrance ceremony was held at the Nippon Budokan on Thursday, April 12, and the new students will be spending the next two years at the Komaba Campus.

2007 University of Tokyo entrance ceremony

Friday, March 23, 2007 (3/23-31/31) 2006 University of Tokyo graduation ceremony
The 2006 University of Tokyo graduation ceremony was held at the Yasuda Auditorium to commemorate the graduation of 3,264 undergraduate students.
The first session commencement ceremony for science related courses (medicine, engineering, physics, agriculture and pharmacology) started at 9:00 and the second session for humanities and education related courses (law, literature, economics, liberal arts and education) started at 11:00.
In addition, the 2006 University of Tokyo advanced degree granting ceremony was held on Thursday, March 22, marking the completion of advanced studies by 2,865 graduate students in MA courses, 1,153 in PhD courses and 390 in professional degree courses.

Commencement address by President Komiyama

2006 University of Tokyo commencement ceremony
2006 University of Tokyo advanced degree granting ceremony

Thomas A. Edison (born in the United State) invented the incandescent light bulb with the filament which was made by carbonized cotton thread in 1879.
Edison tested more than 6,000 materials from all parts of the world, and found the Japanese bamboo grown in Yawata village in Kyoto was the most satisfactory material of the light bulb.
The exhibits are the Edison light bulbs purchased by the Tokyo Electric Light Company, which is now the Tokyo Electric Power Company. The Dept of Electrical Engineering in The University of Tokyo purchased the Edison light bulb as a specimen in March 1890.
The other exhibit is the filament made of the thin bamboo in Yawata village mentioned above.

The Edison light bulb is the most famous, while many people competed the invention of the light bulb in this period. For example, the light bulb developed by J. G. Swan (born in U.K.) was as great as the Edison light bulb. To avoid useless patent disputes, Edison and Swan formed a joint company named The Edison and Swan United Electric Light Company Ltd. in 1883 in Britain, and they jointly produced electric light bulbs.
The exhibit is Edison and Swan Electric light bulb purchased by the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, as a specimen in March 1890 as well as the Edison electric bulb.

Professor Ichisuke FUJIOKA is called as Japan Edison. He was the third graduate of the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, where he served later as a professor.
Professor Fujioka greatly contributed to the development of the electric business in Japan including domestically manufactured generator.
He contributed to the establishment of the Tokyo Electric Light Company (predecessor of the Tokyo Electric Power Company), by which he was invited as a chief engineer while he held a post as a distinguished lecturer in the Tokyo Imperial University at the same time. He developed the first trial carbon electric bulb with the use of the electric bulb manufacturing machine imported from England.
He started up the Hakunetusha (predecessor of the electronics section of Toshiba Corporation) in 1892.
The exhibit is the first domestic white lightening bulb that Prof. Fujioka developed in 1892 by improving the trial carbon electric bulb. The improved bulb is provided with two sets of filament in order to change brightness. A patent (No. 2366) was granted to this bulb.

1. Edison electric bulb (Manufactured by the Edison Electric Light Company, U.S.A., in 1880’s, 16-candlepower bulb)
2. Edison electric bulb (Manufactured by the Edison Electric Light Company, U.S.A., in 1880’s, 50-candlepower bulb)
3. Edison and Swan electric bulb (Manufactured by the Edison and Swan United Electric Light Company, U.K., in 1880’s, 100-candlepower bulb)
4. Fujioka electric bulb (the first domestically manufactured bulb in 1982)
5. Filament by using Japanese bamboo in Yawata village in Kyoto (Manufactured by the Imperial Electric Bulb in 1918)

Along with the Spring Fire Prevention Movement starting on Thursday, March 1, the Hongo Fire Department invited Tomoko Nakanishi, director of the university’s Division of Safety, Health and Environment, to serve as “fire chief for a day” and held an “on-site investigation” and “firefighting practice” at the Faculty of Engineering Bldg. No.2 and Yasuda Auditorium on the Hongo Campus beginning 10:00 on Monday, March 5.

Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S) website

FY2007 2nd scholastic achievement test for the selection of University of Tokyo students (early term schedule) started on Sunday, February 25
On the 25th, the first day, a long line of exam takers formed in front of the gate at the entrance of the exam site.

Photo: Test takers facing the test site (gingko-lined avenue, Hongo Campus)

As a part of the events commemorating the 130th anniversary of The University of Tokyo, the international symposium, “Restoring the culture and natural environment of volcanic eruption disaster areas ? How about Augustus’ villa or the Acropolis?” was held at the Faculty of Science Koshiba Hall on Sunday, Feb. 11.
This was part of the announcement of research results of an academic research project consisting primarily of an archeological survey of ancient Roman sites implemented by a research team centered in The University of Tokyo at Somma Vesuviana, Campania, Italy, beginning in 2001. At the event, researchers gathered from many locations and announced the results of research from various perspectives including archeology, history, art history, architecture, volcanology, geology, botany, environmentology, instrumentation engineering and civil engineering and engaged in vigorous discussion with about 160 participants including a general audience of 130.

The university-wide Action Plan briefing was held at the Koshiba Hall on the Hongo Campus offering an opportunity for President Komiyama to provide an explanation to the faculty and staff regarding The University of Tokyo Action Plan 2005-08, a compilation of priority issues for realization of The University of Tokyo as it aims to become frontrunner of the times and apex of world knowledge (11:00, Tuesday, January 23
With about 200 faculty and staff members participating) and at Hall #18 on the Komaba Campus (4:15pm, Wednesday, January 31
With about 140 faculty and staff members participating)
The briefing was attended by the university president, and Trustees Yamada, Hamada, Okamura, Furuta and Uesugi.
As a general outline of the briefing, after an explanation by Trustee Yamada, President Komiyama gave an explanation of the Action Plan, a university model originating at The University of Tokyo with priority on a “distributed autonomous cooperative configuration” and the “structuration of knowledge,” followed by a question-and-answer session with the participation of the audience.
n addition, at the Kashiwa Campus, an informal gathering with the university president regarding the Action Plan was held in the 6th floor lecture hall of the Institute for Solid State Physics at 10:00, Thursday, Feb. 8, sponsored by the Kashiwa Campus Joint Academic Administration Committee, which was attended by about 250 faculty and staff members and students.
Besides these, informal gatherings with the president regarding the Action Plan are being held at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Earthquake Research Institute and other locations in response to requests.

Photo left: Briefing at the Komaba Campus
Photo right: Informal gathering with the president regarding the Action Plan at the Kashiwa Campus

University of Tokyo Action Plan 2005-08

The University of Tokyo University Museum launched the exhibits of the Mobile Museum 001 in the 1st floor office entrance hall of the Akasaka Intercity Building in Minato-ku, Tokyo, on Wednesday, January 17, 2007., with the support of Kowa Real Estate Co.
The Mobile Museum is Japan’s first mobile museum in which academic specimens in the Museum’s collection are incorporated in small museum units and deployed and moved about to various locations in society.
From massive integrated museums to dispersed mobile type museums
Next-generation mobile museums aiming for a fundamental transportation of the museum concept

Museums do not simply remain fixed in an existing space where it solicits academic resources but, rather, the stored contents move out actively into society. By transforming the basic concept, it should be possible to dramatically expand the scope of museum activities.
“Mobile museum” is a coined word indicating one approach to next-generation museums. Like mobile telephones, they bring to mind the vision of museums that travel about here and there unhindered. The exhibit contents are compactly packaged and are loaned out on medium- to long-term arrangements to schools, homes, companies and public facilities.
Spaces with no connections at all to museums are changed into temporary museum spaces by incorporating exhibit contents.
Exhibit units are moved to the next location upon the elapse of a given length of time.
The Mobile Museum transforms the existing museum collection (cultural social capital) into “fluid assets” and is a cultural tool with value that can be enjoyed by a broad segment of society.
University of Tokyo University Museum is implementing the pilot project Mobile Museum 001 at this time on a trial basis with the understanding and support of the Kowa Real Estate Co.
The project seeks to offer a proposal to the general public for a new prototype model backed by industry-academia collaboration linking university academic resources and corporate office spaces.

総合研究博物館　http://www.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/University of Tokyo University Museum

The open symposium “The Future of the Earth and Humankind ? Sustained by Resources and Environment,” co-sponsored by the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc. and the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), was held in the large auditorium at 1:00pm, Saturday, Feb. 3, as one of the events commemorating the 130th anniversary of The University of Tokyo.
Following an explanation of the intent of the symposium by President Komiyama, keynote addresses were given by Hiroshi Okuda, Toyota Motors director and senior adviser representing industry, Yoriko Kawaguchi, member of the House of Councilors representing the government and bureaucracy, and, from overseas, Prof. Garry Brewer, Yale University. This was followed by a panel discussion, “Inventing the Future: Scenarios, Imagination, Mastery and Control,” and, with an audience of more than 1,100, it was a great success filled to capacity.
In addition, at an international symposium held prior to the open symposium (Koshiba Hall, Thursday-Friday, Feb. 1-2), questions and opinions were expressed by the more than 100 attendees both from Japan and abroad and an enthusiastic discussion was held.
The 3-day international symposium made it possible to get a keen sense of the high level of interest in sustainability by researchers as well as the general public.
Information regarding the international symposium will be posted on the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science website.

Photo: Symposium held in the large auditorium (Yasuda Auditorium)

Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science website

A fire drill was held by the Hongo Fire Department at the Akamon Gate on the Hongo Campus on Friday, Jan. 26.
With the assumption of a fire breaking out at the Akamon Gate, initial firefighting activities by the volunteer fire prevention crew, security guards and others, guidance of nearby faculty members and students, practice in calling 119, guidance in water discharge by firemen and other activities were implemented.

Photo: Firefighting training at Akamon Gate

A disaster prevention symposium sponsored by the Hongo Fire Department was held at the Yayoi Auditorium (Faculty of Agriculture) beginning at 2:30pm on Wednesday, Jan. 17
In the symposium, after a keynote address by Tadayoshi Nagashima, mayor of the former Yamakoshi Village (currently member of the House of Representatives), there was a presentation of regional disaster prevention initiatives (Mukogaoka 1-chome community assembly, Sendagaya 2-chome community assembly, Maruyama Fukuyama-cho community assembly, Nezu Tominaga-cho community assembly and the Division of Safety, Health and Environment).
There was a total of about 380 participants primarily from the general public and also including university faculty members, students and others at the university.

The final achievement demonstration of the Real World Information Systems Project of the 21st Century COE Program "Information Science and Technology Strategic Core" was held in Faculty of Engineering Bldg. No.8 beginning at 2:00pm on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

The demonstration integrates the outcome of research in the Real World Information Systems Project and realizes a “human activity support environment” providing support for diverse human activities in everyday life.

While mutually cooperating in a virtual living room of the future, numerous robots and information systems flexibly provided support for various activities in response to the circumstances of humans.

The 21st Century COE Real World Information Systems Project website

2007 New Year’s greetings by President Komiyama