Ever since assuming the leadership of the University of Tokyo, I’ve wanted to share my thoughts and activities as president with members of the university, as well as the larger community outside our institution. With my research field being connected to the ocean, I’d always kept a log during my time conducting surveys and being out at sea. Now, having embarked on my journey as UTokyo’s skipper, I would like to share with all of you my record of this latest voyage, through the UTokyo President’s Log.
Teruo Fujii, 31st President of the University of Tokyo
August 2024
UTokyo PLog #2024-UT-14
Date & Time: August 6, 2024
Location: A virtual Yasuda Auditorium
At the virtual open campus event UTokyo Online Open Days, held Aug. 6-7, we invited participants’ avatars to a virtual Yasuda Auditorium, where I introduced the university’s initiatives.
Similar to last year, I spoke on the topic “What is the dream you wish to fulfill at UTokyo? Contemplating ‘a university that anyone in the world would want to join’ with President Fujii,” and addressed questions from the audience after my talk.
UTokyo PLog #2024-E-05
Date & Time: August 2, 2024
Location: Meguro City Office Complex
Latitude/Longitude: 35°38'29.0"N / 139°41'53.3"E Open in Google Maps
UTokyo signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Tokyo’s Meguro City.
As our Komaba Campus is situated in Meguro, we’ve had ties with the district for some time at the departmental level, including the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and College of Arts and Sciences located on the campus. With the conclusion of this agreement, we hope to strengthen our cooperative relationship, and expand and realize our collaboration with Meguro City on a wider scale.
July 2024
UTokyo PLog #2024-UT-13
Date & Time: July 26, 2024
Location: Yasuda Auditorium, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'48.3"N / 139°45'44.2"E Open in Google Maps
I attended this year’s meeting for donors of the University of Tokyo Foundation.
The annual gathering is held to thank donors for their support, as well as report on the fund’s activities and provide a view of the university’s present and future.
After delivering my opening remarks, I sat down for a discussion on the financial strategy for “a university that anyone in the world would want to join,” with UTokyo Executive Vice President Atsushi Tsuda and Executive Vice President and CFO Akira Sugano.
UTokyo PLog #2024-UT-12
Date & Time: July 9, 2024
Location: Tetsumon Memorial Hall, 14th floor, Faculty of Medicine Experimental Research Building
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'34.8"N / 139°45'44.7"E Open in Google Maps
I gave an opening address at the 2024 UTokyo Safety Day Lecture.
The university has designated July 4 as UTokyo Safety Day, following the fatal accident of a UTokyo member during diving work on that date in 2005. We have held the annual lecture around this time each year since 2006, so the tragedy does not fade from our memory, and at the same time raising safety and health awareness in educational and research activities, promoting accident and disaster prevention, and aiming to establish a culture of safety.
At the event, we also announced and presented awards to winners of the UTokyo Environment, Health & Safety Slogan Contest, which is held to raise health and safety awareness among university members and to build a culture of safety on campus.
I urge all members of the university community — including myself — to reassess their safety awareness and strive to create a safer and more secure UTokyo.
UTokyo PLog #2024-E-04
Date & Time: July 6, 2024
Location: Nagoya University
Latitude/Longitude: 35°09'12.7"N / 136°58'04.3"E Open in Google Maps
I attended the opening ceremony of the 63rd Seven Universities Athletic Meet (7-Univ.), which is hosted by Nagoya University this year. UTokyo clinched the overall championship in last year’s event and our student athletes are working hard to repeat the feat at this year’s interuniversity competition.
At the reception following the opening ceremony, students from the seven former imperial universities competing in the athletic contest — Hokkaido, Tohoku, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Kyushu universities, and UTokyo — expressed their enthusiasm and interacted with each other across institutional boundaries. I was reminded of the significance of this traditional meet and the power of sports.
