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
January 2025
UTokyo PLog #2025-G-02
Date & Time: January 20-24, 2025
Location: Davos, Switzerland
Latitude/Longitude: 46°48'04.0"N / 9°49'50.7"E Open in Google Maps

I participated in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, again this year. Nearly 3,000 leaders representing various fields, including the political, business, industrial, academic, nongovernmental and nonprofit sectors, gathered for the lively event and took part in panel discussions, roundtables and other activities.

I was a panelist in the official event session titled “Free Science at Risk?” in which we covered balancing security concerns with the need for free and open research, through discussions on topics such as research ethics, intellectual property and international security.

Also, at AI House Davos, a platform in which UTokyo’s Institute for AI and Beyond has served as a partner since last year, I participated as a panelist in a discussion themed “Beyond the Limits of AI: Exploring New Possibilities through Multimodal and Real-World Understanding,” as well as a moderator for a session on “AI and Physics.”
UTokyo PLog #2025-G-01
Date & Time: January 18-19, 2025
Location: Main Building, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Latitude/Longitude: 47°22'35.0"N / 8°32'51.5"E Open in Google Maps
I attended the annual Presidents’ Meeting of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), a network comprising 11 leading research-intensive universities in the world.
IARU was established in 2006 to promote inter-university partnerships in research and education among its members, including faculty and staff exchange, research cooperation and student exchange. UTokyo is the sole alliance member from Japan.
This year’s meeting was hosted by ETH Zurich in Switzerland, in which the presidents exchanged their views on topics ranging from the role of artificial intelligence in research to the future of higher education.
UTokyo PLog #2025-E-01
Date & Time: January 8, 2025
Location: Yasuda Auditorium, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'48.3"N / 139°45'44.2"E Open in Google Maps
Chairman and CEO Masanori Katayama of Isuzu Motors Ltd. and I held a press conference on the establishment of the endowment-financed Transport Innovation Research Center at the Graduate School of Engineering, made possible through a generous donation from the automaker.
I am pleased to be able to launch this center, which aims to develop a long-term vision and find solutions to issues facing society, with the support and understanding of an enterprise at the forefront of industry.
I have high hopes that the center’s research activities will lead to innovations in transportation, logistics and related fields.
UTokyo PLog #2025-UT-01
Date & Time: January 7, 2025
Location: Yasuda Auditorium, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'48.3"N / 139°45'44.2"E Open in Google Maps
I delivered the president’s New Year’s Greeting at Yasuda Auditorium.
In the face of various challenges, I wish to continue leading UTokyo forward this year with members of our university, and create a better future through constructive dialogue and the UTokyo way.
UTokyo PLog #2025-R-01
Date & Time: January 3, 2025
Location: National Route 134, Kanagawa Prefecture
Latitude/Longitude: 35°18'54.3"N / 139°20'28.3"E Open in Google Maps
I went to cheer on the UTokyo student runners participating in the 101st Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race), the intercollegiate, long-distance relay road race.
Selected as members of the Kanto Region University Student United Team, UTokyo students Takuma Akiyoshi (Faculty of Engineering) and Hiroaki Furukawa (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) ran the race’s eighth and ninth stages, respectively. I laud the two runners for their feat, as well as the UTokyo track and field sports club and all those involved for their support.