2022
(November 8, 2022) The 20th General Meeting of NY Icho-kai held on Friday, October 28, 2022
The 20th General Meeting of NY Icho-kai was held at Nippon Club in New York City. About 120 participants attended the event. UN Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane (who graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1981) presented an opening remark followed by greetings from NY Ambassador Consul-General Mikio Mori (who graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1985). President of UTokyo NY Office Masaharu Masuyama (who graduated from the Faculty of Engineering in 1968) gave a toast. President of Friends of UTokyo Iwao Ojima (who graduated from the Faculty of Science in 1968) and Co-leaders of ICHI-O-Kai Koyo Tamaki (who graduated from the Faculty of Engineering 1991) and Yulong Yang (who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 2013) made reports on their recent activities. Executive Director and VP of UTokyo Atsushi Tsuda, joined by VP Takeshi Tange and Head of Alumni Affairs Office Hiroshi Miyazaki, participated from Tokyo online and gave a speech and presentation on current situations surrounding UTokyo. Participants sang “TADA HITOTSU” in chorus. The event ended with closing remarks from President of NY Icho-Kai Katsuyuki Yamaguchi (who graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1989). All participants enjoyed the first-time face-to-face event after a long activity break due to COVID-19. Besides holding a general meeting once a year, local alumni get together to exchange information with each other on a regular basis as the ICHI-O-Kai.
(November 7, 2022) Six networking events hosted online by overseas alumni associations on Homecoming Day 2022
On Homecoming Day 2022, which was held on October 15, 2022, six networking events were hosted by overseas alumni associations across regions and time zones. It was the second time for overseas alumni associations to hold events on Homecoming Day. The time zones and the names of alumni associations, etc. are as follows:
| Time zone | Name of alumni association |
Number of participants |
Participants from UTokyo |
| 1. Early morning | UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada-East Chapter/West Chapter | 6 | Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda; Vice President Tange |
| 2. Afternoon | San Francisco Akamon-kai | 14 | Executive Vice President Okubo; Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda |
| Todai Beijing Friendship Association | 21 | Executive Director and Vice President Osawa; Vice President Tange | |
| Stanford, Silicon Valley Akamon-kai | 13 | Executive Vice President Okubo; Vice President Tange | |
| 3. Evening | United Kingdom Akamon-gakuyu-kai | 26 | Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda; Executive Director and Vice President Osawa |
| Europe Akamon-kai, Paris | 17 | Executive Director and Vice President Osawa and Vice President Tange |
Four staff members from the UTokyo Office for Alumni Affairs also participated in these events.
In total, about 100 alumni members enjoyed the networking events such as general meetings, networking sessions, exchanging opinions, performance of chamber music, etc.
(September 15, 2022) Social Event Hosted by Thai Todai Alumni and Todai Women's Network-Community Satsuki-kai
For the first time, Thai Todai Alumni and Todai Women's Network-Community Satsuki-kai held an online social event on Saturday, September 10. On the day of the event, a total of 23 people (including staff), 9 Thai and 14 Japanese, participated in the event, and it was a very productive exchange.
On the Japanese side, Mr. Ryoichi Ieda, who has stayed in Thailand three times and has a wealth of knowledge about Thailand, including working as the president of a local corporation, gave a presentation entitled "What I have learned from working in Thailand"; from Thailand, Ms. Parinda, who is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, gave a presentation entitled "My experience studying in Japan and my adaptation to Thai"; Ms. Ruttiya, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Population Studies at Chulalongkorn University, gave a 10-minute presentation on "My life between Tokyo and Bangkok: Why I entered the University of Tokyo, my change of perspective, my work at a Thai university and gender perspective."
After each presentation, the students were divided into groups of 4-7 and had a discussion on the theme of what they felt after listening to the presentations.
On the Japanese side, they learned many things that they did not know before, such as the fact that when Thai people are angry with their bosses, their first priority is to appease their bosses before apologizing, that Thai people like Japan much more than Japanese people think, and that about 80% of faculty members at Thai universities are women. They realized how little we knew about Thailand and learned a lot from this event. The Thai members were very pleased that they had not had this kind of exchange since they returned to Thailand, and they expressed their desire to continue the relationship in the future.
The following are examples of participants' comments:
It was good to exchange various opinions with Japanese people.
I was happy to be able to speak Japanese for the first time in a while.
I was happy to be able to interact with foreign students since I didn't have a chance to do so when I was a student.
Both Thai Todai Alumni and Todai Women's Network-Community Satsuki-kai would like to expand this kind of "exchange event with alumni overseas" to other areas in the world.
(August 24, 2022) Prof. Ko-Yung Tung Discusses “The Supreme Court: Why it matters so much in the US, and so little in Japan?”
For the inaugural Fireside Chat, Prof. Ko-Yung Tung discussed the topic of “The Supreme Court: Why it matters so much in the U.S. and so little in Japan” on July 30 (US) and July 31 (Japan) via Zoom. The Chat was sponsored by Friends of UTokyo (FUTI), Satsuki America and FUTI Alumni Association.
Prof. Tung, a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School, was a Foreign Fellow at the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, and General Counsel of the World Bank. The moderator was Dr. Geeta Mehta, professor of architecture at Columbia University, who earned her Ph.D. in architecture from UTokyo.
Dr. Mehta started by asking Prof. Tung why the roles of the Supreme Courts of the U.S. and Japan differed so much when the Japanese Constitution of 1947 was essentially written by Americans under the Occupation. Prof. Tung briefly recounted the drafting of the U.S. Constitution by noting that it was a compromise document between the Federalists who favored a stronger national government against the anti-Federalists who were concerned with protecting the rights of States, including slavery. This tension and compromise produced many provisions of the U.S. Constitution that still divide U.S. politics and jurisprudence. On the other hand, the Japanese Constitution was drafted essentially by three young and idealistic Americans without real opposition from the Japanese Government (which was under SCAP control) and people (who were not invited to participate in the drafting). The American drafters were primarily interested in “demilitarizing and democratizing” Japan in accordance with the Potsdam Declaration of 1945 with the so-called “Peace Provision” in Article 9 and with extensive civil rights to the Japanese people.
Prof. Tung also noted a significant difference in how Supreme Court Justices are nominated and appointed. In the U.S., a Supreme Court Justice is first nominated by the President of the U.S., then subject to the “advice and consent” of the Senate, which makes it very political. However, U.S. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life in order to make them immune from political or popular influence. On the other hand, Japanese Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the Cabinet (except the Chief Justice is appointment by the Prime Minister), in each case upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice. Each Justice is subject to a national approval at the first general election following their appointment and again every 10 years thereafter. Furthermore, Japanese Supreme Court Justices are subject to a mandatory retirement age of 70, and with the average appointment age being around 65, the average tenure of a Justice is about 5 years.
Most of the questions from the participants focused on the Japanese Supreme Court and its decisions. One questioned the “independence” of the Japanese Supreme Court as it has overturned so few legislations as unconstitutional (only 8 during 1950-2010; as compared with over 900 in the U.S., over 600 in Germany, and over 1/3 in France). Prof. Tung noted the uniformity of the background and the closeness between the judicial and the executive branches of government making orthodoxy quite an expected result.
Another question asked about “controversial” judicial cases in Japan. Prof. Tung mentioned that currently the same-sex marriage issue is very controversial. Art. 24 of the Japanese Constitution provides that “marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes...”. Last year the Sapporo district court interpreted that Article to allow same-sex marriage based on the sexual equality provision in Article 14 of the Constitution. However, this year the Osaka district court ruled that same-sex marriage was barred by Art. 14. Both cases are up on appeal at the High Courts, and most likely will go to the Supreme Court. It will be interesting to see how the Japanese Supreme Court will rule on this issue.
Given the time limitation, there was not enough time, unfortunately, to deal with many other interesting questions.
The online format allowed more than 35 members to join this event from the U.S., U.K. and Japan. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students to corporate executives, scientists and legal professionals. The session ended with a huge applause, with many participants asking Prof. Tung to come back and give a continuation of the talk.
(June 21, 2022) Japanese x Indian Ideathon calls for applicants
The year 2022 marks the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between Japan and India. To commemorate this, an Ideathon is being organized for next generation leaders so they can get a first-hand feel of Indian society and its challenges. Members of the Steering Committee include Nao Shigeta, CEO, Infobridge India and member of the Board of Directors of Indo-Akamonkai (UTokyo Alumni Association of India).
Providing an opportunity for Japanese and Indian youth from different backgrounds will serve as the link between the two countries to help shape the future by achieving mutual understanding and personal growth through travel and teamwork.
*Eligibility: Students age 18-25 only
*Free of charge
*Period: September 16 to September 25, 2022
*Application deadline: July 17, 2022
Home | Hack The Innovative Future (hif.asia)
(June 16, 2022) FUTI to launch Fireside Chats for UTokyo’s International Alumni and Friends: You are invited to fill out the Alumni Survey!
Dr. Geeta Mehta, the board member of Friends of UTokyo (FUTI) in charge of international alumni networking, has announced the launch of a Fireside Chat series for UTokyo’s international alumni and friends, which will begin in mid-July in New York City. Please fill out the online survey which Dr. Mehta and her team are conducting in order to identify alumni’s interests/preferences. [The online survey form can be obtained by contacting info@friendsofutokyo.org.]
The purpose of the series is to encourage spirited dialogues among UTokyo international alumni and friends and develop a supportive network among them. The Fireside Chats are designed to provide a platform for alumni to discuss the topics of their mutual interest in an informal setting.
Dr. Mehta and her team’s message about FUTI’s launch of the Fireside Chats series for UTokyo’s International Alumni and Friends:
“We are so excited to be creating, with your help, our in-person (and/or online) Fireside Chat series in New York, starting in summer of 2022. This will be an opportunity for all our alumni, including international alumni, to connect, learn about each other, and celebrate the ongoing achievements of UTokyo. As the first step in this planning, we request you to fill in the survey.
We want YOU to help design the Fireside Chats the way you want! These could include a brief presentation/dialogue on topics of interest to you such as your favorite books, research, projects, current affairs and more. These could be followed by socializing and networking over some food and drinks.
We expect the Chats to take place several times throughout the year, welcoming UTokyo’s international and other alumni.
Looking forward to receiving your completed survey by June 30, 2022 and seeing you in the near future.”
Geeta Mehta, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Urban Design, Columbia University
Founder and President, Asia Initiatives
Board Member, Friends of UTokyo (International Alumni Networking)
Cc: Masako Osako, Ph.D.
Executive Director, International Longevity Global Alliance, Ltd.
Board Member, Friends of UTokyo (Public Relations)
(June 7, 2022) UTokyo Alumni Association Membership Fees Introduced
On July 2, 2021, the Constitution of UTokyo Alumni Association (“UTAA”) was amended to clearly state “to support the University of Tokyo” in the purpose and the business of UTAA and to create an article on Membership Fees (one-time payment of 10,000 yen by each Member) for the financial independence of UTAA.
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/utaa.html
(May 26, 2022) San Francisco Akamon-kai holds online networking event for current students cohosted with Student group GERNE and UTokyo Office for Alumni Affairs
On JST May 21, 2022 (PST May 20, 2022), San Francisco Akamon-kai, led by President Koichi Sato, held a networking event for current students with a view to provide students an opportunity to directly talk with UTokyo alumni currently working in the US, cohosted by GERNE, a UTokyo student group that plans and organizes online international exchange events, and the UTokyo Office for Alumni Affairs.
Many alumni with various backgrounds gathered from the San Francisco Akamon-kai. Students who have an eye on studying at US graduate schools as well as working in the US applied for the event. In total, 13 alumni and 21 current students participated in the event. Staff members included Mr. Koichi Sato and Mr. Akihiko Uehara from the San Francisco Akamon-kai, Mr. Junichiro Ui from GERNE, and Mr. Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi and Ms. Kazuko Fukumi from the UTokyo Office for Alumni Affairs.
Three 30-minute breakout room sessions were held, and each breakout room, with titles such as Tech, AI, Bio, Startup, Marketing, Venture Capital, Google, Apple, Amazon, Apple, Genentech, Stanford, MIT, Yale, UC Berkley, PhD, etc., was hosted by related alumni.
Most of the students gave favorable comments as follows:
・Learned main points in career/life designing, such as the importance of challenging new frontiers and making personal connections during university days.
・Had an opportunity to directly listen to alumni who play active roles in the US.
・Had a clearer vision of studying abroad.
Mr. Koichi Sato plans to hold similar events inviting UTokyo alumni working in Europe and/or Asia in the future.
(May 8, 2022) Chicago Akamon-kai, Satsuki-kai and Friends of UTokyo Hold Online Meeting inviting Mr. Takeshi Komoto, Minister at the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America
The Chicago Akamon-kai, Satsuki-kai America, and Friends of UTokyo jointly held an online meeting on April 22, 2022, inviting Mr. Takeshi Komoto, Minister (Economy, Trade, Industry/Business, and Energy) at the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America. The lecture title was: “The Constraint of the Biden Administration and Japan-US cooperation.”
Mr. Takeshi Komoto presented an overview of international trade policy and Japan-U.S. collaboration under the Biden administration. A lively Q and A session followed 45 minutes of his presentation. Questions from participants were about various topics ranging from China policy to the environment and energy outlook. Some reflected on the current situation regarding Russia and Ukraine, and Mr. Takeshi Komoto thoroughly answered each question.
After the close of the formal segment, more than a half of the attendees stayed on to informally continue their exchange of opinions (Konshinkai).
The online format allowed more than 35 members to join this event from US, UK and Japan. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students to corporate executives, scientists, and financial professionals. They hope to continue to deepen their fellowship/discussion going forward either in person or virtually.
The views and opinions expressed in the presentation were solely those of the presenter. This meeting was held under the Chatham House Rule.
(March 3, 2022) The Alumni Association of the University of Tokyo in Korea holds a General Assembly on February 24, 2022
The Alumni Association of the University of Tokyo in Korea (Chairman Choung Se Young, Ph.D. in Pharmacy, 1987) (approximately 1,100 registered members) held a General Assembly from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursday, February 24, 2022. About 120 people participated in this General Assembly through on-site (board members) and online participation. The main contents of the General Assembly included a speech by Chairman Choung Se Young, congratulatory remarks by Atsushi TSUDA (Executive Director and Vice President), and Honorary Chairman Jong-Keun Park, and Sang-Hyeon Kim (Professor of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) was recognized for his achievements and received the “Proud Young University of Tokyo Award.” Next, there were special lectures on “The Private Role for Korea-Japan Reconciliation – Focusing on Tokyo University Alumni” by Choi, Bongtae (Samil Law Firm) and “The Present and Future of Medical Artificial Intelligence” by Kim, Dong Min (CEO of JLK). Finally, the event ended with a gift lottery with products prepared by the alumni association and donations from Chairman Choung Se Young (wine) and Vice President Kang Jong-koo (gift certificate), and coffee vouchers were given to all alumni in attendance.
(February 14, 2022) The Alumni Association of the University of Tokyo in Korea to hold a General Assembly on February 24, 2022
The Alumni Association of the University of Tokyo in Korea (Chairman Choung Se Young, obtained a doctoral degree in the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1987) (about 1,100 registered members) is scheduled to hold a General Assembly on February 24, 2022 (Thursday) from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The main contents of the General Assembly include congratulatory remarks from Atsushi TSUDA (Executive Director and Vice President), a "Proud UTokyo Alumni" award ceremony, and a special lecture by Choi, Bongtae (Samil Law Firm) ("The Role of the Private Sector in Korea-Japan Exchange") and will be viewable online simultaneously.
(The photo was taken at the General Assembly 2021.)
2021
(December 13, 2021) UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal holds Annual Meeting and Benkyokai in December 2021
The UTokyo Alumni Associaion of Nepal (UTAAN) organized an Annual Meeting and Benkyokai on December 4, 2021. As the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, the program was organized virtually through the Zoom platform. As a regular event of UTAAN, the aim of the Benkyokai Program was to welcome and hear the students who newly graduated as of October.
Three graduates, namely Ms. Arati Shrestha, Mr. Kamal Bahadur Basnet and Mr. Badri Kuikel, presented their research as well as what they learned at UTokyo. Ms. Shrestha and Mr. Kuikel completed their Master's degrees at the Graduate School of Engineering, whereas Mr. Basnet completed his Master's degree at the Graduate School of Public Policy.
An invited presentation was made by Dr. Surya Raj Acharya, a 1999 graduate and prominent expert in infrastructure policy. UTAAN has been holding the Benkyokai by having both presentations from fresh graduates and senior alumni on contemporary issues. This time, Dr. Acharya's presentation was on "Low-carbon Transport Development in Nepal," as improving public transport in the capital city Kathmandu has been a hot topic of discussion.
The program was attended by 20 participants, including 2 from Japan. The program was highly useful in providing a networking opportunity for new graduates with the senior alumni. The whole program was moderated by Mr. Jitendra Shrestha.
The Benkyokai Program was coordinated by Dr. Ramesh Guragain. At the end of the program, Mr. Ram Prasad Bhandari, president of UTAAN, concluded his remarks by welcoming the new alumni to the UTAAN and highlighting the importance of networking through such Benkyokai Programs.
(November 4, 2021) Eight networking events hosted online by overseas alumni associations on Homecoming Day 2021
On Homecoming Day 2021, which was held on October 16, 2021, eight networking events were hosted by overseas alumni associations across regions and time zones. It was the first time for overseas alumni associations to hold events on Homecoming Day. The time zones and the names of alumni associations, etc. are as follows:
| Time zone | Name of alumni association |
Number of participants |
Participants from UTokyo |
| 1. Early morning | NY Icho-kai | 66 (including 30 who attended a live event) | President Fujii and Vice President Tange |
| San Francisco Akamon-kai | 25 | President Fujii and Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda | |
| UTokyo Alumni Asosciation of Canada-East Chapter/West Chapter | 11 | President Fujii and Vice President Tange | |
| 2. Afternoon | Singapore Tansei-kai | 23 | President Fujii and Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda |
| Todai Beijing Friendship Association | 13 | Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda | |
| UTokyo Alumni Association of Malaysia (Light Blue-kai) | 11 | Executive Director and Vice President Sato and Vice President Tange | |
| 3. Evening | United Kingdom Akamon-gakuyu-kai | 45 | President Fujii and Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda |
| Europe Akamon-kai, Paris | 17 | Executive Director and Vice President Tsuda and Executive Director and Vice President Sato |
Current students who attended the online Hands-on Activitiy Programs as well as four staff members from the UTokyo Office for Alumni Affairs also participated in these events.
In total, about 210 alumni members enjoyed the networking events such as general meetings, networking sessions, exchanging opinions, etc.
Some of the alumni associations held general meetings which had been postponed becuase of the COVID-19 pandemic, while others enjoyed amicable exchanges among alumni and with current students who attended Hands-on Activity Programs as well as UTokyo faculty and staff members.
(September 13, 2021) Newcomer welcoming gathering by Chicago Akamon-kai Held
On September 10, 2021, Chicago Akamon-kai hosted a newcomer welcoming online meetup for alumni and friends of UTokyo to welcome alumni from UTokyo who have recently arrived in Chicago. It was co-hosted by Satsuki-kai America and Friends of UTokyo.
A total of 12 members, including 5 newcomers, joined and enjoyed networking. Their backgrounds were diverse, ranging from students at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University to professionals such as lawyers and corporate employees. It was a thoroughly enjoyable meetup. They hope to continue to deepen their fellowship.
(August 30, 2021) Newcomer welcoming gathering by Chicago Akamon-kai to be Held
Day/time: Friday, September 10, 8:00 - 9:30 pm (CDT)
Venue: Zoom
Cost: Free
RSVP: Contact chicagoakamonkai@gmail.com by September 9 with information about your name, email address, major at UTokyo, year of graduation (optional), and current affiliation/employer.
(July 15, 2021) Inaugural Meeting of UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada-East Chapter Held
The inauguration ceremony was honored with the presence of Mr. Takuya Sasayama (General-Consul of Japan in Toronto), Dr. Shinya Nagasaki (Professor at McMaster University), Dr. Teruo Fujii (President of the University of Tokyo), Dr. Atsushi Tsuda (Vice President of the University of Tokyo), and Dr. Henry Tsang (Professor at Athabasca University and the acting President of UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada-West Chapter), and many other alumni who are currently residing in Eastern Canada.
The ceremony started with a brief introduction of the short history related to the establishment, and the purposes of UTAAC-EC. After that, six candidates presented themselves to the participants and they were officially elected as executive board members of UTAAC-EC upon obtaining approvals from the participants. The ceremony reached its climax with a series of speeches by Consul-General Sasayama, Dr. Nagasaki, President Fujii, and Dr. Tsang. They congratulated this newly formed alumni association and shared their experiences, views, and future outlooks. Towards of the end of the ceremony, Vice President Tsuda gave a presentation on the recent efforts by the University to address existing challenges faced by society. The official ceremony ended with a closing remark by Kaylen Wang, President of UTAAC-EC. In her closing remark, she thanked every participant on the behalf of the executive board and talked about some upcoming activities for the association.
The meeting ended with three ten-minute networking sessions that allowed participants to network and exchange their experiences as UTokyo alumni.
(June 17, 2021) Chicago Akamon-kai holds Annual Meeting
(June 7, 2021) The Inaugural Ceremony of UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada - East Chapter to be Held
We are pleased to inform you that the inaugural ceremony of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada - East Chapter is to be held as follows:
Date: Friday 9th July 2021, 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm (ET) followed by networking session (Platform: TBA)
Venue: Online (Zoom)
For: UTokyo alumni currently residing in Eastern Canada (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador)
Register here
Dr. Teruo Fujii, President of the University of Tokyo as well as Dr. Atsushi Tsuda, Executive Director and Vice President of the University of Tokyo are scheduled to join the event.
For more details, please click here.
(May 27, 2021) The annual meeting of Satsuki-kai America Held
The annual meeting of Satsuki-kai America for the year 2020-2021 was held on May 14th, 2021. A total of 22 members, from all across the US, Japan and China, attended the meeting. This was the second annual meeting held online, following last year’s, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After self-introductions by all the attendees, the leaders reported activities that they organized, the members confirmed the President (Akiko Koide) and Vice-President (Kaeko Liff) for the next year, and members discussed and confirmed revision of the by-laws.
After the meeting, we enjoyed a bingo game that Ms. Kaeko Liff, the vice president, made, for which some members contributed prizes. This bingo game used terms associated with The University of Tokyo, instead of numbers that regular bingo uses. It was a masterpiece.
The online meeting worked well for Satsuki-kai America whose members are scattered over distant regions. Even though this all-online format started as necessity due to COVID-19, we will keep this format next year.
(May 21, 2021) The first collaboration between Satsuki-kai and Satsuki-kai America
On May 9, 2021, Satsuki-kai (Alumnae Association of the University of Tokyo) and Satsuki-kai America co-hosted an online event entitled “Compare customs and experiences between Japan and the US– My common sense may be your mystery. Does common sense differ from region to region?” Four speakers and three panelists from Satsuki-kai America and a total of 31 alumnae participated in the presentations and discussion about cultural differences experienced by long-term US residents.
At the beginning, the following four speakers from different regions of the US gave talks for about 15 minutes each:
Akiko Koide, New York City, President of Satsuki-kai America
Tamaki Styles, Washington DC
Chihiro Maeda, Chicago, Illinois
Maimi Takahashi, San Jose, California
The presenters introduced differences between the US and Japan mainly in daily life that they initially found surprising. The topics included “Life changes with Covid-19,” “Medical expenses and health insurance in the US”, “College-related issues including tuition and legacy system in the US”, “Perspective on career, risk-taking, and the relationships between an employee and his/her boss”, “Comparisons of income and crime frequency in different parts within a US city”, “Living with natural disasters including forest fires”.
After the presentations, participants were divided into four discussion groups in such a way that each group had one of the presenters. Finally, we shared the summary of each group’s discussion.
After the event, we received many positive comments from the participants, such as “It was wonderful that we were able to learn about information about the current situations of US residents,” “It was a precious opportunity to hear comments by the presenters with a wide range of age, career and life circumstances.”
Satsuki-kai and Satsuki-kai America will co-host an online event on the same theme on June 13th. This time we will focus on the differences within business fields. If you are an alumna or a current female student of the University of Tokyo, and are interested in the event, please come and join us. You are welcome to take part in the event as a non-member guest for the first time.
(May 12, 2021) Join the Global Online Akamon-kai!
Since the spring of 2020, numerous UTokyo alumni associations around the world have been hosting online meetings in order to continue to function despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Koichi Sato, President of San Francisco UTokyo Alumni Association, started the Online Global Akamon-kai, an imaginative endeavor that leverages modern communication technology.
Dr. Sato comments: “Because we have started to use an online platform, we can now reach out to any alumnus/alumna regardless of where he or she lives. In fact, many of those who have returned from San Francisco to Japan now participate in our online events. Since there are no physical barriers/limitations in cyber communication, I have become interested in reaching out to UTokyo alumni groups around the world.”
So far, in 2021, San Francisco Akamon-kai has already succeeded in hosting joint online gatherings with the following groups:
New York Icho-kai/Ichio-kai (January)
Chicago Akamon-kai (February)
Alumni Associations in U.K., France and Germany (March)
Hyogo (Japan) Alumni Association (April)
Alumni associations in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong (May)
The gathering in May was attended by as many as 48 UTokyo alumni affiliated with not only the above five associations but also with Chicago, Thailand, Vietnam, Guangzhou (China) groups and the Office for Alumni Affairs of UTokyo.
It would have been unthinkable only a year ago for UTokyo alumni to be able to enjoy “personal” interactions with other alumni from around the world in this manner. These joint sessions have been very lively and often went well beyond the scheduled two hours. Participants particularly enjoyed “breakout rooms” which enabled small groups of people to engage in conversations in their respective online rooms.
Dr. Sato is upbeat about these developments. He is interested in hosting a truly “global” Akamon-kai gathering where all the alumni associations from around the world can join together.
(Apr 7, 2021) The UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada - East Chapter to be Established
The UTokyo Alumni Association is engaged in enhancing UTokyo's alumni network on a global basis by connecting graduates both at home and abroad.
Currently, there are 56 overseas alumni associations all over the world, including the UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada - West Chapter, which was launched in August 2019 to coincide with President Gonokami's visit there.
This year the UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada - West Chapter is to host a Hands-on Activity Program online for current students to learn about heritage and legacy of the Japanese-Canadian Nikkei community in western Canada since the first Japanese immigrant Manzo Nagano landed in British Columbia in 1877, (please refer to the article below) as well as to exchange with UTokyo alumni working there.
We would like to establish the UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada - East Chapter this year. Mr. Long Ng of the University of Toronto plays an important role in organizing the new association, while Dr. Henry Tsang of Athabasca Univesity, President of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada West Chapter, fully supports the activities.
If you are interested in joining the above-mentioned alumni association, or supporting their efforts, please contact us at tft(at)mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @. )
(Mar 10, 2021) The UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada West Chapter to Host a Virtual Hands-on Activity Program on “Discovering Japanese-Canadian Nikkei”
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada West Chapter has been selected to host a virtual Hands-on Activity Program in the summer of 2021 on the topic of “Discovering Japanese-Canadian Nikkei Identity and Culture: Past & Present”. This program is the only overseas virtual program that is newly approved for FY2021 Hands-on Activities.
The objective of the program is to introduce UTokyo students to the heritage and legacy of the Japanese-Canadian Nikkei community in western Canada since the first Japanese immigrant Manzo Nagano landed in British Columbia in 1877. This includes the famous Vancouver Asahi baseball team that was popularized by the Japanese movie バンクーバーの朝日 (The Vancouver Asahi) in 2014.
The program will comprise diverse online activities, including a virtual tour of the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Vancouver, academic lectures by professors from Canadian universities, storytelling and interviews with Japanese-Canadian Nikkei members, as well as a networking session with UTokyo alumni members currently living in Canada.
The project is led by UTokyo alumni Dr. Henry Tsang and Mrs. Amy Avirmed. Henry is an alumnus of the department of architecture, currently an assistant professor at Athabasca University and president of the alumni association. Amy is an alumna of the department of law and is currently managing director at Classmethod Canada and executive manager of the alumni association.
(Mar 1, 2021) Chicago Akamon-kai Holds Online Meeting inviting Professor Shohei Koide and Research Assistant Professor Akiko Koide
The Chicago Akamon-kai held an online meeting on Feb 20, 2021, inviting Professor Shohei Koide1,2 and Research Assistant Professor Akiko Koide2,3 who gave presentations about COVID-19 vaccines. The views and opinions expressed in the presentation were solely those of the presenters.
Both Dr. Shohei Koide and Dr. Akiko Koide provided data-based evidence for several frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines. They also kindly provided their scientific views on specific questions from the participants so that the participants clearly understood the benefits and risks of the vaccines (both knowns and unknowns), as well as the risks of not taking a vaccine (often not told by the media), and common knowledge gaps. It was also interesting that there appears to be a clear gap in the recognition of the benefits and risks of the vaccine, either implicit or not, between social groups who are willing to and unwilling to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
The second half of the online meeting was two sets of 20-minute breakout sessions with groups of 5~7 participants assigned to each room for close communication and interaction.
More than 30 members including honored guests joined this event. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students at the University of Chicago to corporate employees. Alumni belonging to San Francisco Akamon-kai and other UTokyo alumni associations were also warmly welcomed.
Though in-person communication is severely restricted this year due to COVID-19 crisis, they hope to continue to deepen their fellowship by using online meeting tools.
(1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine 2. Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health 3. Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine)
(Feb 22, 2021) Satsuki-kai America Holds Online Meeting inviting Mr. Tomohiko Okuda, Co-Hosted with FUTI (Friends of UTokyo)
-Young Professional Dialogue Series: “Urban Sanitation and International Development: Future of Decentralized Infrastructure”
On February 11, 2021, Satsuki-kai America and Friends of UTokyo invited Mr. Tomohiko Okuda, to discuss online the abovementioned topic. He is currently enrolled in Harvard University’s Master’s Program in Public Administration and MIT’s MBA program. He is a 2020 recipient of Ito Foundation U.S.A.-Friends of UTokyo scholarship.
According to Mr. Okuda: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of densely populated areas to infectious diseases as well as the existence of vast disparities in modern society. While public health in cities in developing countries plays an important role in controlling the spread of infectious diseases, the provision of viable public health is one of the most difficult development challenges to solve. Especially in urban slums, it is often difficult to construct even the basic sewerage system due to costs, legal issues and other constraints.
In his talk, Mr. Okuda discussed his experience in Kenya undertaken under the fellowship at Sanergy, which not only builds toilets but also collects and converts waste into fertilizers and insect-based animal feeds. His talk also included a discussion of the latest trends in infrastructure development.
[http://www.sanergy.com/]
A total of 25 alumni and others joined this online event, including ten UTokyo undergraduates who were “visiting” New York on Zoom under UTokyo’s Hands-on Activities program. An active Q and A session took place with many questions asked about the urban sanitation in Africa as well as Mr. Okuda’s international career. The meeting concluded with a standing ovation, and attendees wishing Mr. Okuda much success in his undertaking.
2020
(Dec 11, 2020) Chicago Akamon-kai Holds Online Meeting inviting Kenichi Okada, the Consul-General of Japan in Chicago
The Chicago Akamon-kai held an online meeting on Dec 7, 2020, inviting Kenichi Okada, the Consul-General of Japan in Chicago. Kenichi Okada gave a presentation entitled: “US Presidential Election 2020 and relationship between Japan, US and China”. The views and opinions expressed in the presentation were solely those of the presenter.
Kenichi Okada shared his insightful perspectives on the US presidential election 2020 highlighting the state of Wisconsin, one of the hottest historically swing states in the US presidential election, where Joe Biden won by just 0.6%. He explained a number of different positions which later he elegantly integrated into his own interpretation. He also touched upon how Trump’s campaign was compared to Biden’s. All his insights were very interesting, particularly because they are based on not only his diplomatic legworks but also a social psychological approach. The second half of his presentation about the relationship between Japan, US and China, followed by an interactive Q/A session, were also very insightful.
A total of 26 members including honored guests joined the event. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students at the University of Chicago to corporate employees. Participants from outside Akamon-kai were also warmly welcomed.
Though face-to-face communication is severely restricted this year due to the COVID-19 crisis, they hope to continue to deepen their fellowship by using online meeting tools.
(November 24, 2020) UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal Holds a General Meeting and a Seminar Online
UTAAN (UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Seminar called Benkyokai on 21 November 2020. It was conducted using the ZOOM platform because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first part of the program, AGM, was conducted by alumni members in the Nepali language, where the past activities of UTAAN were reviewed, forthcoming plans were discussed and the new Executive Committee's (EC) 11 members led by Mr. Ram Prasad Bhandari with three advisors were elected for 2020-2022 period.
The second part of the program was the Benkyokai in which participants also took part along with the alumni members. The key presentations of the event had three distinct components: (i) Three recent graduates, who graduated in September 2020 made presentations highlighting their education, their plans to apply what they learned and anticipated support from the senior alumni and other agencies; (ii) Dr. Dipendra Gautam, UTAAN EC Member and a health expert, presented “COVID19 and Nepal's Response — A Reflection”; and (iii) Mr. Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi, Director at the UTokyo Alumni Office, presented the recent initiatives of both UTokyo as a whole and the UTokyo Alumni Office.
In total, 29 participants attended the program, including the invitees from JICA Tokyo and Nepal, World Bank/Washington, and UTokyo/Japan. Although the physical meeting was strictly restricted by COVID-19, online tools made it possible to invite the people from different parts of the world.
(November 9, 2020) UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal to Hold a Seminar Online
UTAAN (UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal) will hold a seminar online for alumni members as well as for invitees in English as follows:
Date: November 21, 2020
Time Schedule according to Nepal Standard Time (Japan Standard Time: +3:15):
6:00-6:05 Welcome and sharing of the program objectives
6:05-6:45 Sharing of Learning from Japan & Its Application in Nepal by 4 graduates who graduated in Oct 2020
6:45-6:55 Selected Presentations on Contextual Issue (COVID-19) by Dr. Dipendra Gautam who is a UTokyo graduate associated with WHO Nepal
6:55-7:05 Presentation by UTokyo
7:05-7:20 Q&A M/C Response from the presenters on questions
received in Q&A / Chat Box
7:20-7:40 Closing remarks by invitees
========
Those alumni of UTokyo who would like to join this event, please contact Mr. Ram Prasad Bhandari, President of UTAAN at rampb77[at]gmail.com. (Please replace at with @).
(October 21, 2020) Hands-on Activity Programs to be held ONLINE for coming Winter/Spring
The Hands-on Activity Programs, which started in 2012, are for giving UTokyo undergraduate students the opportunity to be exposed to lifestyles and sets of values different from their own.
In 2020, summer programs were completely called off due to the impact of COVID-19. However, it was decided that some programs are to be carried out ONLINE for the coming winter/spring, and the applications have started this month.
A total of 17 programs are available, including 7 overseas programs, out of which the following 6 programs are to be offered by UTokyo Overseas Alumni Associations:
1. Visiting China and Student Exchange
2. Learn business in Singapore
3. Experience London as a European business center
4. Current UAE
5. Visit UTokyo alumni who are professors at Harvard Medical School
6. Visit professors, researchers and students who are UTokyo alumni
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/hands-on_activity.html
(October 1, 2020) Chicago Akamon-kai Holds Online Meeting, Inviting Kyoto U. Associate Professor Tatsuhiko Inatani
The Chicago Akamon-kai held an online meeting on Sep. 25, 2020, inviting Associate Professor Tatsuhiko Inatani (Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University) who gave a keynote lecture entitled "Rule of Law in Society 5.0 - Governance Innovation & Beyond."
Associate Professor Tatsuhiko Inatani explores a new, suitable and sustainable governance system of AI technologies development for Society 5.0. He made a comprehensive and philosophical presentation including topics such as: 1) features of Society 5.0; 2) relationship and interaction between humans and technologies; 3) limitations and issues of traditional governance systems and hazard-based regulation; 4) introduction of co-regulation; 5) potential utilities, limitations and issues of risk-based regulation; and 6) future perspectives of "Rule of Law." Throughout the presentation and Q&A session, he impressively provided many actual case examples and their underlying historical narratives. He highlighted how largely diverse each country’s thinkings are, despite this being a global issue, not a local/regional issue. He also stressed the importance of further global international discussion, adding that Japan is expanding its presence at international conferences including OECD.
A total of 14 members, including honored guests, gathered. The participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students at the University of Chicago to professionals and corporate employees. Participants from outside Chicago, such as the East Coast as well as Japan, were also warmly welcomed and actively participated in the discussions.
Though face-to-face communication is severely restricted this year due to the COVID-19 crisis, they hope to continue to deepen their fellowship by using online meeting tools.
(August 20, 2020) Online Dialogue with Ms. Akiko Sakaedani: “Do you hear the sound of hope? -- Starting a children’s radio program in Rwanda” to be Co-hosted by Satsuki-kai America and Friends of UTokyo (FUTI)
Satsuki-kai America and Friends of UTokyo (FUTI) will present an online dialogue with Ms. Akiko Sakaedani, formerly with UNICEF's Rwanda Office. She has recently published a book titled “Do you hear the sound of hope?” which discusses how she started Rwanda’s first radio program for children. https://www.choubunsha.com/book/9784811327457.php
Abstract
Rwanda is a beautiful country with thousands of green hills. Many families in the villages do not own a TV, and radio is the main media. Back in 2013, there was no radio programme for small children, however. It was all about news, sports, and pop songs. As a believer in Early Childhood Development, Akiko decided to create the first children’s radio programme in Rwanda.
| Date/Time | September 12, 2020, Saturday, 10am-11:30am (EDST-USA) [September 12, Saturday 11pm~, Japan Standard Time] |
| Format | Zoom invites will be sent to people who RSVP. |
| Language | Japanese |
| RSVP | Required. Please RSVP by September 9, 2020, by emailing satsukiamerika@gmail.com with 1) your name, 2) email address, 3) major and year of graduation at Tokyo, 4) current affiliation, and 5) questions for the presenters. |
| Organizer | Satsuki-kai America |
| Co-organizer | Friends of UTokyo (www.friendsofutokyo.org) |
| Photos | Photos taken during the session may be used in FUTI’s online and offline publications. Please inform the organizer prior to the lecture if you do not wish to be included in the photos. |
| Note | The opinions expressed during the dialogue may not necessarily represent those of the organizer or co-organizer. |
Biography:
Akiko Sakaedani Petrovic is an international development worker with 16 years of experience in Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. She mostly works in the areas of health communication, partnership and donor relations. She was the co-director of the Egypt Japan Education Partnership in 2019-2020, and currently works at the UNICEF Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa to coordinate the communication response to COVID-19. Based on her experience in Rwanda from 2013-2018, she published a book in June 2020 from Chobunsha publishing company titled Kibo Kikoeru (Do you hear the sound of hope?).
She was born in Tokyo, and graduated from the University of Tokyo in 2001, majoring in anthropology. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Intercultural Communication, and Master of Science in Public Health. She is married and has a son.
(July 27, 2020) Chicago Akamon-kai Holds Online Meeting Inviting Prof. Sadaoki Furui
The Chicago Akamon-kai held an online meeting on Jul 19, 2020, inviting Professor Sadaoki Furui, Chief Research Director of the National Institute of Informatics, Professor Emeritus of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Chairman of the Board of Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTIC).
Professor Furui presented a keynote lecture entitled “Research Trends and Future Prospects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research”. He comprehensively walked through: 1) recent advancement of AI, 2) countries and organizations leading AI research, 3) what AI can't do or is not good at, 4) relationship between AI and human beings, 5) faking/privacy/fairness/code of conduct, 6) future of AI, and 7) future AI technology development in Japan. He reiterated it is crucially important for Japanese professionals to form a close, cross-disciplinary network with non-Japanese professionals from universities, research institutes and companies through global collaboration and competition. He also added it is imperative to advance interrelationship among humans - AI - science (natural and social sciences) to create a new, better era and introduced the aims of a new AI institute planned at the University of Tokyo.
A total of 26 members including honored guests gathered. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University to professionals such as researchers and corporate employees. Participants from outside Chicago, such as the East Coast as well as Japan (including Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo), were also warmly welcomed and actively participated in the discussions that followed after the session by Professor Furui.
Though face-to-face communication is severely restricted this year due to the COVID-19 crisis, they hope to continue to deepen their fellowship by using online meeting tools.
(July 21, 2020) FUTI Online Dialogue “Learning from Covid-19: New York and Tokyo” (July 29, Zoom)
Friends of UTokyo (FUTI) is pleased to present an online dialogue between Prof. Peter J. Macotullio (Director, Institute for Sustainable Cities at Hunter College; UTokyo professor, 2001-2006) and Dr. Geeta Mehta (Adjunct Professor, Architecture and Urban Design, Columbia University; UTokyo, PhD). Together they have several decades of experience about global cities in America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
This is the inaugural talk in a series created to bring together UTokyo international alumni in the US and others interested in FUTI’s work.
ABSTRACT
Covid-19 infection and death rates have been very different in New York and Tokyo, two mega-cities with among the highest population densities in the world. While the two cities are not lacking in financial capital, could social capital be the reason for such different outcomes? The speakers will present their research and analysis of the possible answers to this and show how social capital is the essential wealth of communities in not only preparing for future health or climate shocks, but also in addressing the ongoing issues of social inequity and social justice.
| Date/Time | July 29, 2020, Wednesday, 8pm-9.30pm (EDST-USA) |
| Format | Zoom invite will be sent to people who RSVP |
| Language | English |
| RSVP | Required. Please RSVP by Monday, July 27, by emailing to satsukiamerika@gmail.com with 1) your name, 2) email address, 3) major and year of graduation at Tokyo, 4) current affiliation, and 5) questions for the presenters. [If you would like more information about ways to become involved in FUTI, please indicate so.] |
| Organizer | Friends of UTokyo (www.friendsofutokyo.org) |
| Co-sponsors | Satsuki-kai America |
| Photos | Photos taken during the session may be used in FUTI’s online and offline publications. Please inform the organizer prior to the lecture if you do not wish to be included in the photos. |
Presenters’ Bios
Peter J. Marcoutullio:
Prof. Peter J. Marcotullio is Professor of Geography and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Cities at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY). He is also Adjunct Professor of Urban Planning at Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). Prior to 2006, Prof. Marcotullio was Lecturer (1999-2001) and Professor (2001-2006) of Urban Planning in the Urban Engineering Department, University of Tokyo and held several positions at the United Nations University, Institute for Advanced Studies, Japan (1997-2008).
Geeta Mehta:
Dr. Geeta Mehta is an adjunct professor at Columbia University and the founder/president of Asia Initiatives (asiainitiatives.org) where she developed Social Capital Credits (SoCCs), a community currency for social good that was recognized by Fast Company as the “World Changing Idea” this year. Geeta is also the co-founder of “URBZ: User Generated Cities” (urbz.net). She has been recognized as One of the 21 Leaders of the 21st Century by Women’s eNews. She currently serves on New York Mayor’s Advisory Board for Waterfront Development, and several non-profit boards.
(June 22, 2020) Homecoming Day 2020 to be Held Online for the First Time
Homecoming Day is a university-wide event for all alumni to get together again on the Hongo and Komaba Campuses. Since its launch in 2002, it has offered opportunites for alumni to reconfirm their ties with fellow alumni and also with the University.
Under the continuing effects of Covid-19, it has been decided that Homecoming Day 2020 will be held online for the first time.
Both live streaming and prerecorded video streaming will be available.
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/hcd.html
(May 28, 2020) Chinese Alumni Donate a Wide Range of Medical Goods to UTokyo
Starting with the donation of 1,000 N95 Surgical Masks on April 28, 2020, Chinese alumni have donated various medical goods to UTokyo, as follows:
1st; 1,000 N 95 surgical masks (on April 28, 2020, photo on the left)
2nd; 2,100 GB19083 medical masks, 100 face shields and others (on May 15, 2020, photo on the lower left)
3rd; 400 face shields, 500 face goggles (on May 22, 2020, photo on the lower right)
4th; 30,000 PVC gloves for inspection
5th; JPY 54,000 donation to the COVID-19 Emergency Action Fund of UTokyo
Total worth: About JPY2.13million
All the medical goods were donated to medical institutions of UTokyo except 200 of the face shields, which were donated to the School of Engineering of UTokyo.
Mr. Fumiaki Sano, the secretariat of the UTokyo Beijing Friendship Association, who led these donations, said many Chinese alumni were worried about the negative effect on UTokyo by COVID-19 and more than 100 Chinese alumni both in China and Japan in total joined this donation project.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the heartful cooperation of all the members.
(May 21, 2020) Chicago Akamon-kai Holds Its Annual Meeting Online
The Chicago Akamon-kai held its annual meeting on May 18, 2020. Because of the current COVID-19 crisis, they held an online annual meeting via Zoom for the first time. In spite of this situation, a total of 27 alumni gathered to join the meeting. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University to professionals such as researchers and corporate employees working in the city.
This year, they invited Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo, to the meeting as a special guest speaker. Prof. Fujii presented a keynote lecture “Recent Activities at Utokyo” and he talked about how UTokyo is currently strengthening its ties with industry and research institutions around the world while keeping an eye on the changes that will occur in society in the future. He also explained about how UTokyo is dealing with the current global pandemic. After the lecture, they held a discussion session with Prof. Fujii and many of the participants were very enthusiastic in asking questions. They were able to have a meaningful exchange of ideas.
Besides this, the organizers of this meeting reported on activities during 2019, and proposed new executive members for the Chicago Akamon-kai for 2020. The proposal was approved.
Though face-to-face communication is severely restricted this year because of the COVID-19 crisis, they hope to continue to deepen their fellowship by using these online meeting tools.
(April 30, 2020) COVID-19 Emergency Action Fund Set Up
With an aim to combat COVID-19 which is spreading exponentially worldwide, the COVID-19 Emergency Action Fund has been set up.
The funds raised during the first term will be utilized for development of remedies as well as for improvement of the medical care system required in an emergency to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
More than 10 million JPY has already been raised.
Thank you for your kind support.
[The first term] April 20, 2020 to June 30, 2020
https://utf.u-tokyo.ac.jp/project/pjt220/English
Messages from President Gonokami
(April 30, 2020) Chinese Alumni Donate 1,000 N95 Surgical Masks for Medical Institutions to UTokyo
On Tuesday, April 28, a volunteer group of Chinese alumni donated 1,000 N95 surgical masks for medical institutions to UTokyo. Mr. Fumiaki Sano, the secretariat of the UTokyo Beijing Friendship Association who happened to stay in Tokyo, brought and handed them in to Mr. Shizuo Iwase, General Manager of UTokyo Hospital. Prof. Teruo Fujii, an Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo, also witnessed the event.
The Chinese alumni were concerned to hear that we in Japan were facing a shortage of surgical masks and protective clothing with the current situation caused by COVID-19, thus leading to such a generous donation.
A Chinese Ph.D. student, Ms. Yu Xia, suggested pasting on the boxes of donated masks the following lyrics to an old dormitory song of a predecessor of UTokyo, the First Higher School, as their message: “舳に立ちて我呼べば魑魅魍魎も影ひそめ.” This means, with the alumni's voices and cooperation, enemies would be subdued.
Mr. Sano says that this is part of the continuous support of alumni and that more than 60 alumni will further consider donating medical goods, etc. The donated N95 surgical masks will soon be distributed to the most needed sections, including UTokyo Hospital and UTokyo Health Service Center.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the warm consideration all the members showed to us.
Currently, 56 overseas alumni associations are registered with the UTokyo Alumni Association.
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
The UTokyo Beijing Friendship Association is among the oldest ones registered with the UTokyo Alumni Association.
(March 12, 2020) India Akamonkai Meeting 2020 Held
On February 24th, 2020, the 2020 India Akamonkai Meeting was held at Mandap Hall, Hotel Jaypee Vasant Continental, and organized by The University of Tokyo India Office.
The objectives were as follows:
1. To honor Prof. Tatsuya OKUBO, Dean of the School of Engineering who was visiting Delhi prior to his superannuation at the end of March 2020
2. To provide an opportunity for the UTokyo student participants of the annual India visit program to interact with the UTokyo alumni in India
3. To strengthen the interactions among alumni members in India, as well as with the UTokyo India Office
A group of 13, which included eminent alumnae, attended the meeting. The small group enabled relaxed individual interaction and sufficient time to update each other.
The meeting began with opening remarks from the Dr. Neelam Ramaiah, Director of the UTokyo India Office. She introduced the office activities and elaborated on the commitment of the India Office towards creating awareness among Indian students and parents about the various undergraduate and graduate programs offered in English at several Japanese universities. The need for collaborative opportunities to establish strong industry-academia networks between India and Japan was stressed upon. She also spoke about using virtual platforms for organizing frequent interactive meetings between the alumni members.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Shrikrishna Kulkarni, President of the India Akamonkai, talked about his long connection with UTokyo, gave a briefing on India Akamonkai, and elaborated on ways to conduct the meetings in the future. He urged the need to contribute to the development of the India Akamonkai and help to increase the flow of Indian students to Japanese universities. Mr. Kulkarni also discussed the strategy to enhance the sponsoring and internship opportunities for Indian students by Japanese companies in India.
The speech by the Guest of Honor, Prof. Tatsuya OKUBO, was very motivating. He introduced the School of Engineering, and talked about the changes and new strategies introduced for smooth and effective functioning. He also elaborated on his vision for UTokyo and the need for futuristic strategies in education.
Subsequent to the self-introduction session, the members enjoyed enhanced interactions during the dinner time. All attendees shared the need for enhancing alumni activities and growth opportunities in the academia-industry sector between India and Japan.
Speech by the Guest of Honor, Prof. Tatsuya Okubo, UTokyo Group photo
(March 12, 2020) Indonesia Akamon-kai Holds New Year and Welcome Party
On February 19, 2020, Indonesia Akamon-kai held a new year and welcome party. Around 30 students from the University of Tokyo attended the event.
The students joined a 2-week winter program at the University of Indonesia. Indonesia Akamon-kai held this new year and welcome party as part of the UTokyo winter program. For this time, not only these students, but also two students who study abroad at the University of Indonesia, joined. Enjoying BBQ and drinking together, the students listened to interesting Indonesian business stories from alumni in Indonesia while the alumni were updated with new and fresh ideas by the students. They changed seats 3 times like at a workshop, so that participants could have conversations with many people.
At the end of the party, they wished for the success of the winter program and business in Indonesia.
The Indonesia Akamon-kai looks forward to continuing this kind of exchange session in the future.
(February 12, 2020) Debriefing Session for the 2019 Hands-on Activity Programs Held
On February 10, 2020, the Debriefing Session for the 2019 Hands-on Activity Programs was held in Sanjo-Kaikan on the Hongo Campus. After President Makoto Gonokami's speech, certificates of appreciation and memorial plaques were awarded to the five volunteer groups who have organized the programs for the five consecutive years. Two out of three participating groups were alumni association related; namely, the “Community-supported agriculture experience in Connecticut” was initiated by the New York Icho-kai, while the UK Akamon Gakuyu-kai organizes “Experience London as a European business center.” Mr. Kenichi Hirokawa of the New York Icho-kai as well as Mr. Keisuke Ito and Mr. Satoshi Izumihara attended the event and received certificates of appreciation and memorial plaques as representatives.For the main part of the session, current students representing five programs gave reports on each program followed by speeches made by the volunteer groups which took care of those students. Each representative student clearly explained their fidings through the programs with their own words.
The Debriefing Session was concluded with a speech made by Executive Vice President Norio Matsuki.
After the session, an exchange event was held in the restaurant in the Sanjo Kaikan building. The event was attended by current students, volunteer groups including alumni associations, and faculty and staff members.
(February 12, 2020) UK Akamon Gakuyu-kai Holds Breakfast Meeting with President Gonokami
On Friday, January 24, the University of Tokyo Alumni Club in the UK (UK Akamon Gakuyu-kai) held a breakfast meeting with President Gonokami who was visiting London. Seven members of the UK Akamon Gakuyu-kai, including H.E. Yasumasa Nagamine, Japanese Ambassador to the UK, welcomed President Gonokami and enjoyed delightful and informative conversation with him over a lot of topics, including the role of the University of Tokyo to encourage sustainable growth of society, enhancing collaboration between academy and industry, characteristics of management of US and UK universities, President Gonokami’s visit to the World Economic Forum 2019, and updates about Brexit.
In the afternoon, President Gonokami presented a lecture at the Japan Society which was chaired by Mr. Bill Emmoton. Many members of the UK Akamon Gakuyu-kai attended the lecture and learned about the University's role as a platform to promote social change in the new age.
(January 27, 2020) Tanseikai, UTokyo Alumni Association of Singapore Hosted a Get-together Meeting to Concide with Executive Vice President Teruo Fujii's Visit There
On Monday, January 20, 2020, Tanseikai, the Singapore Alumni Association of the University of Tokyo, held a get-together meeting to welcome Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President and Director General of the University of Tokyo, at Royale Restaurant in Mercure Singapore Bugis. Mr. Ryu Mishima, General Manager of the Office for External Relations, also joined the event. The 23 participants enjoyed conversations on topics such as population issues and common experiences at the University.
Executive Vice President Fujii visited Singapore with the aim to attending the 10th anniversary event of the Japan Creative Center (JCC). The exhibition titled "Prototyping in Tokyo: Illustrating Design-Led Innovation" was organized at National Design Centre, Singapore, by Design-Led X Platform, Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo. The event was a great success with the attendance of many participants including members of Tanseikai.
(January 23, 2020) UTokyo Sri Lanka Office Just Launched
We are pleased to inform you that UTokyo has just launched the UTokyo Sri Lanka Office and that its opening ceremony was held at the Auditorium of Lakshman Kadimar Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka on January 16, 2020. Since UTokyo was commissioned as the head of the ”Study in Japan Global Network Project-Southwest Asia” by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, UTokyo has been engaged in increasing the number of excellent international students from that region as the representative of Japanese universities. The project's activity base was first established in Delhi, India, and then now in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The 150 participants who attended the ceremony include H.E. Akira Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, representatives of the Sri Lanka government such as the Ministry of Higher Education, representatives from major universities and high schools in Sri Lanka, Japanese language institutes, The Japanese Graduate's Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (JAGAAS). Prof. Hiroaki Aihara, Executive Director and Vice President, the University of Tokyo, Prof. Naoto Sekimura, Vice President of the University of Tokyo, H.D. Karunaratne, Director of the University of Tokyo Sri Lanka Office (Senior Prof. University of Colombo), and staff of the International Strategy Group also joined from UTokyo.
During the panel discussion of the opening ceremony, Dr. Indika Palihakkara, University of Ruhuna, made a speech on the merits of studying in Japan as a panelist while UTokyo alumni who are currently working for universities in Sri Lanka also participated. It brings us great pleasure that student and research exchange is developing based on the network of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka which was established in 2017.
(January 10, 2020) Dr. Masato Ninomiya, President of Brazil Akamon-kai, Awarded the 2019 Order of the Sacred Treasure
Dr. Masato Ninomiya, President of Brazil Akamon-kai and Professor of San Paulo University, was awarded the 2019 Order of the Sacred Treasure (瑞宝中綬章).
The reason for the award was his contribution to the friendly relations between Japan and Brazil as well as to improving welfare of Japanese living in Brazil.
He usually attends royal family members who visit Brazil as an interpreter.
He also translated many Japanese books, including “Hashi wo Kakeru (Laying a Bridge Over)” authored by Empress Emerita Michiko, into Portuguese.
Dr. Ninomiya played a central role in organizing Brazilians and Japanese living in Brazil to launch Brazil Akamon-kai in 2013 when UTokyo Forum was held there.
2019
(December 17) UTokyo & IIS Alumni Parties Held in Myanmar and Thailand
On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the University of Tokyo and IIS alumni party was held at the Esperade Lakeview Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar to concide with a farewell party for the USMCA 2019 International Conference that was hosted by International Center for Urban Safety Engineering (ICUS) and Institute of Industrial Sceince, UTokyo (IIS). A total of 62 people participated and spent a relaxing time listening to the stories of Myanmar graduates.
On Friday the 13th, an alumni seminar and party were held at VIE Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. At the seminar, Prof. Hong Huang from Tsinghua University gave a lecture on “Improvement of haze in China and research progress in China”, Prof. Wataru Takeuchi of IIS gave a lecture on “Assessing people's perception of air pollution in Thailand with Google Trends and remote sensing ”, and Prof. Pennung Warnitchai of Asian Institute of Technology gave a lecture on "Major challenges in earthquake risk reduction in Asia". 32 graduates gathered and reported on each other's recent situations. We closed the party looking forward to meeting again next year at the alumni association.
(December 16) Annual Meeting and Benkyokai of UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal (UTAAN) Held
The 2019 Annual Meeting and Benkyokai event of the University of Tokyo Alumni Association Nepal (UTAAN) was organized on November 23, 2019. The Annual Meeting was attended by 20 alumni, whereas Dr. Yuriko Akiyama, the First Secretary (Information and Cultural) of the Embassy of Japan in Nepal, and Mr. Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi and Ms. Masako Sano from the University of Tokyo, joined the Benkyokai Program. At the Annual Meeting, progress achieved during the last year and the way forward were discussed. Two presentations were made on contemporary topics by alumni members at the Benkyokai Program. Mr. Prakash Shakya presented on the topic "Migrant Health in Japan," and Mr. Deepak K.C. presented on the topic "Climate Change Scenario and Its Impact in Nepal: GLOF Risk Reduction Practice." Both sessions were chaired by Mr. Ram Prasad Bhandari, President of UTAAN. Speaking at the Benkyokai, Dr. Akiyama underlined the importance of alumni activities and said that the Embassy will always be ready for any support. Mr. Tomoyoshi updated attendees on current activities at UTokyo and thanked UTAAN for their cooperation in carrying out seminars on higher education opportunities in Japan. During the Benkyokai, a new initiative of UTAAN, a web-based networking platform, was jointly launched by Dr. Akiyama, Mr. Tomoyoshi and Mr. Bhandari. The platform was designed and developed by UTAAN Executive Member Dr. Dipendra Gautam. At the end of the Program, Mr. Bhandari informed attendees that, in total, 88 UTokyo graduates from Nepal have been counted so far, and over 50 of them are already in contact with UTAAN. He thanked UTokyo delegates, Dr. Akiyama and all the alumni present at the Program for their active participation.
(December 2) Four Representatives of Tsinghua Alumni Association, Tsinghua University Visit the University of Tokyo
On December 2, 2019, 4 representatives of Tsinghua Alumni Association, Tsinghua University, namely, Professor Mei Xiaopength; Ms. Zhang Yueyue, Director of Executive Office; Ms. Zeng Zhuokun, Editor, Shui Mu Tsinghua Magazine; and Mr. Sun Yao, Research Department; visited the Office for Alumni Affairs, the University of Tokyo accompanied by a Chinese student of the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo as an interpreter.
The purpose of their visit was to understand how our alumni office is organized, and what our activities are like, etc. and also to exchange opinions.
What impressed us most is that all the alumni of Tsinghua have love towards the university, and therefore they would like to contribute to the university in some way or other through efforts, time and/or money. Moreover, Tsinghua Alumni Association has access to 80% of their alumni through e-mail or WeChat compared to 25% of ours.
At the same time, we found some common issues including, for example, how to organize the alumni of graduate schools who seem to have less affinity towards the university than bachelor alumni.
After visiting the University of Tokyo, they will visit Kanazawa University before returning to China.
(November 8) The Europe Akamonkai in France Holds a Get-together Meeting to Coincide with the Visit of Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo
The Europe Akamonkai in France held a get-together meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 in Paris, to welcome Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo.
All members were updated by Professor Fujii on the latest news of UTokyo, social cooperation activities and the professor's research themes, and they all discussed how to revitalize alumni association activities in France.
Since its establishment in 2011, the Europe Akamonkai in France has held several events a year.
(October 5) Chicago Akamon-kai holds Newcomer Welcome Lunch
The Chicago Akamon-kai held a newcomer welcome lunch on Saturday, October 5, 2019 in downtown Chicago to welcome UTokyo alumni who arrived in the city this summer. Far exceeding our initial expectation of about 15 attendees (based on attendance at our previous meetings), a total of 33 alumni and 2 young children joined the gathering at an Italian restaurant. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse ranging from graduate students at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University to professionals such as lawyers and corporate employees working in the city.
Because many participants were aged around 30 years old, they could share not only their common experiences at UTokyo, but also current life concerns regarding work and family. As a result, the conversation was lively and involved. (I myself thoroughly enjoyed listening to fellow alumni’s exciting experiences about life and work in Chicago of which I was not aware.)
Because we had a sit-down lunch format, each of us could talk to only a limited number of people. In retrospect, to accommodate for the large size, perhaps we could have had a cocktail party type arrangement where people can freely move around. Going forward, we hope to be flexible so that participants can fully enjoy each other.
Those of us in charge of events at the Chicago Akamon-kai are planning to hold more gatherings for alumni. We look forward to continuing our enjoyable and stimulating discussions! (Author, Hiroshi Nishimoto, Member of Event Planning)
(October 1) Greater Boston UTokyo Alumni Club Hosts a Get-together Meeting to Coincide with the Visit of Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo
Since registering with the UTokyo Alumni Associaion this April, the Greater Boston UTokyo Alumni Club has hosted guests from UTokyo including Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo, for the first time. Fourteen participants, including alumni living there as well as three guests from UTokyo: Professor Fujii, Mr. Masami Shimokawa, Senior Director of the Office for External Relations and Mr. Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi, Director of the Office for Alumni Affairs.
All the participants enjoyed having conversations over a nice dinner and seemed especially happy to receive updates on the latest news of UTokyo.
After the dinner was over, Professor Kaneki, Professor Yoshida, and Ph. D. candidate Mr. Yoshinaga talked about what the future of Greater Boston UTokyo Alumni Club should be like.
(September 17) Peru Akamon-Kai Hosts UTokyo Professors
On August 22, members of the Peru Akamon-Kai had a meeting with the president of UNI, Dr Jorge Alva. Participants included Dr. Victor Konno, president of the Peru Akamon-kai, Dr. Koichi Kusunoki, professor of the Earthquake Research Institute, the University of Tokyo, MSc. Fernando Lazares, Academic Director of the Japan-Peru Center for Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Mitigation, and Dr. Carlos Zavala of CISMID. They talked about the possibility of an exchange MOU between UTokyo and the National University of Engineering.
After visiting the Faculty of Civil Engineering, they showed an isolated building, which was designed and constructed by professors of UNI and CISMID, where Dr. Hiroshi Aihara, professor of the Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo, attended the International Symposium on Earthquake Engineering.
On August 25, Peru Akamon-kai members had lunch with Dr. Aihara at Jose Antonio Restaurant where good Peruvian cuisine was served. All the members including Dr. Konno and Dr. Miguel Estrada, Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation of Peru, enjoyed the lunch. Members of Akamon-kai warmly welcomed UTokyo professors and they hope they can strengthen their relations with the UTokyo Alumni Association in Japan.
(September 17) Mexico Akamon-kai Hosts a Get-together Meeting with Professor Hiroyuki Ukeda
On Wednesday, September 11, 2019, the Mexico Akamon-kai hosted a get-together meeting with Professor Hiroyuki Ukeda, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, in Mexico City. Professor Ukeda was visiting several areas of Mexico for research purposes. About 15 participants enjoyed the dinner and exchanged views on many subjects.
Since its establishment in 2014, Mexico Akamon-kai holds several events a year and has about 50 members, of which 29 members are international students who have gone back to their countries after obtaining a degree at UTokyo.
(September 9) Three Activities Hosted by UTokyo Alumni Association of India (UTAAI) in Japan in August
On August 15, 2019, UTAAI in Tokyo and the UTokyo Indian Students' Association (UTISA) representatives joined the celebration ceremony of the 73rd Independence Day of India that was held at the Embassy of India in Tokyo.
On August 18, 2019, UTAAI took eight Indian students (four boys and four girls) who were visiting Tokyo from West Bengal State, India for the 23rd Japan India Students' Conference program, to a memorial event at Renkoji Temple in Tokyo on the 75th anniversary of the death of Mr. Subas Chandra Bose, India Freedom Fighter Neta-ji.
Also, UTAAI and UTISA welcomed them to the Hongo Campus on August 21, 2019. They enjoyed seeing the Sir Tagore portrait in General Library, which was given as a gift by H.E. Mr. Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, during his memorial visit to our University in 1952. Before Nehru's visit, Sir Tagore presented his memorial lecture on the Hongo Campus under the title of "Message of India to Japan" in 1916 as the first Nobel Prize winner in Asia, Literature 1913. We shared with them experiences of campus life, information on GSCC, PEAK and the Graduate School of Public Policy, and exchanged views about international relations, particularly about how India is so important for Japan. We recommended that they study at graduate schools in Japan and also to get jobs in Japan.
(August 21) Seattle Tansei-kai Holds a Get-together
The Seattle Tansei-kai held a get-together meeting on Sunday, August 18, 2019 in Seattle. This is the first gathering since the former secretariat went back to Japan. Ten participants such as alumni, including Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi, Director of the Office for Alumni Affairs, the University of Tokyo, and their spouses attended the meeting.
Director Tomoyoshi explained the role of alumni in supporting current students as UTokyo Association supporters, hosts of Hands-on Activitiy Programs, etc. in addition to further expanding alumni networking through the UTokyo Online Community (TFT) and alumni associations. The amicable atmosphere continued throughout the whole meeting.
Now that the new secretariat has been selected, we hope that the Seattle Tansei-kai will take this opportunity to promote events in the future.
(August 19) UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada-West Chapter Just Established
We are pleased to inform you that the UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada-West Chapter has just been established and the inaugural meeting was held in Vancouver, Canada on Saturday, August 17, 2019 to coincide with President Gonokami's visit there.
The 18 participants who attended the event included alumni and guests such as Dr. Makoto Gonokami, President of UTokyo and Mr. Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi, Director of the UTokyo Office for Alumni Affairs. After opening remarks, seven new board members of the new association were selected, and objectives and planned activities of the new assocation were explained by Dr. Henry Tsang, president of the association, followed by President Gonokami's congratulatory speech. In his speech, President Gonokami explained the role of academia in driving transformation for a better society and various measures the University is promoting to achieve above goals.
During the networking dinner, attendees took part in a lively discussion on various matters both in English and Japanese.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi briefly introduced the main activities of Office for Alumni Affairs, including further expanding and fulfilling alumni networks through the UTokyo Online Community (TFT) and increasing UTokyo Supporters who play an important role in supporting students.
(July 9) UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada-West Chapter to be Launched in August to Coincide with President Gonokami's Visit There
President Gonokami will visit Vancouver, Canada in mid-August this year in order to attend the UBC (University of British Columbia) Baseball Friendship Match that will be conducted as part of the student exchange events between the two universities. Since UTokyo has signed an exchange agreement with UBC, it hosted the first Baseball Friendship Match last year.
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/ja/articles/z0602_00005.html
The inaugural meeting of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Canada-West Chapter will be held in Vancouver, Canada in the evening of August 17, 2019 to coincide with President Gonokami's visit there.
Dr. Henry Tsang, who is affiliated to Athabasca University, has played an active role in founding this alumni association.
The inaugural meeting will be scheduled as follows:
Date: August 17, 2019
Time: 18:00-21:00
Venue: TBA
For further details, please contact us at utaa.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @.)
(July 2) Mr. Lee Sungmoo, Secretary General of Seoul National University Alumni Association, visits Office for Alumni Affairs
On June 28, 2019, Mr. Lee Sungmoo, Secretary General of Seoul National University Alumni Association, visited the Office for Alumni Affairs with Mr. JeongHwan Seo of the Seoul National University Alumni Association in Tokyo, Japan.
First, they attended the guided tour of the half-renovated General Library. They then went to the Seoul National University UTokyo Office which is situated on the 4th floor of Faculty of Science Bldg. 1, where Deputy Director Byeongchel Lee warmly welcomed them.
At the end of their campus tour, they visited the Office for Alumni Affairs on the 7th floor of Administration Bldg. 1. They exchanged status reports on each alumni association and confirmed that the third networking event between the two alumni associations will be hosted in Tokyo someday in the future.
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/overseas_universities.html
(July 2) The 18th General Meeting of NY Icho-kai Held
On Friday, June 21, 2019, the 18th General Meeting of NY Icho-kai was held at Yale Club in New York City. About 120 participants attended the event. UN Ambassador Bessho presented an opening remark followed by a speech and presentation on FSI (Future Society Initiatives) by Dr. Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo. His presentation included university management, from industry-university collaboration to "Forming a Global Base for Knowledge Collaboration," fundraising operations and the UTokyo online community (TFT). Since many participants were informed of recent UTokyo activities for the first time, positive comments such as ”I’m impressed” and “It was interesting” were heard. Besides holding a general meeting once a year, local alumni get together to exchange information with each other on a regular basis as the ICHI-O-Kai.
(May 30) Professor I Chiu Liao, President of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan, Awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize
On May 27th, 2019, Professor I Chiu Liao，Lifetime Distinguished Professor, National Taiwan Ocean University as well as current president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan, has been awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize “Science and Technology” at the Nikkei Asia Prize presentation ceremony at the Imperial Hotel. Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo as well as four staff members from the Office for Alumni Affairs joined the event to celebrate his award.
Launched in 1996, the Nikkei Asia Prizes are designed to recognize outstanding achievements that contribute to the region’s sustainable development and to the creation of a better future for Asia. They are awarded annually in the following three areas of achievements: “Economics and Business Innovation,” “Science and Technology” and “Culture and Community.”
Professor Liao is famous for his research on black tigers. After obtaining his Ph.D in the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, he succeeded in farming black tiger shrimp for the first time in the world in 1968. He is recognized as the "father of shrimp farming" in Taiwan. What is noteworthy about him is that instead of patenting his methods, he communicated everything about farming black tiger shrimp to international students from the Asian region, thus making the know-how widely disseminated, leading to the shrimp's abundance in Asian foods.
As president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan, Professor Liao agreed to be an advisor of the UTokyo Alumni Association, a member of the board of the UTokyo Alumni Association.
(May 13) Greater Boston UTokyo Alumni Club Just Registered
We are pleased to inform you that the Greater Boston UTokyo Alumni Club has officially been registered to the UTokyo Alumni Association as the 55th overseas alumni association as well as the 12th one in the North America.
The secretariat is Mr. Kosuke Yoshinaga, Ph.D. Candidate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
About six years have already passed since the first idea of founding an alumni association in the Greater Boston Area. Core members including researchers such as Dr. Bryan Moser, a researcher of both MIT and UTokyo, and younger alumni have hosted get-together meetings several times a year, thus expanding the alumni network there.
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/news_events.htmlhttps://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
http://utokyo-alum-boston.org/
(May 10) Professor Jong-Keun Park, Director of UTokyo Office in SNU, visits Office for Alumni Affairs
On April 25, 2019, Professor Jong-Keun Park, Director of the UTokyo Office in SNU as well as president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Korea, visited the Office for Alumni Affairs.
Together with the Seoul UTokyo Association, the UTokyo Alumni Association of Korea has much contributed to Hands-on Activity Programs for the past three years. The Association has also hosted current UTokyo students who go to Seoul in order to attend the summer program ”UTokyo in SNU.”
We talked about the 2019 Hands-on Activity Programs as well as the 2019 summer program ”UTokyo in SNU.”
Further details will be discussed and explained over a TV meeting between Professor Park and other members on the Seoul side and current students who will participate in the 2019 Hands-on Activity Programs in Seoul and staff members on the Tokyo side.
(May 9) Professor Sudhir Misra, former president of UTokyo Alumni Association of India, visits Office for Alumni Affairs
On April 18th, Professor Sudhir Misra, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur as well as former president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of India, visited the UTokyo Office for Alumni Affairs. He visited Japan in order to participate in and give a lecture at the 8th Civil Engineering Conference in the Asian Region (CECAR).
His wife, Mrs. Vatsala Misra, who is a Japanese teacher in IIT Kanpur, has contributed to UTokyo Hands-on Activity Programs for the past few years.
Professor Misra proposed many constructive topics such as planning exchange programs between Japanese UTokyo students and Indian students who are studying in India.
He particularly likes the idea that current UTokyo students will go to India to study specific themes at research laboratories in India. He also suggested that it would be very helpful to international students who go back to India after completing their courses at UTokyo for the UTokyo Alumni Association of India to introduce job opportunities to them.
(March 19) Two Delegates from IIM Calcutta Visit the University of Tokyo
Dr. Anju Seth, Director of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta) and Mr. Shrikrishna Kulkarni, Chairman, Board of Governors/President of the UTokyo Alumni Association of India as well as a great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, visited the University of Tokyo on the 18th of March, 2019.
First, they met Dr. Masashi Haneda, Executive Vice President of University of Tokyo, to talk about the possibility of signing an exchange agreement between the two institutes. They then met staff of the Alumni Affairs Office and exchanged opinions including possibilities to dispatch students from India to UTokyo for a short term, holding an event celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the national father of India, etc.
It was the first opportunity for the Director of IIM Calcutta, who had just been inaugurated, to visit the University of Tokyo, thus making it a good opportunity for her as well as for staff of the Alumni Affairs Office to know each other and further discuss the various matters.
(March 19) United Kingdom Akamon-kai Welcomes Executive Director and Vice President Teruo Fujii
On March 13, 2019 in London, UK, the United Kingdom Akamon-kai welcomed Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Director and Vice President of the University of Tokyo, who was visiting the Royal College of Art for research purposes.
Prior to the gathering, Professor Fujii met Mr. Yasuo Kashiwagi, Director of the United Kingdom Akamon-kai.
The 7 participants of the gathering included 4 alumni who are members of the United Kingdom Akamon-kai and 3 other alumni who happened to visit there. They had a good time over dinner, discussing about various matters such as how the United Kingdom Akamon-kai is managed, current topics of the United Kingdom Akamon-kai, etc.
(March 18) The UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan held General Meeting 2019
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan held its 2019 General Meeting at The Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei, Taiwan on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The more than 50 participants included Taiwanese alumni, invited guests as well as staff from the University of Tokyo.
First, Mr. Mitsuaki Hoshino, Chief Deputy Representative, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Taipei Office made a courtesy speech, followed by a message given by Dr. Liao Wei Ming, president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan.
Next, Professor Manabu Chiba, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo (an architect) presented a lecture entitled “Designing How People Gather.” The contents covered architecture of universities and housing made by Prof. Chiba, accommodations at Wulai, Taiwan, and restoration housing in affected areas in Tohoku, showing his design concepts which give more importance to human relations with nature, thus making the lecture quite interesting to all the Taiwanese alumni.
At the general meeting, a call for donations was made for the under-construction UTokyo Mejirodai International Village in order to further enhance UTokyo globalization, thus creating an amicable atmosphere as well as love for their alma mater. It gives us real pleasure that relations with the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan have been further developed with consecutive events including a networking event in Kaohsiung, Taiwan where Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Director and Vice President was invited, in November and a welcome party that hosted President Gonokami and his group in December.
(March 13) The University of Tokyo Alumni in Cambodia celebrate the start of a 2-year project
The University of Tokyo Alumni in Cambodia (UTAC) celebrated the starting of a 2-year project on March 12th in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The project is led by UTokyo and RUA (Royal Univ. of Agriculture) to establish veterinary education and veterinary statutory bodies. These will play key roles in ensuring the effectiveness of veterinary professionals and delivery of competent veterinary services.
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Links/docs/pdf/OIE-Veterinary-Education-Twinning_SOP_February-2019.pdf
The 13 participants included 7 professors who are affiliated with Veterinary Medical Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, including Prof. Masaki Kuwahara, Prof. Hiroyuki Nakayama, Prof. Masatoshi Hori, Prof. Akio Yamada, Associate Prof. Kozue Miura, Associate Prof. Takeshi Haga, and Prof. Eihei Nishimura, two alumni including Mr. Yoshi Oya, Secretary of UTAC, two current UTokyo students and a special guest, Mr. Izumi Yamaguchi, who runs an agriculture business in Cambodia successfully through combining IT, business strategy and agriculture.
This is a good example of alumni in overseas alumni associations playing an active role in supporting UTokyo in a variety of ways. For example, many overseas alumni associations make plans for the UTokyo Hands-on Activity Programs and host current students who participate in the program, hosting professors from UTokyo who are visiting their countries, etc.
2018
(December 19) UTokyo Alumni Association of China (Tokyo) Holds 2nd General Meeting
The UTokyo Alumni Association of China (Tokyo) held its 2nd general meeting at Sanjo Conference Hall on the Hongo Campus in the afternoon of Saturday, December 8, 2018.
40 Chinese alumni including President of the Tokyo Alumni Association of China (Tokyo), Professor Jie Liu, Waseda University, who graduated from the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology in 1993, Dr. Yan Hao, who graduated from the Graduate School of Medicine in 1993, Advisor to President of the Tokyo Alumni Association of China (Tokyo), Chairman & CEO of EPS Holdings, Inc., Ms. Wan Wang, Spouse of Ambassador, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Japan, who graduated from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1992, attended the event.
At the opening, Mr. Ning Ding, Secretariat of the UTokyo Alumni Association of China (Tokyo), who graduated from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences in 2005, reported its activities and Ms. Wan Wang was elected as new president, followed by Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Director and Vice President of the University of Tokyo, who presented a lecture titled ”University that drives changes.”
At the networking reception, Professor Norio Matsuki, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo, made a toast speech. Lively exchanges were made among participants during the reception. As Chinese alumni living in Japan expand their activities to business fields as well as academic areas, exchange activities will be further promoted in cooperation with the University.
(December 17, 2018) Professor Makoto Gonokami, President of the University of Tokyo, Attends Event Hosted by UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan
Professor Makoto Gonokami, President of the Univeristy of Tokyo visited Taiwan with Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Director and Vice President of the University of Tokyo from December 10 to December 12, 2018 at the invitation of Ministry of Education Taiwan.
First, President Gonokami paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Rai Hau-min, former President of the Judicial Yuan and former president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan in the afternoon of December 11th.
In the evening of the same day, the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan held an alumni event and heartily welcomed 4 delegates from the University of Tokyo including President Gonokami and Executive Director and Vice President Fujii. The 59 participants included 48 Taiwanese alumni and 2 representatives from Ministry of Education Taiwan.
Dr. Liao Wei Ming, president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan, gave a welcome speech, followed by President Gonokami, who presented a lecture titled ”University contributing to the betterment of future society based on Future Society Initiatives.”
After the speech, President Gonokami and Executive Director and Vice president Fujii went around every table and had a face to face conversation with each participant.
It was the first opportunity for Taiwanese alumni to welcome President Gonokami, thus making it a significant event for all the participants.
https://todai-alumni.tw/
(December 6, 2018) UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan Holds Networking Event in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan held an alumni event in Kaohsiung, a massive port city in southern Taiwan, on Thursday, November 15, 2018.The 22 participants included 20 Taiwanese alumni and two Japanese, namely Professor Teruo Fujii, Executive Director and Vice President of the University of Tokyo, who was visiting the city to attend an international conference, and Mr. Kazuhito Mori, Director of the Alumni Office.
Dr.Wei-Chung Teng, Alumni Secretariat of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan, reported on the association's latest activities, followed by Professor Fujii, who presented a lecture titled ”Latest Activities of UTokyo.”
It was the first opportunity for Taiwanese alumni living in the southern area to welcome guests from UTokyo, thus making it a significant event for all the participants.
https://todai-alumni.tw/
(November 25, 2018) UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal (UTAAN) Holds Benkyoukai in Kathmandu, Nepal
The meeting called “Benkyoukai” (workshop) was held on Sunday, November 25, 2018 at Hotel Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The 21 participants including 19 Nepali and two Japanese alumni attended the meeting. After opening remarks by Mr. Ram Prasad Bhandari, President of UTAAN and self-introductions from each member, Mr. Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi, Director of the UTokyo Alumni Office gave an update on UTokyo and its alumni activities, followed by Mr. Hiroshi Yoshino, Director of the UTokyo India Office, who provided information on the “Study in Japan Global Network Project.”
Afterwards, all participants exchanged opinions about this project and discussed how to increase the number of excellent Nepali students studying in Japan.
UTAAN kindly agreed to cooperate regarding this project.
Thanks to the arrangements made by members of UTAAN, starting the next day，Monday, November 26, 2018, Mr. Yoshino and Mr. Tomoyoshi were able to pay a visit to various universities, high schools and institutions, thus leading to the completion of a survey on the current situation of Nepali students as a first step of this project.
(November 12, 2018) Services and Benefits Updated
Services and Benefits for TFT members have been updated.
Please check the page above for new information.
(October 30, 2018) Alumni Relations Representatives from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University, Sweden visit UTokyo Alumni Office
On October 29, 2018, Ms. Hanna Sundelin, Project Manager of Alumni Relations, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Ms. Erica Ojermark Strzelecka of Stockholm University visited the UTokyo Alumni Office on the Hongo Campus for the first time. They came to Tokyo to host the first joint alumni event which was scheduled for October 30, 2018.Though UTokyo has held exchanges with both of the universities under the strategic partnership project, it is the first time for the alumni relations representatives of these universities to visit the UTokyo Alumni Office.
A lively discussion was made on how to engage alumni in alumni activities and how to recruit excellent students with support from alumni. Through this discussion, common issues were identified such as how to design effective events for the whole four- or six-year school period that will make more current students interested in alumni activities, the importance of advertisements and explanations in making alumni activities known to all, etc.
(October 29, 2018) UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka Hosts Joint Networking Event with UTokyo Sri Lankan Student Association (UTSLSA) on the Homecoming Day 2018
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka and the UTokyo Sri Lanka Student Association (UTSLSA) co-hosted a networking event on the Homecoming Day that was held on Saturday, October 20, 2018.About 35 people, including international students mainly from Sri Lanka, UTokyo students who attended the 2018 Hands-on Activity Program "SDGs Fieldwork Experiences in Sri Lanka," and Mr. Roshan Gamage, Minister of the Embassy of Sri Lanka, attended the event.
First, Dr. Indika Rohan Palihakkara of University of Rufuna/President of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka, who was staying at Tokyo to attend the World Lake Conference, presented a lecture on tropical agriculture, followed by reports made by seven UTokyo students who joined the 2018 Hands-on Activity Program "SDGs Fieldwork Experiences in Sri Lanka."
After the whole session was over, Mr. Hiroshi Yoshino, Director of the UTokyo Office in India introduced the "Study in Japan Global Network Project" and Mr. Roshan Gamage, Minister of the Embassy of Sri Lanka, gave a speech. At the end of the event, the participants lively exchanged discussion with each other.
(September 20, 2018) UTokyo Alumni Association in Bangladesh (UTAAB) Holds First General Meeting
The first general meeting of the UTokyo Alumni Association in Bangladesh was held on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at the Serenity Banquet Hall of Ascott Residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh.The 28 participants who attended the event included 19 Bangladeshi alumni, nine Japanese alumni and guests. After opening remarks by Dr. Syed Emdadul Haque, His Excellency Mr. Yasuhiro Izumi, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh gave a congratulatory speech, followed by a message from UTokyo President Makoto Gonokami read on his behalf by UTokyo Director Kiyokazu Tomoyoshi.
After executive committee members were announced and approved, UTAAB'S newly appointed President Momtazuddin Bhuiyan gave a speech.
During the lunch reception that followed, attendees took part in a lively discussion on what UTAAB will do next, including holding a seminar, a gathering to network, strengthening exchanges with current Bangladeshi international students with an aim to further increase membership.
(August 16, 2018)Some of the Events to be Hosted by Overseas Alumni Associations on Homecoming Day 2018
As you may already know, the 17th Homecoming Day will be held on Saturday, October 20th, 2018.Some of the Homecoming Day events will be hosted by overseas alumni associations, namely: Stanford Silicon Valley Akamon-kai, Todai Beijing Friendship Association, Singapore Tansei-kai and UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka.
The schedule of events is as follows:
Name of Alumni Association |
Time |
Content |
Venue |
Open/Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stanford Silicon Valley Akamon-kai |
14:00～17:00 |
Lecture and the new opera “Monster” |
Ito International Memorial Hall |
Open |
Singapore Tansei-kai |
14:30～17:00 |
"Singapore Divide"-Do you know real Singapore? |
101 on 1F, Faculty of Law Bldg |
Open |
UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka |
14:00～16:00 |
Lecture "Field experience and tropical agriculture in Sri Lanka" |
301 on 3F, Faculty of Law Bldg |
Open |
Todai Beijing Friendship Association |
18:00～20:00 |
Get-together meeting |
Ito International Faculty Club |
Closed |
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/adm/hcd/
(August 15, 2018) To International Students Graduating in Autumn 2018
Congratulations on your graduation from UTokyo.Expand your global network with UTokyo alumni both at home and abroad.
We have effective tools to help you achieve this goal.
Further details can be viewed here.
(August 15, 2018) The First General Meeting of UTokyo Alumni Association of Bangladesh to be Held
We are pleased to inform you that the first general meeting of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Bangladesh will be held as follows:☆Date/Time: Saturday, September 15, 2018 12:00pm-14:00pm
☆Venue: Serenity Banquet Hall, Ascott the Residence Ltd.,Dhaka, Bangladesh
☆Agenda:
1. Opening remarks
2. Messages from invited gusets
3. Confirmation of the organization such as the name, board members, etc.
Candidates for Executive Board Members
4. Reception/self-introduction by each member, etc.
5. Closing remarks
If you are interested in joining this event, please contact us at utaa.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @.)
(June 27, 2018) Lecture Meeting "Bridge between India and Japan" Held by Mr. Shrikrishna Kulkarni, Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
The lecture meeting "Bridge between India and Japan" by Mr. Shrikrishna Kulkarni was held on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at the Conference Room on the 3rd floor of the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia on the Hongo Campus. About 60 people including international students attended the event.
Besides being a great grandson of Indian National Father Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Kulkarni is Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta as well as President of the UTokyo Alumni Association of India.
His talk started with his dynamic life history including his unique experiences as an international student of UTokyo, such as practicing Shorinji-Kempo, working as CEO of Fanuc India and then Panasonic India, participating in the "Walk of Hope" through which he traversed India longitudinally on foot, etc. in English as well as fluent Japanese. He said most of the significant events of his life were decided by someone other than himself and that he accepted every one of them as it was. We were impressed that he had appreciated all that happened to him.
During the Q and A session, Mr. Kulkarni answered every question from the participants with a lot of humor and sincerity. His message "I can't give you any advice. Instead, I will only share my experiences." well expresses his humbleness.
After the whole session was over, many of the attendants lined up, waiting to ask Mr. Kulkarni personal questions face-to-face.
(June 15, 2018) UTokyo Alumni Association Supporters Starting to Play a Part
Since 2017, UTokyo alumni have voluntarily registered to the UTokyo Alumni Association as its supporters and the number has reached almost 50. Their ages range from early 20s to late 60s while their careers vary from lawyers, career civil servants, and business consultants, to those working for financial companies, advertising companies, general trading companies, and as school teachers. They have started to play an active role for current students of UTokyo by making use of their own careers at the events, including a lecture for job recruiting, mock job interviews and hosting freshmen at the welcome party.Mock job interviews https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/mock_job_interviews.html
Welcome Party https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/news_events.html
The areas of activities in which UTokyo Alumni Association supporters play a part are gradually increasing, and we would therefore be grateful if you could apply for supporter status when we recruit new supporters online this fall.
(June 6, 2018) Lecture Meeting "Bridge between India and Japan" to be Held by Mr. Shrikrishna Kulkarni, Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
We are pleased to inform you that the lecture meeting "Bridge between India and Japan" by Mr. Shrikrishna Kulkarni is to be held on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at Conference Room on the 3rd floor of the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia on the Hongo Campus.Besides being a great grandson of Indian National Father Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Kulkarni is Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta as well as President of the UTokyo Alumni Association of India.
It will be an invaluable opportunity to listen to his talk based on his deep understanding of both India and Japan.
His talk may include his unique experiences such as practicing Shorinji-Kempo while studying at UTokyo, principles inherited from his great grandfather Mahatma Gandhi, and the "Walk of Hope" through which he traversed India longitudinally on foot.
Further details can be viewed here.
Please register here.
(May 8, 2018) Welcome Party for Freshmen Held by the UTokyo Alumni Association
On Thursday, April 26, 2018, a Welcome Party for freshmen was held by the UTokyo Alumni Association on the Komaba Campus. A total of 180 people attended the event, including freshmen, alumni and faculty members.Participating alumni include UTokyo Alumni Association supporters who range from lawyers, career civil servants, and business consultants, to those working for financial companies, advertising companies, general trading companies, school teachers, etc.
After speeches by the invited guests, including Atsushi Ishida, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences/Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, undergraduates who just entered the University this April went around to one table after another to talk with faculty members as well as alumni, thus gaining new experiences.
Some of the results of the questionnaire which was conducted afterwards are as follows:
* I was able to have a concrete image about what I should do for the first two years in Komaba.
* This event was quite helpful because I had opportunities to talk with faculty members and senior alumni as well as to be acquainted with other students.
(Mar 20, 2018) UTokyo Alumni Association of Cambodia Participated in "Go Abroad with WEduShare 2018"
On March 18, the UTokyo Alumni Association of Cambodia, including Mr. Yoshi Oya, a founder of the association, participated in "Go Abroad with WEduShare 2018" which was held at Exchange Square, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Current international students who are affiliated with the Graduate School of Public Policy, as well as a prospective student who has been accepted to study at the Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, also attended the event. The UTokyo booth was crowded with a lot of attendees who were interested in studying at UTokyo, and thus almost all the 2000 copies of handouts including scholarship information, introduction of UTokyo, etc. were taken. Attendees were also very interested in the variety of UTokyo video materials. We all hope that many of the excellent students who joined this event will come to study at UTokyo in the near future. .We all hope that many of the excellent students who joined this event will come to study at UTokyo in the near future.
(Feb 22, 2018) Expanding Our Alumni Network in the South Asia Region
The UTokyo Alumni Association is engaged in enhancing UTokyo's alumni network on a global basis by connecting graduates both at home and abroad.
For the 2018 fiscal year, we will focus on increasing the number of international students from the South Asia Region including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in accordance with the policies of Japanese government.
For that purpose, we would like to participate in study abroad fairs in these countries as well as expand our domestic and overseas alumni networks there.Currently, there are alumni associations in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka; meanwhile, in Bhutan and Pakistan, alumni networks are not yet organized. We would be grateful if you could lend a hand in further developing alumni activities in these countries.
(The green-colored pins on the map indicate the countries where alumni associations are established, while those colored red indicate countries where alumni associations are yet to be organized.)
If you are interested in joining the above-mentioned alumni associations, or supporting our efforts, please contact us at tft.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @. )
(Feb 22, 2018) To International Students Graduating in Spring 2018
Congratulations on your graduation from UTokyo.Expand your global network with UTokyo alumni both at home and abroad.
We have effective tools to help you achieve this goal.
Further details can be viewed here.
(February 8, 2018) Alumni Networking is Underway in the Greater Boston Area, Massachusetts, Washington DC and Austin, Texas
Alumni networking is underway in several areas in the US.In the Greater Boston Area, core members including researchers such as Dr. Bryan Moser, a researcher of both MIT and UTokyo, and younger alumni have hosted get-together meetings several times a year, thus expanding the alumni network there. The Greater Boston UTokyo Alumni Club already has around 300 members. Its official website launched last year, and it held a New Year’s Party on January 21, 2018.
http://utokyo-alum-boston.org/
Regarding Washington DC, key members have started to organize an official alumni association there. Main alumni include those affiliated with international institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, etc. and the Embassy of Japan. If an alumni association is established in this district, it will be quite meaningful both for the alumni working there as well as for current students who are accepted for the local Hands-on Activity Program.
Preparation for the establishment of an alumni association is also proceeding in Austin, Texas. One of the organizing members is Mr. Kentaro Hara, a researcher of Texas A&M University who played an important role in the startup of the “Study Abroad Seminar” hosted by the UTokyo Alumni Office twice a year.
If you are interested in joining any of these communities, please contact us at tft.adm@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
(February 8, 2018) Schedule for General Meetings hosted by Overseas Alumni Associations
The General Meetings completed or to be hosted by overseas alumni associations are as follows:| Name of Alumni Association | Venue | Date | Participants from UTokyo |
| UTokyo Alumni Association of Korea | Seoul, Korea | January 25, 2018 | Director, the Alumni Office |
| UTokyo Alumni Association of India | Delhi, India | February 21, 2018 | Norio Matsuki, Executive Vice President; Director, the Alumni Office |
| UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan | Taipei, Taiwan | March 24, 2018 | Norio Matsuki, Executive Vice President; Manager, the Alumni Office |
2017
(September 6, 2017) UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka Just Established
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka was just established on Monday, September 3, 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is the 53rd UTokyo overseas alumni association.http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
A total of fifteen participants including alumni and guests attended the inaugural meeting.
After the opening remarks made by Prof. Mangala De Zoysa, Senior Professor of the University of Ruhuna, His Excellency Mr. Kenichi Suganuma, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka gave a complimentary message. In his speech, His Excellency Mr. Suganuma stressed the importance of human relations nurtured during school days at the University of Tokyo.
These messages were followed by remarks from the UTokyo President (read by Mr. Mori, Director of UTokyo Alumni Office), with Dr. (Ms.) R. M. Udayangani Ratnayake, the General Secretary of the Japanese Graduates' Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (JAGAAS) as a guest.
After the approval of the new board members including Dr. Indika Palihakkara, Lecturer, the University of Ruhuna, as President, Dr. H. D. Karunaratne, former President of JAGAAS, Japan Foundation fellow at The University of Tokyo and Senior Professor, Faculty of Management and Finance, the University of Colombo made a short presentation on economic relations between Sri Lanka and Japan.
(August 23, 2017) To International Students Graduating in Autumn 2017
Congratulations on your graduation from UTokyo.Expand your global network with UTokyo alumni both at home and abroad.
We have effective tools to help you achieve this goal.
Further details can be viewed here.
(July 11, 2017) Lecture Entitled “The Future of China Focused on Human Resources” Hosted
On July 4th, 2017,
Mr. Yuji Miyauchi, former Director of UTokyo Beijing Office, gave a lecture entitled “The Future of China Focused on Human Resources” on the Hongo Campus hosted by the UTokyo Alumni Association/UTokyo Alumni Office. The Conference Room 002 on the basement floor of Sanjo Conference Hall was filled with almost 50 participants in spite of the slightly typhoon-like weather.Mr. Miyauchi discussed many eye-opening topics, including how the number of university students has skyrocketed in China over the past ten years while the number of international students studying in Japan has remained relatively the same, how China is accepting so many international students as a national policy, and also how all these factors will affect international relations in the future, all while using a great amount of data to explain his points.
According to the questionnaire results, most of the audience was awed with the wide range of data and the lecturer's specific knowledge.
Also, some of them requested a larger room since the venue was so crowded with participants.
(July 10, 2017) General Meetings of New York Icho-kai and Akamonkai Mexico Held
General Meetings of the New York Icho-kai and Akamonkai Mexico were held as follows:
New York Icho-kai
On June 16th, the 16th General Meeting of the NY Icho-kai was held in New York.
More than 150 alumni attended the meeting. This number is much larger than that of last year.
The participants include Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, the Ambassador of Japan to the US, as president of the NY Icho-kai .
Akamonkai Mexico
On June 28, a General Meeting of Akamonkai Mexico was held in Mexico City, Mexico. Twenty-one alumni attended the meeting. Of the total number, four members were Mexican alumni while 17 were Japanese. It is the first time that the number of Japanese alumni far surpassed the number of Mexicans, perhaps because many Japanese companies are now actively operating in Mexico.
The schedule for General Meetings hosted by other overseas alumni associations is as follows:
| Name of Alumni Association | Venue | Scheduled date |
| Philippines Akamonkai | Manila, the Philippines | August 25, 2017 |
| United Kingdom Akamonkai | London, the UK | October 6, 2017 |
(July 6, 2017) UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka to be Established Soon
We are pleased to inform you that the UTokyo Alumni Association of Sri Lanka will be established on Monday, September 3, 2017 in Sri Lanka. It will be the 53rd UTokyo overseas alumni association.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
The meeting is organizedy mainly by former international students including Dr. Indika Palihakkara of the University of Ruhuna as follows:
- Date/time: Sunday, September 3, 2017, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Venue : Conference room, Hecter Kobbakaduwa Agrarian Research & Training Institute (HARTI) ,114,Wijerama Mawatha,Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
If you are interested in joining this event, please contact us at utaa.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @.)
(July 6, 2017) UTokyo Alumni Association of Lao PDR Newly Established
We are pleased to inform you that the UTokyo Alumni Association of Lao PDR was established on Monday, July 3, 2017 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. It is the 52nd UTokyo overseas alumni association.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
A total of 19 alumni, including Japanese/Lao alumni who are members of the Japanese Embassy, JICA, WHO and LuxDev, Lao Ministry of Health, Kansai Electric Power, etc., attended the inaugural meeting.
The meeting was co-chaired by His Excellency Mr. Takeshi Hikihara, Ambassador of Japan to Lao PDR and Professor Masamine Jimba (Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo), and was facilitated by Mr. Outavong Phathammavong. In his opening remarks, His Excellency Mr. Hikihara expressed the importance of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Lao PDR in contributing to strengthening the relationship between Japan and Lao PDR. These remarks were followed by remarks from the UTokyo President (read by Prof. Jimba), with the president of JAOL (Japan Alumni of Laos) as a guest and video on construction of the Nam Ngiap Hydropower Project explained by Mr. Yamabayashi of Kansai Electric Power.
After the approval of the new members including Mr. Soulivanh Phengxay as President, Prof. Jimba made a short presentation on sustainable development in the health sector of Lao PDR, which inspired the participants.
(June 8, 2017) UTokyo Alumni Association of Lao PDR to Be Established Soon
We are pleased to inform you that the UTokyo Alumni Association of Lao PDR is soon to be established in Vientiane. It will be the 52nd UTokyo overseas alumni association.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
The inaugural meeting is scheduled to be held as follows:
Date/time: Monday, July 3, 2017
Venue: Crown Plaza Hotel
Participation fees: 320,000 LAK per person (about 4,200 JPY)
20 registrants include Japanese/Lao alumni ranging from members of the Japanese Embassy, JICA, WHO, Laos, Ministry of Health, Kansai Electric Power, etc.
If you are interested in joining the event, please contact us at utaa.adm@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
(June 6, 2017) Stanford Mindfulness Class @ UTokyo Held
On June 6th, 2017, Dr. Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu, Psychologist of Wellness, Education, Health and Human Performance, Stanford University gave a workshop on mindfulness on the Hongo Campus. The conference room 333 on the 3rd floor of the Medical Library was filled with almost 100 participants.
He stressed that it is important to accept yourself as you are and this moment as it is ("Arugamama") and act positively. As the first step to achieve this objective, he explained to the participants how he actually presents mindfulness courses at Stanford by introducing a short meditation at the beginning of the class followed by pair works on "who are you ?", "what activates you most?" and so forth.
As a great dog lover, he compared the dog which is always "mindful" to the human being whose "mind is full" of miscellaneous thoughts.
According to the questionnaire results, most of the participants seemed to be impressed with and inspired by Dr. Murphy-Shigematsu's warm and benevolent character, and quite satisfied with the session.
Many of them seemed to feel that the one and a half hour course was too short for the workshop and want to attend another one or further study mindfulness.
(May 8, 2017) UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia Holds Alumni Event
On May 6th, 2017, the UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia held a gathering at Bogor Botanical Garden in Bogor City, Indonesia. The gathering was attended by 27 alumni from classes from the 1980s to 2010. Some of them brought their family members, which made the atmosphere more family-like. During the opening, a message from Mr. Kazuhiro Mori, Director of the Alumni Office of the University of Tokyo, was delivered by Dr. Budi Indra Setiawan, Chairman of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia, followed by warm greetings from all members.
The gathering was intended to strengthen the friendship among alumni from all generations and produce fruitful synergy in the future.
In the next gathering, we plan to invite a renowned UTokyo scholar such as a Nobel Laureate to give a public lecture by around October 2017. We seek guidance from the Alumni Office for an appropriate candidate that suits the Office agenda.
(Apr 26, 2017) UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia to Host an Alumni Event
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia will hold an alumni event in Bogor City on May 6, 2017 as follows.
The purpose is to announce the organization's board members and also new graduates.
UTokyo Alumni in Indonesia: Gathering Invitation
- Date/time: Saturday, May 6, 2017 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Venue: Grand Garden Resto & Cafe*, Bogor Botanical Garden
*GPS location: -6.598765,106.80379
For those who are interested in the event, please contact Dr. Sutrisno at 0811-113-143 or Dr. Chusnul at 0877-7039-7307.
(Apr 13, 2017) Application Period for the 2017 Hands-on Activity Programs Set to Begin / Call for Support for the Establishment of the UTokyo-Russia Alumni Association
Launched in 2012, the Hands-on Activity Programs provide UTokyo undergraduate students with various off-campus experiences mainly during the vacation period. Many of the programs are organized and operated with tremendous contributions from alumni both at home and abroad. These programs are very popular among students because the students are exposed to local cultures and businesses, stimulated by working alumni abroad and given opportunities for cultural exchange with local university students. The application period for the 2017 Hands-on Activity Programs is set to begin on April 17, 2017.
Of the 17 programs supported by alumni abroad, the five new programs include "Educational Glocal Internship Programs"and "Experience Modern Russia, which is Currently Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Start of the Russian Revolution and the 60th Anniversary of the Re-establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Japan". The former is hosted by The University of Tokyo Alumni Association in Cambodia which was just established last August, while the latter will be supported by the UTokyo-Russia Alumni Association, which is undergoing preparations to be established.
If you are interested in helping to launch the UTokyo-Russia Alumni Association, please contact utaa.adm(at) gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @.)
(Apr 4, 2017) Life-long Learning on Campus "Public Lecture on Water Systems for Sustainability" to be Held
Since starting in 2014, Life-long Learning on Campus has offered lectures on a variety of liberal arts themes for a wide range of generations based on books published by the University of Tokyo Press.
Lectures are given on the specific themes of the books published by the University of Tokyo Press and are followed by panel discussions and interactive discourse between lecturers and participants.
The 6th Life-long Learning on Campus entitled "Public Lectures on Water Systems for Sustainability" is to be held on May 11th, 2017, 19:00-21:00 at the Ito International Research Center on the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo.
The lecturer is Professor Hiroaki Furumai of the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Water Environment Technology. He also has a joint appointment as professor at the Department of Urban Engineering. His research group has conducted research on 1) Sustainable urban drainage management focusing on water pollution control and water quality dynamics; 2) Fate and control of pathogenic microorganisms in urban water cycles; 3) Bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater; and 4) Water quality characterization and its evaluation for sustainable urban water use. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Water Association (IWA) and the president of the Japan Society on Water Environment.
Register here.
Further details can be viewed here. (in Japanese)
(Mar 10, 2017) Debriefing Session for the 2016 Hands-on Activity Programs Held
On February 28, 2017, the Debriefing Session for the 2016 Hands-on Activity Programs was held in Engineering Bldg. 2 on the Hongo Campus. After President Makoto Gonokami's speech, certificates of appreciation and memorial plaques were awarded to the five volunteer groups who have organized the programs for the five consecutive years. Three out of four participating groups were alumni association related; namely, the “Kaga hot spring village experience” was initiated by the Akamon Mayor's Association, while the New York Icho-kai organizes “Feel the pulse of NY as a world information center,” “Community supported agriculture experience in Connecticut” and “Participate in conferences at the UN (NY) as student volunteers” and the Europe Akamon-kai (France) is engaged in handling career formation at École Polytechnique.
For the main part of the session, current students representing five programs gave reports on each program followed by speeches made by the volunteer groups which took care of those students. Two out of the five programs were supported by overseas alumni associations, namely "Participate in conferences at the UN (NY) as student volunteers" by Satsuki-kai America and "Current UAE-boiling city Dubai, future city Masdar and oil city Abu Dhabi" by UAE Akamon-kai.
The Debriefing Session was concluded with a speech made by Executive Vice President Tomokazu Haebara.
After the session, an exchange event was held in the Goten restaurant in the Sanjo Kaikan building. The event was attended by current students, volunteer groups including alumni associations, and faculty and staff members.
(Mar 9, 2017) Commemorative Academic Lecture Presented by Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi, the Nobel Prize Winner in Physiology or Medicine, 2016
On Wednesday, February 22, 2017, a commemorative academic lecture by Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi, the Nobel Prize Winner in Physiology or Medicine, 2016 was held in the Lecture Hall (Classroom #900) on the Komaba Campus. The relationship between Professor Ohsumi and UTokyo is deep. He obtained his bachelor's degree in science and doctoral degree in science at the University of Tokyo's College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School of Science respectively. After being a postdoctoral fellow at Rockefeller University in New York City, he returned to the University of Tokyo as a research associate. When he was an assistant professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor Ohsumi discovered the clue that would lead to the autophagy research for which he was to be awarded the Nobel Prize. Two out of the four important theses referred to as the reason for his winning the Nobel Prize were written during his time at UTokyo. It is very encouraging that the education given at the College of Arts and Sciences led to this outstanding research, and this is also an honor for UTokyo.
Prior to the lecture, a Special Honorary Professorship was awarded to Professor Ohsumi by Professor Kazuo Hotate, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo.
In the lecture, Professor Ohsumi gave a clear explanation of his background, his research on autophagy and present research. Around 500 participants, mainly current students at the College of Arts and Sciences, listened to his speech attentively. During the Q&A session, the students asked many questions. Faculty members as well as students were fully impressed with what Professor Ohsumi had to say.
After the lecture, an exchange event between Professor Ohsumi and around 200 students was held on the second floor of the Komaba Communication Plaza South Building.
Related URL：http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/news/topics/topics_z0109_00035.html
(Mar 9, 2017) Call for Support for the Establishment of UTokyo Overseas Alumni Associations
The number of UTokyo overseas alumni associations has already reached 51 in 31 countries/regions as of March 9, 2017 following the registration of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Melbourne in February 2017:
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
The candidate sites of this year are Montreal, Canada; and Boston and Washington DC, the US; Russia; Berlin; Sri Lanka and Laos.
Preparations are underway to establish new associations in Sri Lanka, Laos, Montreal, Canada, Boston and Washington DC while they will also soon start in Moscow and Berlin.
We would be grateful if you could extend your hand in an effort to establish new overseas alumni associations. Please contact us at utaa.adm(at) gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp for further details.
Top
(Feb 21, 2017) To International Students Graduating in Spring 2017
Congratulations on your graduation from UTokyo.
Expand your global network with UTokyo alumni both at home and abroad.
We have effective tools to help you achieve this goal.
Further details can be viewed here.
(Feb 10, 2017)Melbourne Akamon-kai Just Established
We are pleased to inform you that the Melbourne Akamon-kai has just registered with the UTokyo Alumni Association as the 51st overseas alumni group and the third one established in Australia following the Sydney Tanseikai in Sydney and the Akamon Pearl Society in Brisbane.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
Since starting its activities about five years ago, the Melbourne Akamon-kai has held gatherings once every two to three months. It has about 40 members, mainly consisting of Japanese working or conducting research there with some international students who went back to their country after completing their studies at UTokyo.
For those who will be going to Melbourne to work or conduct research, please contact the Melbourne Akamon-kai at mel-akamon@googlegroups.com
(Feb 6, 2017) Alumni Events to be Held in Seoul, South Korea and Taipei, Taiwan
We are pleased to inform you that the following alumni events are going to be held in Seoul, South Korea and Taipei, Taiwan.
Forum and General Meeting for the UTokyo Alumni Association of Korea:
1. Date: Friday, February 17, 2017
2. Venue: Iris Hall and Anais Hall, 12th Floor, SC Convention Centre, 22 Teheran ro 7-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
http://me2.do/GhXBucgM
http://map.konest.com/dloc/314481/544766/12
(same as last year)
3. Schedule:
- Forum ＠ Iris Hall 15：30～
- General Meeting ＠ Anais Hall 18:20～
General Meeting for the UTokyo Alumni Association of Taiwan:
- Date/time: Saturday, March 4, 2017, 17:00-20:30
- Venue: Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei B2 VIP Room (No. 160, Section 3, Ren'ai Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan)
If you would like to join either of these events, please contact the UTokyo Alumni Association at utaa.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @.)
Top
(Jan 12, 2017) UTokyo to Celebrate 140th Anniversary during Homecoming Day 2017
UTokyo was founded with the four Faculties of Law, Science, Letters and Medicine in 1877. At first, the three Faculties of Law, Science and Letters were located in the Kanda area, namely, the site where Gakushikaikan is currently situated, while the Faculty of Medicine was established in the Hongo area, followed by the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Economics respectively in 1886, 1890 and 1919. (The photo on the left is of the University Library's Reading Room in 1900.)
Currently, the University of Tokyo is comprised of 10 Faculties, 15 Graduate Schools, 11 affiliated research institutes (including the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology), 13 University-wide centers, three affiliated libraries and two institutes for advanced study. Furthermore, the Faculties, Graduate Schools and research institutes have facilities associated with them; for instance, the University of Tokyo Hospital is one such facility.
In addition to the three main campuses in Hongo, Komaba and Kashiwa, facilities affiliated with the University of Tokyo are spread all throughout Japan.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/about/history.html
UTokyo will celebrate its 140th anniversary during Homecoming Day 2017, which is to be hosted by the UTokyo Alumni Office in full collaboration with UTokyo on October 21, 2017.
President Gonokami mentioned in one of his previous speeches that the past 140 years of UTokyo consists of two parts, namely 70 years in the pre-World War II (WWII) era and 70 years in the post-WWII era. We will see what the next 70 years has in store for the University as it utilizes the support it has accumulated over the past 140 years.
2016
(Dec 4, 2016) The 1st Seminar of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal Held
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal held its first seminar, with Prof. Jimba as its special guest.
On 29th November 2016, to coincide with the visit of Prof. Masamine Jimba, Graduate School of Medicine, to Kathmandu, the UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal (UTAAN) convened its first event since its launch in July 2016. Fifteen Nepalese and two Japanese alumni gathered in Patan Engineering College, which Prof. Tek Raj Gyawali, one of the alumni, kindly arranged as the venue. The scope of the presentation by Prof. Jimba was not limited to his field of expertise, public health; he cast a profound question: "Ke Bikas ho?" ("What is development?"), citing his broad experiences in and knowledge on Nepal and other parts of the world. The participants were all highly motivated and encouraged to apply Prof. Jimba's message to the challenges they currently face. The seminar was followed by a heartwarming dinner. UTAAN is a relatively new overseas association, but the number of alumni listed already exceeds 40, showing the strong initiative of Nepalese alumni. UTAAN plans to hold ad-hoc seminars as well as regular general meetings.
(Nov 8, 2016) The 1st General Meeting of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia Held
On Saturday, October 29, 2016, the 1st general meeting of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in the second year following the first joint event between Indonesian alumni and Japanese alumni in November 2014. Thirty-six alumni including 16 Indonesians and 20 Japanese attended the event. Professor Shigeto Sonoda, special advisor to the president, the University of Tokyo was invited as a guest and made a presentation on current UTokyo and alumni activities.
It was decided that a joint alumni association, namely, the UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia, was to be formally launched and Dr. Budi Indra and Mr. Takeshi Arakawa were elected as its first president and vice president, respectively.
In the networking event that followed, Indonesian alumni introduced themselves in Japanese while Japanese alumni gave self-introductions in Indonesian, making the whole atmosphere fun and relaxing.
(Nov 2, 2016) The 15th Homecoming Day was Held on October 15, 2016
On the sunny autumn day of Saturday, October 15, 2016, the 15th Homecoming Day was held on the Hongo and Komaba Campuses.
Both campuses were crowded with many alumni who visited a variety of events such as the Special Forum and the Yasuda Music Festival which were held at the Yasuda Auditorium, the kids garden “Nobi-nobi Hiroba,” the Rakugo (Japanese sit-down comedy of comic story telling) Show and stalls on the Ginkgo Avenue.
Six anniversary gatherings, namely for the 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45-year reunions, were also held. President Gonokami visited and delivered separate speeches at each one of them.
Among the forty alumni associations which participated in the Homecoming Day, the Stanford Silicon Valley Akamon-kai hosted a magnificent opera concert while the Taiwan Koyu-kai offered Taiwanese tea, and both of these free events drew large crowds.
Also, Kaitokuen Garden, which is normally closed to the public, was open for the day and was quite popular among the visitors.
Compared to previous years, the number of younger alumni bringing their small children increased this year, thus infusing lots of fresh energy into all of the events.
UTokyo will celebrate its 140th anniversary next year.
Homecoming Day 2017 will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017.
(Oct 27, 2016) UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal (Nepal Akamon-kai) Newly Registered as the 50th Overseas Alumni Association
On July 18, 2016, a kick-off meeting for the UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal (Nepal Akamon-kai) was held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Twenty-four alumni including Mr. Masashi Ogawa, Japanese ambassador to Nepal, Professor Toshio Nishizawa, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo and Mr. Deepak Dhakal attended the meeting. Twenty-two out of the 24 alumni were international students who went back to Nepal after completing their courses in UTokyo.
On October 26, the UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal became the 50th association in the UTokyo Alumni Association.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
With breathtaking views of the Himalayas in the background, an alumni event is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal as follows. Professor Masamine Jimba of the University of Tokyo's Department of Community and Global Health in the Graduate School of Medicine has been invited as a guest.
Date: Tuesday, 29th November 2016
Venue: Patan Campus, Pokhara University (Near Patan hospital)
Agenda:
16:00 Registration
16:35 Opening remarks by UTANN founding member
16:40 Presentation by Prof. Jimba followed by Questions and Discussions
17:40 Reception
18:30 Closing
Those who are interested in the events are asked to please contact the UTokyo Alumni Association of Nepal at tanaka.yukio(at)jica.go.jp. (Please replace at with @.)
(Oct 14, 2016) Alumni Events to Be Held Soon in Indonesia and Chile
We are pleased to inform you that the following alumni events are going to be held in Indonesia and Chile:
General Meeting for the UTokyo Alumni Association of Indonesia:
1. Date/Time: Saturday, October 29, 2016, 17:00-
50, South Jakarta, Buffet-style restaurant）TEL : 62-21-25535018
3. Agenda (subject to change)
17:00: General Meeting
18:00: Reception
19:30: Singing “Tada Hitotsu”
19:50: Photo Session
Networking event of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Chile:
- Date/time: Saturday, November 5, 2016, 19:00-
- Venue: Hall on the 1st floor of Japanese Chile Cultural Center (Alcantara 772, Las Condes)
If you would like to join either of these events, please contact the UTokyo Alumni Association at utaa.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp. (Please replace (at) with @.)
(Oct 14, 2016) UTokyo Alumni Association of Malaysia (Light blue-kai) Newly Registered to UTokyo Alumni Association
The UTokyo Alumni Association of Malaysia (Light blue-kai) joined the UTokyo Alumni Association in September 2016, following the addition of Cambodia the previous month. The Association consists of around 50 Malaysians and Japanese alumni. Members enjoy playing golf and other sports activities and participating in networking events on a regular basis. The total number of overseas alumni associations has reached 49.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
(Sep 8, 2016) the 15th Homecoming Day to be Held on October 15, 2016
We are pleased to announce to you that the 15th Homecoming Day will be held on October 15, 2016.
Since there are many programs for alumni as well as the general public, not only alumni but also all other people are welcome to the event.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/alumni/interact/hcd/hcd2016/index.html
In addition, Kaitokuen Garden, which is normally closed to the public, will be open for this special occasion. Why not take this opportunity to look around the Garden's beautiful scenery on Homecoming Day?
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/whyutokyo/hongo_hi_005.html
https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.hcd/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf
(Sep 6, 2016) To International Students Graduating in Autumn 2016
Congratulations on your graduation from UTokyo.
Expand your global network with UTokyo alumni both at home and abroad.
We have effective tools to help you achieve this goal.
Further details can be viewed here.
(Aug 30, 2016) Call for Support for the Establishment of a UTokyo Alumni Association of Malaysia
The number of UTokyo overseas alumni associations has already reached 48 as of August 30, 2016:
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
Preparations have just begun to establish another one in Malaysia. Considering the background of increasingly strengthened economic cooperation between ASEAN countries and Japan and the number of international students from Malaysia to UTokyo, namely 48 as of May 1, 2015, establishing the UTokyo Alumni Association of Malaysia seems quite appropriate.
We would be grateful if you could extend your hand in an effort to establish the new alumni association. Please contact us at utaa.adm(at) gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp for further details.
(Aug 23, 2016) An Exchange Event was Held in Thailand Cohosted by the Thailand Alumni Association of The University of Tokyo and Taikoku Tansei-kai
On August 20, 2016, an Exchange Event was held in Thailand cohosted by the Thailand Alumni Association of The University of Tokyo and Taikoku Tansei-kai at TPA Pattanakarn, Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Ken Furuya, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo, was invited as a guest. Fifteen alumni living in Thailand attended the event, including Mr. Supong Chayutsahakij, former president of the Thailand Alumni Association, Mr. Paritud Bhandhubanyong, current president of the Thailand Alumni Association, and Mr. Mitsutaka Iida, current president of Taikoku Tansei-kai. Other alumni work for institutions such as Thammasat University, Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, or King Mongkut's Institute of Technology.
At the beginning of the event, Dr. Furuya made a presentation under the title of “UTokyo Now-Current Trends and Alumni Activities,” which was followed by a lively Q & A session.
During the dinner and informal discussions, many constructive comments were made by the participants that will lead to the ideal future of the University of Tokyo.
(Aug 23, 2016) The University of Tokyo Alumni in Cambodia Newly Established
We are pleased to inform you that the University of Tokyo Alumni in Cambodia (UTAC) was organized in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on August 6, 2016.
Prior to the inaugural meeting, the UTokyo Alumni Forum was held under the title of “Sustainability Challenges in Cambodia - from Global Health Experiences” hosted by UTAC in cooperation with the UTokyo Alumni Office. As a keynote speaker, Professor Masamine Jimba, Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo stressed the importance of the “No one is left behind principle” in order to realize sustainable health policies in Cambodia. His speech was followed by short speeches by Mr. Chariya Ear, Founding Director, the Institute of Road Safety and Mr. Sim Vireak，Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The forum was concluded with lively discussion among speakers and Q&As from several participants with Professor Shibanuma, Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo acting as a moderator.
During the reception, a message for celebrating the establishment of the University of Tokyo Alumni in Cambodia was read by Professor Jimba on behalf of President Makoto Gonokami, and several other messages were also given by major participants including Mr. Takahisa Tsugawa, Minister of the Japanese Embassy in Cambodia, Mr. Siyan Yi, Director, KHANA Center for Population Health Research, and Mr. Yoshihiko Oya, Professor of Cambodian Mekong University who played an important part in organizing the association.
Five undergraduate students also participated in the event as part of the Hands-on Activity Program “Medical Care and Peace.”
(July 14, 2016) Recruitment for the 2016 Hands-on Activity Programs is now closed
Launched in 2012, the Hands-on Activity Programs provide UTokyo undergraduate students with various off-campus experiences mainly during the vacation period. Many of the programs are organized and operated with tremendous contributions from alumni both at home and abroad. These programs are very popular among students because the students are exposed to local cultures and businesses, stimulated by working alumni abroad and given opportunities for cultural exchange with local university students. Recruitment for the 2016 Hands-on Activity Programs is now closed and the programs have started.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/hands-on_activity.html
(July 7, 2016) UTokyo Alumni Forum/Inaugural Meeting of the University of Tokyo Alumni in Cambodia to be held
We are pleased to inform you that the University of Tokyo Alumni in Cambodia (UTAC) will be established on August 6 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Prior to the inaugural meeting, the UTokyo Alumni Forum will also be held under the title of “Sustainability Challenges in Cambodia - from Global Health Experiences” hosted by UTAC in cooperation with the UTokyo Alumni Office. The keynote speaker will be Professor Masamine Jimba, Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo with Mr. Chariya Ear, Founding Director, The Institute of Road Safety; Mr. Sim Vireak，Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; and Professor Shibanuma, Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo also attending as panelists or discussants.
For those who would like to participate in these events, please contact us at utaa(at)ml.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
(Please replace (at) with @.)
Schedule
16:30-18:00 Lecture and Panel
18:00-18:30 Inaugural Meeting
18:30- Reception
(June 2, 2016) Mock job interviews held by the Career Support Office in cooperation with the UTokyo Alumni Office
On May 10 and 13, 2016, mock job interviews were held by the Career Support Office in cooperation with the UTokyo Alumni Office. One-hour mock interviews designed to be like the final interviews for students' preferred companies were conducted, followed by specific advice from the interviewers.
A total of 55 students including both graduates and undergraduates participated in the events.
Interviewers included four staff members of the UTokyo Alumni Office as well as a Senior Adviser, Office of the President and some alumni volunteers.
In a questionnaire about the event, 42 out of 55 participants answered that the interviews were very helpful while the remaining 13 answered that they were helpful.
Specific feedback from the participants was as follows:
“A lot of appropriate advice that will be useful for actual interviews was given.”
“I got feedback on whom corporations want to hire from an interviewer’s perspective, which made me more confident.”
“It was encouraging for me, since I had lost confidence in job-hunting.”
“Appropriate advice on my advantages, disadvantages and impressions made me realize things I had never noticed before.”
“I would also like to experience a stressful interview.”
(May 12, 2016) Schwarzman Scholars Program: Global Leadership Scholarship
Inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, Schwarzman Scholars is a highly selective international scholarship program designed to prepare future leaders for success in a world where China plays a key global role. The program will give the world’s best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through a fully-funded one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University – one of China’s most prestigious universities. The scholarship will be fully provided to all of the participants including current students as well as young alumni under 29, and participants can choose a concentration in Public Policy, Economics and Business, and International Studies.
http://schwarzmanscholars.org/
Program Curriculum Admissions Eligibility requirements
(May 12, 2016) Greater UTokyo Seminars
Greater UTokyo Seminars are life-long learning programs which started in Fall 2010 and aim to contribute to social development as well as scientific and cultural creation from a global perspective. The Seminars are open to all people, including UTokyo alumni. Each Greater UTokyo Seminar consists of 10 series of lectures focused on state-of-the-art themes of contemporary society and issues are pursued to the core by professionals including key lecturers. Approximately 300 people have already attended the seminars in total.
Currently the 11th Greater UTokyo Seminar titled “Consider the future of Japan’s energy from the viewpoint of a hydrogen society” is being conducted every Wednesday on the Komaba Campus with the attendance of approximately 40 participants. Recruitment for the 12thGreater UTokyo Seminar, which will focus on Islam, will start in late June.
Past events can be viewed here.
| Period | Theme | Key lecturers |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2016 | Hydrogen | Koji Segawa |
| Fall 2015 | Africa | Mitsugu Endo |
| Spring 2015 | Water | Hiroaki Furumai |
| Fall 2014 | Russia | Nobuaki Shiokawa |
| Spring 2014 | Medical care | Kazunori Kataoka, Hiromichi Kimura |
| Fall 2013 | China | Akio Takahara |
| Spring 2013 | Robots | Isao Shimoyama |
| Fall 2012 | Asia | Motoo Furuta |
| Spring 2012 | Seas | Ken Furuya |
| Fall 2011 | Deep sea resources | Kokichi Iizasa |
| Fall 2010 | Woods | Naoto Ando |
(All the lectures are conducted in Japanese)
(May 12, 2016) UTokyo Alumni Associations to be newly established in Cambodia, Nepal and Malaysia this year
Preparations are still underway to establish the UTokyo Alumni Association of Cambodia with the aim to hold an inaugural meeting on August 6, 2016 during the Hands-on Activity Program “Medical Care and Peace” that will be organized by Professor Masamine Jimba, Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo and conducted during August 3 to August 9, 2016 in Cambodia. On May 13, a pre-inaugural meeting was held in Phnom Penh with attendance of several alumni including Cambodians and Japanese.
Regarding Nepal and Malaysia, preparations have also begun. The other day, Mr. Prakash Shakya, a former president of the UTokyo International Students Association of Nepal and Ms. Janice Koh, the current president of the UTokyo Alumni Association of Malaysia visited the UTokyo Alumni Office on the Hongo Campus.
Both of them were very cooperative in establishing alumni associations in both countries and said that they were willing to extend their hands to reach out to appropriate persons to become key persons to found the associations.
We ask that those who are interested in the establishment of either of the associations to please contact us at utaa (at) ml.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp for further details.
(Please replace (at) with @.)
(March 10, 2016) Call for support for the establishment of a UTokyo Alumni Association in Cambodia
As indicated on the following website, the number of UTokyo overseas alumni associations has already reached 46 as of March 10, 2016:
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/alumni/alumni_association.html
Preparations are now underway to establish one also in Cambodia. Considering the background of increasingly strengthened economic cooperation between Asian countries and Japan, establishing the UTokyo Alumni Assocation of Cambodia is quite appropriate. We would be grateful if you could extend your hand in an effort to establish the new one. Please contact us at utaa (at) ml.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp for further details.
2015
(November 22, 2015) UTokyo Alumni Association of the Philippines just established
On Saturday, November 22, 2015, the first meeting of UTokyo Alumni Association of the Philippines was held in Manila, and the UTokyo Alumni Association of the Philippines was established on that day. About 40 alumni including Mr. Kazuhide Ishikawa, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Noriaki Niwa, JICA Philippines Chief Representative, Mr. Koichi Hasegawa, Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Mr. Robert Orr, US Ambassador to the ADB attended the meeting.Following self-introductions by each of the participants, they had a good time watching a video of a TV program showing that the UTokyo baseball team had finally won a game after 94 consecutive losses. They also enjoyed singing UTokyo songs such as “Tada Hitotsu” together.
Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa was elected honorary president while Mr. Yoshio Amano, General Manager of Mitsubishi Corporation-Manila Branch, was elected president.
