UTokyo Wins the Overall Sosei-sen Sports Competition for the Second Time in Two Years!

Date of activity: January 23, 2016

The closing ceremony of the 2015 Sosei-sen (a series of sports competitions between the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University) was held at Kyoto University's Maskawa Hall on January 23, 2016.

The history of the Sosei-sen (formerly called the Comprehensive Competition between the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University) dates back to 1924, when regularly-scheduled games between both universities’ sports clubs began being held. Those regular games were integrated into the Sosei-sen in 2009, and this year marks the Sosei-sen's 7^th anniversary. The word sosei (literally, "two shades of blue") comes from the school colors of the two universities: light blue for UTokyo and dark blue for Kyoto University.

In the 2015 Sosei-sen, UTokyo and Kyoto University competed in over 44 games. Winning 24-18 (and tying in two), UTokyo triumphed over Kyoto University for the second time in two years. A trophy and certificate were awarded to UTokyo by Shigeaki Oda, chairman of the Kyoto University Sports Union.

Megumi Dantsuji, who is a member of the General Affairs Group of the Athletic Foundation of the University of Tokyo and the chairwoman of the 2016 Sosei-sen Operation Committee, expressed the University's determination to continue winning. "UTokyo will host both the next Sosei-sen and the next Seven Universities Athletic Meet, which is something that happens only once every 14 years. While UTokyo sports clubs will do their best so that we can get a double win, we hope that both UTokyo and Kyoto University will give the games their all," she said.

*The University of Tokyo Foundation has set up projects for supporting the Sports Association of the University of Tokyo. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.