[Event Report] IST Grand Gathering 2025 The networking event hosted by IST Creative Evolution Project
On Friday, November 14, 2025, IST Creative Evolution Project held the networking event "IST Grand Gathering 2025" at the Yayoi Auditorium Annex Seihoku Gallery, bringing together students and alumni. The event, which started in 2022, marked its fourth iteration this year, attracting over 80 participants, the highest number to date (at the time of application, over 100 people).
The event was planned and organized primarily by 9 students serving as Research Assistants (RAs) for the IST Creative Evolution Project, led by Masaki Asano and XU Yuting, both third-year doctoral students.
Group photo of all event participants
The purpose of this event is to create a space for IST students, faculty, and alumni to engage with one another, transcending boundaries of field, laboratory, and generation. It also aims to provide students with an opportunity to think about their career paths from multiple perspectives through direct interaction with alumni active in various fields.
The event began with opening remarks by Hiroshi Nakamura, Dean of the Graduate School of IST, followed by a lecture session featuring 3 IST alumni and a faculty member.
During the networking session, a "name card exchange game" was held to facilitate active interaction. This activity served as an icebreaker, allowing speakers, alumni, and students to connect and providing a valuable opportunity to share specific advice and experiences regarding careers. The top five participants who earned the most points in the game were presented with "ISTy-kun bags" featuring the Graduate School of IST mascot as prizes.
Name card exchange game
The event concluded with remarks from Professor Takeo Igarashi, who designed the IST mascot ISTy-kun, sharing insights about its creation, followed by a presentation from Yusuke Miyao, Vice Dean of IST.
The venue was filled with enthusiasm throughout the event, and it concluded with great success as participants built new connections across fields and generations.
Participants received ISTy-kun as a gift, the graduate school's mascot character.
The plush toys are available for purchase at the University of Tokyo Communication Center.
This article was created by Hayato Yunoki, a second-year master's student and IST RA.
Members of the IST Creative Development Project who planned and organized the event.
[Movie]
The scene of event preparations that began two hours prior to the event. The video editing was done by WAKCHAURE Manas, a third-year doctoral student and IST RA.
