Message from the President on the University of Tokyo’s DEI Initiatives

Currently, in some countries, there is a growing backlash against the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, advancing DEI remains a universal challenge that the modern world must address. Japan, in particular, has lagged behind Western countries in these efforts [1], with the University of Tokyo being no exception. We believe that our situation requires even greater effort than other nations.

The University of Tokyo is determined to strengthen our DEI initiatives with renewed resolve and heightened commitment.

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance and necessity of research co-production—that is, conducting research in collaboration with diverse stakeholders who have traditionally been positioned primarily as research subjects or the end-users of research outcomes [2]. Furthermore, DEI is an indispensable goal for achieving the University of Tokyo’s stated objective of academic excellence through team science, which brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds.

The University of Tokyo believes that the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion embody the inherent value of respecting the fundamental human rights of all people regardless of their background or attributes and are the wellspring of academic excellence and innovation. Despite changes in global circumstances, we remain committed to the values of DEI and will continue to strive vigorously towards realizing a campus and a society where everyone can demonstrate their abilities to the fullest.

At the same time, the University of Tokyo expresses our support for DEI initiatives at universities worldwide, and we pledge to work in solidarity with them.

Teruo FUJII
President
The University of Tokyo

[1]

According to the Global Gender Gap Index calculated annually by the World Economic Forum based on data in the fields of economy, education, health, and politics, Japan ranked 118th out of 146 countries in 2024. According to the Cabinet Office’s White Paper on Gender Equality 2021 (Japanese only), while the proportion of female researchers exceeds 30% in most Western countries, Japan lags behind at 16.9%.

[2]

The Institute of Industrial Science, for example, manages a citizen science marine observation network called the OMNI project.