The Japanese and UTokyo as seen through the context of modern Japan UTokyo-NHK partnership spawns documentary series zooming in on the past 150 years of Japan and the university through the perspective of modern history

Background

While Japan’s public broadcaster NHK traces its history back 100 years to the country’s first radio broadcast and marks its centennial in 2025, the University of Tokyo will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027. As these two storied institutions reach important milestones in their history, they have joined forces through the comprehensive cooperation agreement they signed in 2023.

Among the partnership’s initiatives is a project focusing on Japan’s modern history, which traces the last century and a half of the country’s and university’s history.

A new documentary series delves into deep-rooted social issues confronting Japan, such as elitism and gender inequality, as reflected in the trajectory of UTokyo’s history, and explores ways to address and resolve these challenges as we look ahead to the future.

The series is scheduled to run through 2027, UTokyo’s sesquicentennial.

Theme music

Renowned Japanese musician Kenji Ozawa composed the musical theme especially for the series. Having been involved with the production team from the project’s planning stage, Ozawa’s distinct musical score expresses the themes depicted in the program, giving momentum to the series’ launch.

English programming schedule

Broadcast on NHK World - Japan

Wings Over Walls: Tearing Down the 20% Barrier (Documentary 360)

At top-ranked University of Tokyo, where only 20% of students are female, many women have had their “wings” clipped. In 1946, 19 women who entered the university as its first female students, already faced a lot of discrimination. Through the university’s history, we confront deep-rooted issues, such as gender, in Japanese society.

Broadcast on June 7, 2025

• Video on demand(available until June 6, 2026)