Ever since assuming the leadership of the University of Tokyo, I’ve wanted to share my thoughts and activities as president with members of the university, as well as the larger community outside our institution. With my research field being connected to the ocean, I’d always kept a log during my time conducting surveys and being out at sea. Now, having embarked on my journey as UTokyo’s skipper, I would like to share with all of you my record of this latest voyage, through the UTokyo President’s Log.
Teruo Fujii, 31st President of the University of Tokyo
December 2025
UTokyo PLog #2025-UT-24
Date & Time: December 17, 2025
Location: Main Gate, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'46.3"N / 139°45'34.7"E Open in Google Maps
I attended a ceremony to illuminate UTokyo’s Hongo Main Gate to start the “Safer Campus at UTokyo” project.The Cabinet Office is promoting “Purple Light-up” campaign nationwide, in which broadcast towers and landmarks across the country are illuminated in purple. The color comes from the purple ribbon, which symbolizes the eradication of violence against women. Agreeing with the purpose, UTokyo lit up the Main Gate on the Hongo Campus from December 17-23, 2025.
UTokyo aims to eliminate gender-related harassment and violence on campuses and in society. I hope that people in and outside the campuses can all join us in achieving this goal through this campaign.
UTokyo PLog #2025-UT-23
Date & Time: December 5, 2025
Location: Secondary School attached to the Faculty of Education, UTokyo
Latitude/Longitude: 35°41'10.2"N / 139°40'24.2"E Open in Google Maps
I taught a special lesson at the Secondary School attached to the Faculty of Education, the University of Tokyo.Nearly 150 students from Grade 1 through 6 attended the lecture at the venue, while guardians and students from Tokyo Metropolitan public high schools attended online.
In addition to my research activities to date, I spoke about the importance of having broad perspectives as well as what I think daily regarding discussions I had with various people as the president of the University of Tokyo. I was greatly inspired, receiving a number of very important questions during a Q&A session.
November 2025
UTokyo PLog #2025-UT-22
Date & Time: November 27, 2025
Location: Faculty of Science Bldg. 4, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'47.9"N / 139°45'47.6"E Open in Google Maps
I attended a ceremony to present the certificate plaque for the “IEEE Milestone, Parametron 1954.” The IEEE Milestone program recognizes historically significant innovations in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering. To qualify, an innovation must be at least 25 years old and must have had a major global or regional impact. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) honors achievements resulting from these innovations, which have made substantial contributions to the development of society and industry, and it seeks to preserve their historical significance for future generations.
This time, Parametron was certified as a milestone. It is a logic element that late Professor Emeritus Eiichi Goto developed in 1954 when he was a graduate school student.I was extremely honored to witness this historic moment when Parametron, which laid the foundation for Japan’s computer industry, was certified as a milestone.
UTokyo PLog #2025-UT-21
Date & Time: November 26, 2025
Location: Student Plaza, GlobE
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'49.3"N / 139°45'49.4"E Open in Google Maps
I invited British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom CMG to UTokyo, holding a dialogue event between the ambassador and UTokyo students.
In a lecture, Ambassador Longbottom talked about her own career as a diplomat. During a subsequent dialogue session, the ambassador sent a warm message to the students who will lead the next generation, supporting their future endeavors.
UTokyo PLog #2025-E-18
Date & Time: November 21-22, 2025
Location: Yasuda Auditorium, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'48.3"N / 139°45'44.2"E Open in Google Maps
Tokyo Forum 2025 was held at Yasuda Auditorium.The international conference was co-founded by Chey Institute for Advanced Studies of South Korea and UTokyo in 2019. This year’s forum marked the seventh one.Titled as “Rethinking Capitalism: Varieties, Contradictions, and Futures,” the forum this year offered participants an opportunity to explore diversity, contradiction, and possibility of capitalism. Discussion took place, based on such themes as sustainable future, the possibility of space development, the future of democracy, and restructuring of higher education. The two-day event attracted more than 1,000 participants.
At the final session where I took the stage with four university students from South Korea and Japan, we discussed differences between the two countries emerging from the perspective of capitalism as well as common ground. Having in mind what we should do to create better tomorrow together, we had a future-oriented discussion.
UTokyo PLog #2025-G-9
Date & Time: November 2-3, 2025
Location: Muscat, Oman
Latitude/Longitude: 23°36'29.0"N / 58°26'40.8"E Open in Google Maps
I visited the Sultanate of Oman and met H.E. Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.The minister outlined her country’s initiative to support innovation, and we also discussed future exchanges between our two countries.
Thanks to support from the Sultanate of Oman, Sultan Qaboos Chair in Middle Eastern Studies was founded in 2011 at UTokyo’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and College of Arts and Sciences. Since then, the country has been generous in its support for UTokyo in the areas of education, research, and social contribution. To show our appreciation to the country’s contribution, we presented the University of Tokyo Shokumon Award to Oman this year. The visit was truly a meaningful opportunity to experience Oman’s rich culture.
