Shaping the future of Science Tokyo together

Since the establishment of Science Tokyo in October 2024, the Institute has been holding Town Hall Meetings to encourage open discussions between the executive team — including President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Naoto Ohtake and President and Chief Academic Officer (CAO) Yujiro Tanaka — and faculty, staff, and students.

So far in academic year 2025, discussions have focused mainly on Science Tokyo's vision for the future, with Chief Integration Officers Kaoru Kuwata and Kaori Iida acting as facilitators. Fifteen Town Hall Meetings have been held across Science Tokyo’s four campuses — twelve meetings for faculty and staff, and three for students. A total of 745 participants, including 591 faculty and staff members and 154 students, have attended. This represents a significant increase from last academic year, when 397 faculty and staff participated in nine sessions.

Recent meetings have often included a summary by Executive Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Kotaro Inoue of Science Tokyo’s vision for the Universities for International Research Excellence program, an initiative by the government of Japan to boost the research capabilities of its universities. In the next 25 years, the Institute envisions itself as an institution that connects with society and the world through a shared vision, co-creates outstanding research capabilities and societal impact, and leads the global ecosystem. This year’s Town Hall Meetings have provided faculty, staff, and students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the direction the Institute aims to take in the future.

Town Hall Meetings for students have been held at Yushima, Ookayama, and Suzukakedai Campuses. While these sessions have covered Science Tokyo’s plans for the future, they have also focused on university life and other student-related matters.

At the October 2025 session held on Ookayama Campus, students had the opportunity to meet and speak with newly appointed Vice President for Sports Science Koji Murofushi. Drawing on his own experiences as a student, Murofushi offered advice regarding research and daily life. He openly answered questions from students, leading to a lively exchange of opinions.

Science Tokyo’s Town Hall Meetings embody the shared vision of the Institute’s leadership, who place great importance on uniting the Science Tokyo community as a dynamic team while respecting the history and culture of its two predecessor universities. The diverse perspectives gained through candid dialogue will continue to accelerate Science Tokyo’s efforts to shape an inclusive university culture and create future growth.

• First Town Hall Meeting for students held | Science Tokyo News
• Second series of Town Hall Meetings focuses on Science Tokyo’s vision for future | Science Tokyo News
• New Town Hall Meetings encourage open dialogue across Science Tokyo community | Science Tokyo News