Restart: Science Tokyo’s 2024 festival on Ookayama Campus

October 31, 2024

Overview

Date and time

Sun, Nov. 3, 2024 - Mon, Nov. 4, 2024

Venue

Ookayama Campus, Institute of Science Tokyo

Dates and times

Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Registration

There are no restrictions on admission this year, and everyone is welcome. Reservations are required for some events. Check out the festival app (in Japanese) for more information.

Science Tokyo’s Ookayama Campus

The Ookayama Festival of Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), affectionately known as Koudaisai in Japanese, attracts approximately 50,000 visitors each fall to Ookayama Campus. Current students, prospective students, local residents, and other visitors attend the two-day event, making it one of the annual highlights in the Science Tokyo calendar.

The 2024 festival, aptly named Restart following the establishment of Science Tokyo in October, will again feature academic events that reflect the uniqueness of the Institute, as well as other projects and programs common to university festivals in Japan.

Theme for 2024: Restart

Restart, the theme for the 2024 festival on Ookayama Campus, celebrates the October 1 merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Institute of Technology to create Science Tokyo. Against this backdrop, the newly formed community would like to make this year’s festival — the 51st of its kind — more exciting than ever, and to usher in a new chapter in the festival's history.

2024 festival logo

Photos from 2023 festival

Outdoor stage
Flea market
Festival stalls and booths

Events at 2024 festival

Research lab-related events

Lab walk-ins

This year, 40 Science Tokyo labs showcase their cutting-edge research through exhibitions and demonstrations.

Lab stamp rally

This year’s stamp rally allows participants to collect stamps from 19 laboratories. Those who collect seven stamps receive a gift. Don’t miss out!

Lab tours (advance reservations closed, reservations on day of event on first-come, first-served basis)

Tours are planned for visits to multiple labs, with Science Tokyo students acting as guides. Tours are held in Japanese.

Public lectures

Public lectures will be given by Science Tokyo researchers in Japanese. No reservations are required, and admission is free. Visitors can enter and leave during the lectures, so don’t hesitate to join.

Venue

West Lecture Building 1, Lecture Theatre
The venue will open 20 minutes before each lecture.

Public lecture topics and schedules

A space probe riding the wind

Associate Professor Daisuke Akita, School of Environment and Society
Sunday, November 3, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Winds also blow in space. Hot winds blow wildly on Venus, and winds blow from the Sun at unimaginable speeds even between planets, spaces which at first glance seem to be just vacuums. If humans could harness these winds, we would possibly be able to travel through space much like a sailboat, balloon, or kite. Associate Professor Akita will talk about a probe that travels freely through the vast universe as these winds blow.

Assoc. Prof. Akita

Exploring the wonders of rubber at the nanoscale

Professor Ken Nakajima, School of Materials and Chemical Technology
Sunday, November 3, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Why does rubber stretch and contract? Professor Nakajima will share these secrets with you if you are willing to put yourself in the shoes of tiny, invisible molecules. Nakajima will start by talking about gas molecules, which run around freely and form the origins of “pressure” as learned in high school physics. He will then move on to macromolecules that do mysterious dances. He will also talk about the study of university-level statistical mechanics without using difficult mathematical formulas. Let's explore the nano world inside rubber together!

Prof. Nakajima

How to create 'living robots'? An invitation to molecular robotics

Assistant Professor Shogo Hamada, School of Computing
Monday, November 4, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

What do you think of when you hear the word “robot”? Perhaps, a machine made of metal or plastic? What if robots were made of biomolecules just like us? Molecular robotics researchers such as Assistant Professor Hamada are building robots from nano-sized molecules using DNA and proteins. In recent years, this field has made dramatic progress, and it seems like the “Cambrian explosion of molecular robotics” is occurring. In his lecture, Hamada will discuss the frontiers of molecular robotics, which is the first step toward “living robots,” and its future, by introducing several case studies.

Asst. Prof. Hamada

Event for prospective students

This is an event run by current Science Tokyo students for prospective students and their guardians, as well as anyone else interested in learning more about the Institute.

Dates and times

Sunday, November 3, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Venue

West Building 5, Tsubame Terrace

Consultations with current Science Tokyo students to discuss concerns

Science Tokyo students provide one-on-one advice to students preparing for their entrance exams. Based on their personal experiences, the Institute’s students are happy to speak to anyone who is interested in learning more about exams, student life, or anything else related to Science Tokyo. This is a perfect opportunity to get advice directly from students. Consultations will be held in Japanese.

Student consultation

Science Tokyo booklets

Science Tokyo booklets will be available for prospective students. The booklets contain useful information for applying to Science Tokyo, such as introductions to different Schools and Departments, entrance exam preparation tips by exam method and subject, and testimonials of successful applicants.

The Institute will also distribute various materials such as admission information and pamphlets regarding each School.

Booklet for prospective students (in Japanese)

Flea market

Dates and times

Sunday, November 3, 10:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 10:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Venue

Wood deck in front of Main Building

The Science Tokyo flea market will be held again this year on the wood deck in front of the Main Building. Come and explore the various stalls, find unexpected bargains, or just enjoy the vibes.

Art exhibition

Dates and times

Sunday, November 3, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Venue

Media Hall, West Building 9, 2nd floor

The festival executive committee invites people from inside and outside the Institute to submit their artwork for exhibition at the festival. The theme for this year’s art exhibition is "Hiraku (Open)." Why don't you exhibit your works of art at Science Tokyo and open the way to the future?

Talk show featuring Nao Toyama and Ai Fairouz (in Japanese, tickets required)

Date and time

Sunday, November 3, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.)

Venue

70th Anniversary Auditorium

Science Tokyo will once again host the annual voice actor event. This year's guests will be Nao Toyama and Ai Fayrouz, who have appeared in many popular works. The two artists, whose diverse talents range from radio programs to painting and fashion, will give a talk that is surely a must-see.

Nao Toyama
Ai Fairouz

Science Tokyo Live Comedy 2024 (in Japanese)

Date and time

Sunday, November 3, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Venue

Outdoor stage (sports arena in case of rain)

Live comedy performances will be given by Fruit Punch, Aiseki Start, and Odaueda, all well-known comedians in Japan.

Fruit Punch
Aiseki Start
Odaueda

Special live concert by a flood of circle (tickets required)

Date and time

Monday, November 4, 12:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. (doors open at 11:50 a.m.)

Venue

70th Anniversary Auditorium

The four-member rock band a flood of circle, which celebrated its 15th anniversary this year and recently held a gig at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on August 12 to a huge audience, will play a special live concert at the festival. Come and enjoy the rock!

a flood of circle

Robot making: Solve the mystery

Dates and times

Sunday, November 3, 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Venue

Across Ookayama Campus

This event is a riddle-solving game where you participate in three courses — the Software Course, Hardware Course, and Extra Course. If you complete either the Software or Hardware Course, you will receive a prize. Booklets in Japanese are available for JPY 100.

Fair games, snacks, and fun

Dates and times

Sunday, November 3, 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Venue

Fair area behind the library

Come and enjoy super ball and yo-yo scooping, target shooting, PET bottle bowling, and other fun games. Each game costs JPY 100 and there will be prizes for the winners. Picody candied sweet potatoes will also be on sale for JPY 300.

Festival mascot event

On the 2nd floor of Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza, visitors can enjoy solving riddles and coloring Picody, the new mascot of the festival. Picody's shrine will also be set up at Tsubame Terrace. In addition to the usual goods, special ema plaques, omikuji fortune slips, and omamori amulets will also be on sale.

Picody, the festival mascot

The 2024 festival on Ookayama Campus will include many other events not listed here. Everyone is welcome. For more details, please visit the official website and SNS accounts of the festival.

In case of unforeseen circumstances that may make it difficult to hold the festival, organizers will make an announcement on the official festival website.

Contact

Koudaisai executive committee
Email info@koudaisai.jp