MOVIES IN TAKI event held on Ookayama Campus

Science Tokyo’s Student Support Center and Student Support Division hosted the MOVIES IN TAKI event in collaboration with the Kuramae Alumni Association on May 13 and 20 at Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza on Ookayama Campus. The event was held as part of the Student Success Support Project, an initiative supported by Hisao Taki, chairman and founder of Gurunavi Inc. Taki is an alumnus of Tokyo Institute of Technology, one of Science Tokyo’s predecessor universities.

The student organizing committee selected Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, released in 2020 and presented with English audio and Japanese subtitles, for the screening. The screening, held on May 13 in the Event Space in Taki Plaza, was attended by 37 students, who were deeply engrossed in the film on the big screen. Student organizers Ryota Uehara, a 2nd-year doctoral student in Materials Science and Engineering, and Kairi Urata, a 4th-year student in Physics, served as moderators, ensuring the film screening proceeded in a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. Once again this year, the giveaway of popcorn and cold drinks — proposed by the student organizers — was a huge hit.

Assistant Professor Shiro Yamazaki from the School of Science led a lecture and discussion session on the film on May 20. These commentary lectures, which go beyond simply watching a movie to foster a deeper understanding, are one of the highlights of MOVIES IN TAKI events. Over 80 people — including students, faculty and staff, and members of the public — attended the lecture by Yamazaki, who served as the scientific advisor for the Japanese subtitles of Tenet and authored the official movie pamphlet. The highlights of the film and the explanations from a physics perspective sparked great interest among the participants, and the event took place in a friendly atmosphere punctuated by occasional laughter. At Yamazaki’s suggestion, there was also a group activity where participants discussed the film with those sitting nearby, fostering interaction among attendees.

As part of the Student Success Support Project, Science Tokyo will continue to host a variety of lectures to provide opportunities for students to interact with one another.

I am very pleased that we were able to screen the science fiction film Tenet — based on the scientific premise that entropy decreases and time runs backward — at Taki Plaza. Although it was a very complex film, everyone watched with intense concentration during the screening, and after the film ended, many people were seen discussing it in groups, making for a very fulfilling experience.

To deepen understanding of the film — which features quantum mechanics concepts such as positrons and annihilation — we held a commentary lecture by Assistant Professor Yamazaki from the Department of Physics. In particular, the complex element of time reversal makes it difficult to grasp the characters’ actions just by watching the movie. However, thanks to the materials provided by the professor, which clearly organized the timeline, many attendees were able to deepen their understanding. Over 80 people attended this lecture, including students, faculty, staff, and members of the public. The discussion session held during the lecture served as an opportunity for participants to engage in lively discussions and deepen their connections, all sparked by the film.

For this event, I was in charge of designing the posters as well as moderating and managing the event. Since Tenet was a film that left me confused and struggling to keep up when I first watched it myself, I was determined to screen it in conjunction with an explanatory lecture. Indeed, after the screening, I saw students continuing to discuss the film enthusiastically, and many shared positive feedback, commenting that they were able to understand the movie’s content thanks to the lecture. I feel we were able to provide a valuable opportunity to broaden their horizons. Moving forward, I hope to continue planning and implementing events that offer fresh and meaningful experiences for Science Tokyo students. I look forward to your continued support and cooperation.

I am happy that we were able to hold a screening of the film Tenet, directed by Christopher Nolan, along with a commentary lecture by Assistant Professor Shiro Yamazaki from the School of Science, here at Taki Plaza.

Although this is a complex film containing many elements of physics, I was deeply impressed by how intently the audience watched the film, popcorn in hand, throughout the screening. It is not easy to gain a deep understanding of the film after just one viewing. By having Assistant Professor Yamazaki give a lecture at this event, I believe we were able to help Science Tokyo students, faculty, and staff deepen their understanding of the physical concepts and interpretations contained within the film. Over 80 people attended the lecture, making it a very meaningful experience where participants could learn about physical perspectives and interpretations that are difficult to grasp through the film alone.

In organizing this event, I worked closely with the professor through a series of meetings to prepare for the lecture. Through this experience, I was able to develop the management skills necessary for coordinating with stakeholders and planning and executing events, gaining valuable insights that I can apply to my future research activities. Moving forward, I hope to continue planning events that not only entertain Science Tokyo students, faculty, and staff but also lead to new learning and discoveries. I look forward to your continued support and cooperation.

I am very pleased that we were able to hold a screening of the film Tenet, directed by Christopher Nolan, followed by a lecture by Assistant Professor Shiro Yamazaki from the Department of Physics.

Although this film is a complex work containing many elements of physics, all participants watched with serious expressions throughout the screening, demonstrating a high level of interest in the film. Over 80 people attended the explanatory lecture held after the screening, making it a very meaningful opportunity to learn about the physics-based perspectives and interpretations of the film that might be difficult to grasp through viewing alone.

During the Q&A and discussion following the lecture, we received a wide range of opinions and questions from students, faculty, and staff across various fields, including those who do not specialize in physics. It was impressive to see discussions on physical interpretations taking place based on each person’s expertise and experience, all centered around a single film. Seeing people from diverse backgrounds come together to engage in intellectual exchange that transcends disciplinary boundaries felt like a scene truly representative of Science Tokyo, which places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning.

For this event, in addition to helping prepare the lecture, I served as the moderator on the day of the event. While I realized firsthand the difficulty of ensuring the event ran smoothly in front of a large audience, I gained valuable experience in organizing the event in collaboration with the speakers and participants. Furthermore, through the planning and execution of this event, I was able to develop my management and communication skills.

Through this event, I was once again reminded that film, a familiar subject, can serve as a catalyst for learning and exchange that transcends specialized fields. Seeing the participants engage in enthusiastic discussions about the film and physics, I was delighted that we were able to provide a space that stimulated intellectual curiosity and offered new perspectives. I look forward to continuing to organize events that promote the kind of interdisciplinary exchange unique to Science Tokyo, and I ask for your continued support and cooperation.

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• Student Success Support Project
• Student Support Center
• Kuramae Alumni Association of Science Tokyo