Category: Newsletter 16

We are pleased to announce that the annual fundraising campaign in FY 2015/16 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016) concluded with a total revenue of approximately $316,000 which shows an unprecedented growth in contribution revenues compared with the previous five fiscal years ($116,000 in FY 2014/15, $110,000 in FY 2013/14, $131,000 in FY 2012/13, and $139,000 in FY 2011/12 – See figure below). The substantial increase in contribution revenues is attributable to a grant in the amount of $200,000 FUTI received from ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A. The grant was provided to support the “ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A. – FUTI Scholarship,” a new scholarship program launched in FY 2015/16 with the purpose of financially assisting students of UTokyo who will study in the United States. The next largest contribution was a trust distribution from Shintech, Inc. The amount was at approximately $35,000 as determined upon renewal of the trust agreement in FY 2014/15 for the following five years. The number of individual donors has increased to 68 in FY 2015/16 from 54 in FY 2014/15, while the amount remained at a level equivalent to that of the previous year, i.e. $80,000. This amount includes a $20,000 donation from Dr. Chou (H. K. Chou Charity Foundation), a major donor in FY 2015/16 who is a well-known figure in the semiconductor industry. We are sincerely thankful to ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A., Shintech, Inc. and H. K. Chou Charity Foundation for their generous support of FUTI’s mission. Above all, we extend a deeply grateful thank you to the many individual donors who continue to support our activities. As a condition to secure a grant from ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A. in the future, it is required for FUTI to raise sufficient funds from an individual donor base. While we did not reach a target of $100,000 this year, we appreciate each and every person who contributed to FUTI and encourage their continued support of FUTI; without these individual donors, many of our programs including ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A. – FUTI Scholarship would not be possible. Over the past several years, we have made great strides to nurture our programs. We are pleased to see the growth of our scholarship and research grant programs and the educational endeavors of our scholarship and grant recipients. It will be greatly rewarding for us to see UTokyo increase its presence in the global community, which is becoming more and more competitive with many other well-recognized universities across the globe, including those from advanced countries. FUTI is enormously thankful for your support of FUTI, which enables us to send many highly qualified students into the global community. Authors: Dr. Yuichiro Kuwama, Vice President and Treasurer and Dr. Fumiko Tamura, Member of the Board Articles in this newsletter:

In November 2016, FUTI launched its seventh annual campaign. FUTI has grown steadily over the years and contributed to the globalization of UTokyo. Since its inception in 2007 FUTI has cumulatively supported 52 UTokyo students who studied in the US and 57 US students who undertook internships or studies at UTokyo, providing them with invaluable experiences. The programs were made possible solely because of the generosity of supporters like yourself. Click here for the greetings from President Masaaki Yamada and Vice President Kuwama. Articles in this newsletter:

FUTI Annual Board and Advisory Committee Joint Meeting, October 1 (Sat), 12 pm-5pm Board members present: Masaaki Yamada (chair), Ken Furuya, Yuichiro Kuwama, Shigenori Matsushita, Nobuko Sakurai, Fumiko Tamura Advisory Committee (AC) member present: Iwao Ojima Other present: Masako Osako FUTI’s Annual Board and Advisory Committee joint meeting was held at the UTokyo New York office in New York, commencing at 12pm on October 1, 2016. After President Masaaki Yamada’s welcome greeting, Ms. Masako Osako, acting Secretary, presented the minutes of the Annual Board meetings held on September 19, 2015 and May 9, 2016. The minutes were unanimously approved by the Board. ▪        UTokyo Today Mr. K. Furuya provided updates on various topics related to UTokyo, including: The UTokyo Vision 2020 (recently announced by President Makoto Gonokami, president of UTokyo), its various activities toward the future (such as the UTokyo Sports Science Initiative), and its globalization efforts such as academic exchange programs and construction of a global campus model.  (See slides “UTokyo Today”) ▪        Financial Statements for FY 15/16 and Related Items Mr. Kuwama and Ms. Tamura reported the financial results for FY 15/16 based on the materials presented to the board members. The analysis is summarized as follows:        Revenues increased significantly from $117K (FYE 6/30/2015) to $318K (FYE 6/30/2016) due to: ¨      the contribution from Ito Foundation USA ($200K) ¨      Shintech trust distribution ($35K ) ¨      $80K from general public, including a major donor who contributed $20K        FUTI passed the public support test (33%) and remains to be a public charity.        FUTI’s operating reserves are adequate. Operating reserve of  (=Cash $432K – Grant authorized but not paid $161K) amounts to $271K. Current “Operating reserve” to ”annual budget” ratio of 90% is within the generally recommended ratio range of 50% to 100%. Mr. Kuwama added:        In FY15/16, donations from UTokyo alumni (excluding one-time large grant of $20k as mentioned above)  increased only slightly from the FY14/15 level, but they did not reach the FY13/14 level. In short, UTokyo alumni donation amount has been essentially flat over the past several years. Board members approved the financial analysis and thanked Dr. Kuwama and Ms. Tamura for it. ▪        Scholarship and Research Grant Programs Mr. S. Matsushita, chair of the Scholarship Committee, provided updates of the FUTI’s 2016 Global Leadership Program and the Ito USA-FUTI Scholarship program. He also commented:        The decline in the number of UTokyo applicants and award recipients appears to be related to the introduction of the new four-term system at UTokyo. We intend to make effort in asserting  the importance of summer study abroad programs.        The trend of U.S. students’ participation in the UTokyo’s  summer programs remain robust/順調—Amy can you think of a better term?        The Ito USA Foundation-FUTI scholarship program was launched successfully. We will continue to be vigilant in implementing it.        The award section of the webpages were revised in order to  provide accurate information to applicants and to allow for better communication of their information to the reviewers. Mr. Yamada provided updates on FUTI’s grant programs which included an overview of the 2016 recipients, namely, the IPMU (UC Berkeley -UTokyo) program and the Columbia-UTokyo program. He also reported that FUTI provided a travel grant ($7K) this year for the first time to support Yale-UTokyo exchange of scholars under the Yamakawa Kenjiro Memorial Lecture series. Note: for further details on FUTI scholarship programs, please visit here and here. ▪        Report by the AC Committee In the absence of Mr. H. Kobayashi (chair of AC), Mr. M. Yamada reported on the activities of the AC in the FY 2015-16 and changes of the AC members. Ms. Sakurai and Ms.Tamura, formerly AC members, became Board members and Mr. Ojima joined the Committee as a new member. ▪        Report on FUTI’s Relationship with Alumni Groups Ms. M. Osako gave a presentation titled “FUTI and UTokyo Alumni Group: Establishing a Mutually Beneficial Relationship” and recommended that we explore opportunities for closer relationships with alumni groups. ▪        General Discussion        FUTI organization chart was amended and approved.        The Board agreed that we need to increase the number of  AC members. Several persons were suggested as candidates for  the position. But no action was taken. ▪        Appointment of Directors and Officers, Advisory Committee Members and Award Committee Members, etc. The Board unanimously approved the following appointments: President/Director of University Relations Masaaki Yamada Vice-President/Treasurer Yuichiro Kuwama Secretary (Acting) Masako Osako Directors Ken Furuya, Koichi Hamada, Sumiko Ito, Shigenori Matsushita, Nobuko Sakurai, Fumiko Tamura President Emeritus Hisashi Kobayashi Advisory Committee Chair Hisashi Kobayashi Advisory Committee Members Shunichiro Kishioka, Takeshi Komoto, Geeta Mehta, Iwao Ojima, Yasuo Okamoto, Ko-Yung Tung Scholarship Committee Chair Shigenori Matsushita Scholarship Committee Members Hisashi Kobayashi, Iwao Ojima, Masako Osako, Nobuko Sakurai, Masaaki Yamada Jimukyoku cho (Managing Director of Operations) Masako Osako Articles in this newsletter:

On Saturday, October 1st, Friends of UTokyo, Inc. (FUTI) hosted a reception to express appreciation for its supporters. Following the opening remarks by Dr. Masaaki Yamada, president, Mr. Shigenori Matsushita, a board member, made a report on the activities of FUTI. After explaining that FUTI provides research grants and scholarships to researchers and students aiming to attain international leadership, he reconfirmed FUTI’s commitment in this area. Dr. Matsushita commented that while globalization is more important than ever for the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) community, a concern has been expressed that its students are not actively participating in summer and other programs abroad such as those in the United States. However, FUTI’s scholarship recipients have reported that, overcoming language and cultural differences, they have not only expanded their friendship network but also grown as a person. He concluded his remark saying that FUTI is committed to working harder to support students who aspire to study abroad. Dr. Fumiko Tamura, board member and certified public accountant, gave an accounting and financial report of FUTI. For details, please click here. Following these presentations, FUTI scholarship recipients, Eri Furusawa, Ayako Yamashita, and Minami Goto, reported on their university lives in the U.S. and expressed their gratitude to FUTI supporters. For example, one said “I am learning a great deal while being stimulated by students from all over the world at the graduate schools in New York.” Another commented, “When we have no relatives in the United States, FUTI has provided us with not only economical but also psychological support.” Reflecting on his own graduate student days, Dr. Yuichiro Kuwama, a board member, responded to these comments: “I would like to contribute to the creation of a better world by economically supporting the students who are studying under financial hardship, as I did myself in my student days.” He also commented, “By observing the scholarship students gain a positive experience, their younger schoolmates may start thinking, ‘If they can do it, maybe I can also undertake the challenge of studying abroad.’ A creation of such a positive ‘circular sequence’ would be ideal.” Finally, Dr. Ken Furuya, executive president of the University of Tokyo discussed the present situation and globalization of the University of Tokyo, in a presentation entitled “UTokyo Vision 2020″ (The University of Tokyo Vision 2020). It is the action/policy guidelines presented by President Gonokami for his five-year term through 2020. It explains the university’s vision regarding four pillars, “research”, “education”, “collaboration with outside society”, and “university management” as well as action plans in the context of its mission to become “a global center of intellectual cooperation and creation.” UTokyo’s current initiatives that closely relate to FUTI’s programs include 1) the introduction of the 4-term system, 2) the expansion of the international exchange programs that can be implemented at a low tuition cost, and 3) the financial support of students by FUTI, and other entities. Dr. Furuya said, “We are attempting to develop a structure in which UTokyo students can attain a global perspective by going back and forth between the university and abroad.” He concluded, “Although the full-scale globalization effort has just begun at the University of Tokyo, its international competitiveness will certainly increase thanks to support by not only its headquarters’ effort, but also its students’ strive and alumni’s strive.” Articles in this newsletter:

As reported in Newsletter 15, six University of Tokyo (UTokyo) students and eight U.S. students received the 2016 FUTI Global Leadership Awards (FUTI-GLA). The FUTI summer scholarship award, a.k.a. the “FUTI Global Leadership Award (FUTI-GLA),” is designed to nurture future global leaders of Japan and the U.S. One of the selection criteria is a demonstration of leadership quality. Selected excerpts of their reports are shown in this article. Six UTokyo students participated in various summer programs at U.S. universities, such as University of California, Berkeley; Yale University; University of Michigan; and Stanford University. Two were science or engineering majors, while three were humanities or social science majors and one was enrolled in the Program in English at Komaba (PEAK). Four were undergraduates (one freshman, one sophomores, and two seniors), and two were graduate students (one M1, one M2) at the time of FUTI application submission. This year, no students participated in the Global Summer Program (GSP) or English language courses. Five out of the eight U.S. awardees conducted research as summer interns at UTokyo’s laboratories. Three of these recipients participated in the University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP), which was hosted by professors in the School of Sciences at UTokyo. One participated in the University of Tokyo Summer Internship Program in Kashiwa (UTSIP-Kashiwa) hosted by the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences. The selection process for FUTI awards was highly competitive. For instance, the three UTRIP participants had been selected from over 40 U.S. undergraduates, many of whom were top students from leading universities in the U.S. In addition to these internship students, two Yale students (both seniors) and one UC Berkeley student (sophomore) were selected to participate in the Global Summer Program (GSP) courses offered by UTokyo. FUTI also awarded travel scholarships to a high school student from Mississippi who started the PEAK program at UTokyo in October 2016. In addition to the summer scholarships, FUTI also awarded USA Ito Foundation-FUTI scholarships to nine UTokyo students as reported in Newsletter #15 for their studies of one semester or longer in the U.S. during the 2016-17 academic year. However, their reports are not yet available online. The list of summer 2016 award recipients are posted on our website. For full reports, please click here. Highlights from UTokyo Students’ Reports The six UTokyo students who spent the summer in the U.S. reported that classroom and lab work was intensive and was highly valuable allowing them to expand their intellectual and cultural horizons and to critically re-consider future careers. They also made many friends of various nationalities and started to build a global professional network. Fumiya Uchikoshi, Sociology, MA 2nd year: Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research(ICPSR), University of Michigan This past summer I undertook a program at ICPSR, an association among universities in the world, which archives various kinds of political and social survey data and provides training and opportunities for researchers globally to analyze these data. I am firmly convinced that this summer’s experience is extremely valuable for my future research career. What I achieved from this program far exceeded my initial expectation. At ICPSR by talking with graduate students from all over the world, I was able to share various experiences first hand and establish a viable professional network. Ayaka Seki, Science III, Freshman: Yale University Summer School, “Introduction to Psychology” and “Cell Biology” I found the courses challenging. They made me see what I did not notice in Japan. When I took a biology course at UTokyo, I simply read textbooks and listened to the professor. However, at Yale the summer school, I was asked to formulate my own interpretation as to how one specific function of the cell was related to cancer. I am really thankful to FUTI for giving me this precious opportunity. I will keep working hard to make full use of what I learned this summer. Highlights from U.S. Students’ Reports The eight students from U.S. universities invariably reported that they gained valuable knowledge or research skills at UTokyo. Outside the classroom, they enjoyed sightseeing and traditional culture like tea ceremony through which they developed a respect for the unique characteristics of Japanese society and culture. David Burke, Indiana University, Chemistry, Junior: University of Tokyo Research Internship Program, Prof. Mitsuhiko Shionoya Lab My work on the metal-macrocycle frameworks at UTokyo allowed me to develop new laboratory skills and broadened the scope of my research experiences, which will help to guide my research in graduate school and beyond. I was also able to meet with many UTokyo students and now have a much better understanding of graduate programs in Japan. It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and left me with a deep appreciation for Japan, its culture, and people. I hope to return to Japan in the near future. Tianyi Dong, UC Berkeley, History, Sophomore: Global Summer Program (Japan in Today’s World) In the last class of GSP we debated on the Senkaku/Diaoyu island dispute, with Japanese students playing the Chinese government and all other students playing the Japanese counterpart. In order to figure out the best and most just way to solve the global challenge we are facing together, in my opinion, it is the necessity to cooperate. I sincerely hope that Japan’s experience in democratization, modernization and pacification could contribute more to contemporary global challenges. I would like to thank FUTI for giving me the opportunity to have such a rewarding experience. Articles in this newsletter:

On September 30, Professor Ken Furuya, director and executive vice president of UTokyo and a board member of Friends of UTokyo, Inc, gave a lecture titled “The Expanding Oceanic Desert” and was welcomed at a reception (at Morrison & Foerster LLP) during his visit to New York City. Dr. Furuya, who received his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees from UTokyo, served as dean of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UTokyo. His area of expertise is aquatic bioscience with a special interest in marine phytoplankton and their role in the ecosystem. He has served on numerous international scientific oceanographic committees, including the Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Bloom (GEOHAB) program. For details see https://www.friendsofutokyo.org/about-us/board-members/ken-furuya/ In his lecture, Dr. Furuya addressed the complex topic of ocean desertification, including the role of phytoplankton. He defined ocean “deserts” as areas of ocean where animal and plant life is extremely sparse and reviewed possible factors contributing to the development of these areas. In particular, he singled out the harmful effects of global warming on the earth’s oceans. As he pointed out, seventy percent of the earth consists of ocean and sixty percent of the ocean (or roughly 40% of the earth’s surface) is made up subtropical seas which are now considered ocean “desert” zones. The implications of these expanding ocean “desert” zones, including the potential impact on a wide range of marine wildlife, were also discussed. He concluded his talk by stating that “The changes progressing in the environment on a global level are an important issue for humanity which has relied on the bounties of the marine ecosystem. The endangered oceans mean that mankind (itself) is in danger. It is imperative that mankind work together across national borders (award) to find a solution to this issue as urged by the Sustainable Development Goals initiatives started in 2015.” Dr. Furuya’s lecture was followed by a stimulating question and answer session and an informal reception. Articles in this newsletter:

FUTI hosted several newcomer welcome lunches for UTokyo students in New York and Chicago this fall in collaboration with local UTokyo alumni associations. The purpose of the gatherings was to facilitate adjustment to life in the US for newly arrived students and to offer guidance/advice to allow new students to begin enjoying their time in the US as soon as possible. At each lunch, a lively exchange took place between newcomers and older alumni, some of whom have lived in the US for over a few decades. FUTI is interested in working with UTokyo alumni associations in our effort to help our young colleagues to become future global leaders. On Sunday, October 9, a group of New York area alumni welcomed some 15 current and former UTokyo students studying at Columbia University at a pan-Asian restaurant near campus. Ms. Yamashita (Satsuki-kai America’s liaison with Columbia students) thanked alumni and students for attending the lunch. Each participant then introduced himself /herself commenting on his/her specialty, aspirations, reasons for coming to Columbia, and interests. The incoming students’ majors were diverse, ranging from architecture, computer science, and biology to teaching and filmmaking. Most students have enrolled in MA programs. Conversation over lunch covered topics of mutual interest including the tribulations of dormitory life, challenges of studying in a cosmopolitan environment, the enormous amount of homework, vast differences in PhD and masters programs in the U.S. and career aspirations. All agreed that financing a Columbia education is immensely valuable, but very expensive. A few stressed a dire need for scholarships for those already in the U.S. but no longer affiliated with UTokyo. They were happy to hear that ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A.-FUTI scholarships are available to such students. After the longer-than two hour lunch, many moved to a nearby coffee shop for continued discussion (nijikai), while some others headed to a library to resume their studies. Welcome lunches for UTokyo alumni were also organized for students studying at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago (UC). On October 16, a welcome lunch took place in Evanston, Illinois for several students in the Kellogg MBA program who were joined by two University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign undergraduates from UTokyo who are currently participating in a one-year inter-university exchange program between the University of Illinois and UTokyo. One of the students, Ms. Kusakabe (an international relations major) is a recipient of the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A.-FUTI scholarship. Mr. S. Mori, a real estate developer and president of the Chicago Akamon-kai, reminisced about his student days, commenting on his experience at Harvard Business School some years ago. “A major part of the performance evaluation was based on classroom participation so we did not have the choice of remaining quiet in the classroom. In the beginning, it was hard to speak up, but eventually I got used to expressing my opinions.” The Kellogg students nodded in agreement. Dr. Laura Hein, a professor in history, who used to be a visiting faculty member at UTokyo, agreed with Mr. Mori’s and the students’ observations about differences in classroom practices in American and Japanese universities. On November 12, at a Thai restaurant a few blocks away from the University of Chicago (UC) and the Natural Museum of Sciences, Chicago-area alumni welcomed several former UTokyo students in the Booth and Harris schools and a UC graduate student (Paraide Stortini) who was a participant in the UC-UTokyo exchange program earlier in 2016. Paraide impressed all with his fluent Japanese and extensive knowledge of modern Buddhism. Local alumni included Prof. Takeshi Oka, professor emeritus in astronomy and physics at the UC, and two of his former students. After a welcome toast and self-introductions by all participants, an active exchange took place on topics ranging from the long-awaited Chicago Cubs World Series Championship and Chicago jazz to the recent Presidential election and concerns about the sharply declining number of Japanese students at the U of Chicago and other US universities. A student commented, “It was surprisingly enjoyable to exchange views with alumni who have worked in the U.S. for a few decades. I have also learned so much today.” Author: Masako Osako, Satsuki-kai America, Friends of UTokyo, Inc. Articles in this newsletter: