Category: Newsletter 27

FUTI has grown steadily over the years and continues to contribute to the globalization of UTokyo. Since its inception in 2007 FUTI has cumulatively supported more than 220 UTokyo students to study in the US and US students to undertake internships or studies at UTokyo, providing them with invaluable experiences. These students include recipients of the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A.-FUTI scholarships (55 students) and FUTI Global Leadership Scholarships (173 students). We are pleased to note that despite the long Covid-19 pandemic, a number of FUTI scholarship students and alumni have continued to actively pursue study abroad opportunities. These programs were made possible solely with the generosity of our supporters, and we would greatly appreciate your continuing support as also expressed in FUTI President’s message below: Dear Supporters of Friends of UTokyo, Inc. (FUTI): I hope this message finds you well.  The Covid-19 virus pandemic drastically changed all aspects of our lives worldwide. Thanks to the highly efficacious vaccines, we can see possible transition from pandemic to endemic. Nevertheless, we may have to deal with evolving variants of this virus for a long time. Also, brutal Russian military invasion to Ukraine this early spring is threatening the world peace based on democracy. Those pandemic, military conflicts, and economic sanctions against Russia are affecting supply chains, which is causing worrisome inflations. Climate change is causing various natural disasters, while the world is dealing with pandemic, war and economic problems. Time and time again, one thing that has become clear is the critical importance of leadership in politics, business, science, technology, arts, etc., to properly deal with this unprecedented huge crisis on a world scale. Also, it is evident that rapid and coordinated information sharing and international collaborations are the only way to solve such a crisis. In this regard, the cultivation of well-informed and capable next-generation leaders is extremely important for us, which is FUTI’s mission. It has been more than 14 years since the inception of FUTI. We are full of gratitude to all the generous contributions we receive every year in support of our primary mission, the FUTI Scholarship programs. Alumni organizations such as the Akamonkai and Ichokai provide various opportunities in New York and around the world for UTokyo alumni. FUTI has been closely working with these organizations to reach out and nurture our younger-generation UTokyo students and alumni in order to cultivate future global leaders. For FUTI’s organization and various activities, please refer to the 2021 Annual Report. We are currently in the middle of the spring campaign which will end on June 30, 2022. We greatly appreciate your support in any amount suitable for you. Please visit friendsofutokyo.org/donate for online and postal donations. In the donation form, you are encouraged to specify to which program your donation will be applied. Best regards,Iwao Ojima, President

With its scholarship programs, FUTI supports (1) short-term summer program for students at UTokyo who are interested in studying in US universities, and those from universities in the US who are interested in studying at UTokyo and (2) mid- to long-term studies mainly for UTokyo students (undergraduate, graduate, and alumni) to study in the US for one semester or more. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in restrictions on study abroad activities in AY2020 which in turn had a negative effect on FUTI’s scholarship program for that academic year. In AY 2021, unlike the short-term programs which were hit the hardest, mid- to long-term studies rebounded to pre-pandemic levels due to U.S. universities’ eagerness to welcome back students and UTokyo students’ enthusiasm for pursuing their studies. This trend continues into 2022. For short-term summer programs in AY2020 and AY2021, scholarships were awarded to support online attendance of students while staying in their home country despite originally applying with the intent to travel abroad. Support for online attendance was stopped in AY2022 due to administrative difficulties and a decrease in demand. However, because the Covid-19 wave came to Japan later than in the US, UTokyo was unable to prepare for short-term summer programs thus limiting the number of US university students who were able to attend. Only one US university student was awarded the scholarship, but even that study abroad was not realized because of visa complications. Two late applications are currently under consideration. On the other hand, in the same short-term summer programs category, the number of applications received from UTokyo students wishing to study in the US has reached more than half the number of applications received pre-pandemic. Of those applicants, five have been awarded the scholarship. For mid- to long-term studies this academic year, application numbers were 10% more than pre-pandemic numbers, and 11 recipients were selected, about the same number as before the pandemic. Although recipients are selected regardless of gender, this year marked a distinction in that of the 11 recipients, nine are female. Although at the University of Tokyo, only 20% of the student population is female, the ratio of male and female students interested in studying abroad is roughly equal. The applications FUTI received for this academic year also reflects an equal ratio, but female students outweighed their male counterparts in the pool of award recipients. Of the selected 11 recipients, ten will be studying at US universities. This group includes one graduate student from Kyoto University. Another awardee is a Ph.D. candidate at a US university who will be undertaking research at UTokyo. The FUTI Scholarship had been so far limited to summer short-term study programs. In this fiscal year, however, in order to handle increased demand for support of mid- to long-term study programs, the FUTI Scholarship extended for the first time, its support into these programs, to supplement the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A.-FUTI Scholarship which has been supporting the mid- to long-term study programs for many years by donation from the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A. This academic year, FUTI fortunately received for the first time a donation from the UTokyo New York Office to be used toward scholarships. Donations from Shintech Inc., a US corporation of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., which has been supporting FUTI’s scholarship operations from the beginning, and donations from individual UTokyo graduates, are thankfully on the increasing trend. FUTI is committed to making the most of the donations by focusing on nurturing and supporting our future global leaders.

Dr. Geeta Mehta and Dr. Masako Osako, Board members of Friends of UTokyo (FUTI) in charge of international alumni networking, are pleased to  announce the launch of Fireside Chat series for UTokyo’s international alumni and friends, which will begin in mid-July in New York City. Please do fill the online survey at forms.gle/HJecFqC2hQ1ncph48 so that it is your ideas that inform the chats. The purpose of the series is to encourage dialogues among UTokyo international alumni and friends and develop a supportive network for them. Fireside Chats will  provide a platformfor alumni to discuss their books, research, projects and current affairsetc. in an informal setting. We expect the Chats to take place several times throughout the year, welcoming all UTokyo international and other alumni. Dr. Mehta and Dr. Osako’s message about FUTI’s launch of Fireside Chats Series for UTokyo’s International Alumni and Friends: We are so excited to be creating, with your help, our in-person (and/or online) Fireside Chat series in New York, starting in the summer of 2022. This will be an opportunity for all our alumni, including international alumni, to connect, learn about each other, and celebrate the ongoing achievements of UTokyo. As the first step in this planning, we request you to fill in the survey at forms.gle/HJecFqC2hQ1ncph48 Kindly reply by June 20, 2022. We want YOU to help design the Fireside Chats the way you want! These could include a brief presentation/dialogue on topics of interest to you such as your favorite books, research, projects, current affairs and more. These could be followed by socializing and networking over some food and drinks.   Looking forward to receiving your completed survey by June 20, 2022 and seeing you in the near future.   Geeta Mehta, Ph.D.Board member, Friends of UTokyo, Ltd. (International Alumni Networking)Adjunct Professor of Urban Design, Columbia UniversityFounder and President, Asia Initiatives   Masako Osako, Ph.D.Board Member, Friends of UTokyo. Ltd. (Public Relations)Executive Director, International Longevity Global Alliance, Ltd. 

[With the permission of the UTokyo NY office, we are pleased to include this article here which originally appeared on the UTokyo NY Office website.] On Monday, 2 May (early morning of 3 May, JST), the lecture “Self-Organization and Manufacturing” by Professor Makoto Fujita, the first recipient of “The Ojima Distinguished Lectureship Award” established by Stony Brook University, was held at the University of Tokyo New York Office. The lecture was attended in-person by many, including alumni in New York, as well as online. Despite the lecture being scheduled on a Monday evening in New York and early Tuesday morning in Japan during the Golden Week period, many people attended the lecture. After the lecture, questions were actively exchanged from both on site and online, and the event ended on a high note. This article was originally published on the following site of UTokyo NY Office: https://utokyony.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp/news/2022/04/seminar_0502_en/ For information about Prof. Fujita, please visit http://fujitalab.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/about_e/

On January 22, a lecture titled, “Study and Employment Abroad in the Global Era: How to Balance a Fulfilling Career and Family Life Overseas” was held online. The event was hosted by the Chicago Akamonkai and Satsukikai America, and co-hosted by Friends of UTokyo and the FUTI Alumni Association. Approximately 40 UTokyo students and alumni of both genders attended from the US, Japan, United Kingdom, France, and Singapore. The session ran overtime, as the lively discussion continued. In the ever-advancing globalization, study and employment abroad are becoming more frequent. Overseas experience not only affects the student or employee, but also provides opportunities and challenges to his/her spouse (“taido spouse”) and other family members. With the guiding question, “What should/could a taido spouse do to continue a fulfilling career and meaningful family life?” , examples were presented by various alumni who have successfully experienced living abroad, attending university, working in a Japanese corporation, as a freelancer, or as a taido spouse. Successful balancing of a fulfilled career and family life overseas depends not just on the hard work of the individual, but is also influenced by factors such as the corporation’s employee benefits policies regarding support for the accompanying (taido) spouse, work leave, or reemployment possibilities. Participants discussed the changes necessary for improving the taido spouse’s career opportunities and life experience. The agenda included the following I. Presentation of the Theme by Megumi Iwai, Astellas Pharma Development, Inc. II. Dai-ichi Life, an example of employee benefits relating to overseas relocation and study abroad by Toshiaki Sumino (Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc., Director, Managing Executive Officer) III. Careers Abroad: Case Studies After the presentation of the case studies, the group was separated into four breakout sessions for exchange of views over specific themes: Lastly, UTokyo Executive Vice President, Atsushi Tsuda (Head of the Division of External Relations) who also serves as a Friends of UTokyo Director gave closing remarks: “Today we were able to listen to a very important talk. I felt certain that times are changing, and the world is getting smaller. When I was an undergraduate, going overseas was a rare occurrence, and I remember professors would go on official overseas trips maybe a few times in their lifetime. I truly feel that times are evolving. For example, being an advisor to a research institution, I recently received a request/notice from the government to set up a system to accommodate partner accompaniment (“taido”) in overseas relocation. In order to set up an effective system, I strongly feel that it is necessary for us to “speak up our viewpoints”. Note: For those with inquiries regarding this event, please contact Satsukikai America Satsukiamerika[at]gmail.com

The Chicago Akamon-kai, Satsuki-kai America, and Friends of UTokyo jointly held an online lecture event on April 22, 2022, with Ambassador Takeshi Komoto, who is the Minister of Economy, Trade, Industry/Business, and Energy, at the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America. The lecture was titled: “The Constraint of the Biden Administration and Japan-US Cooperation.” Mr. Takeshi Komoto presented an overview of international trade policy and Japan-U.S. collaboration under the Biden administration. A lively Q and A session followed after his 45- minute  presentation. Questions from participants were about various topics ranging from China policy to the environment and energy outlook. Some reflected on the current situation regarding Russia and Ukraine, and Mr. Takeshi Komoto provided thoughtful  answers to  each question. After the formal segment, more than a half of the attendees stayed on to informally continue their exchange of opinions (Konshinkai). The online format enabled over 35 members to join this event from the US, UK and Japan. Participants’ backgrounds were diverse, ranging from graduate students to corporate executives, scientists, and finance professionals. Participants expressed hope in continuing to deepen their fellowship/discussion going forward either in person or virtually. The views and opinions expressed in the presentation were solely those of the presenter. This meeting was held under the Chatham House Rule. Note: The original draft of this article was prepared by members of Chicago Akamon-kai.  For the bio of Mr. Komoto, please visit the FUTI Organization page.

At the Board meeting held on April 18, 2022, the following officers were  appointed: Dr. Masako Osako (Executive Director, International Longevity Global Alliance, Ltd.) was elected to the Board with public relations as her area of responsibility. She had served as the Director of Administration since 2019. With the Board appointment, she resigned from the Administration position. Mr. Yoshinari Ikiri (VP and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) was appointed as the Secretary. He has served on the Advisory Committee since 2019.