Category: Newsletter 7

At the FUTI Board meeting of November 7th, 2012, Dr. YuichiroKuwama, M.D. , who had been a member of the Advisory Committee, was elected as Director and Treasurer. He has succeeded Ms. Ito and is responsible for financial matters of FUTI in addition to serve as a director of the Board. After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Tokyo in 1987, Dr. Kuwama joined the Department of Surgery at the University of Tokyo Hospital. He was qualified by the Board of Japan Surgical Society in 1991. After passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination, he started his training as an internist at Beth Israel Medical Center in 1993. He received an Internal Medicine Resident Award at the completion of his training in 1996. He was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in 1996. He returned to Tokyo in 1997 to accept an Assistant Professorship (“Koshi”) at his alma mater. He was also a researcher at the Japan Medical Association Research Institute (JMARI). In 2000 he was invited to his current position at Beth Israel Medical Center. He is currently an Associate Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, fully engaged in medical education activities. In addition he has been Medical Director at the Japanese Medical Practice Division of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York since 2000, serving as one of the primary care physicians for the Japanese community in the greater New York Metropolitan Area. In 2006 he was inducted into the Leo M Davidoff Society, which honors teachers who have made significant contributions to the education of students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “I am most grateful to Dr. Kuwama for spending his time and effort in not only financial matters, but also fundraising activities of FUTI, despite he is already extremely busy as a physician and an educator. He is also a Vice President of the New York Icho-kai, and helps us obtain greater support from the Ichokai members,” so expresses President Kobayashi his gratitude to the new treasurer. Articles in this newsletter:

The scholarship committee chaired by Dr. Masaaki Yamada, Director of University Relations, has selected eight U.S. students and four UTokyo students for this summer’s scholarship program. Several more awards are expected to be given to UTokyo students and a few more to U.S. students, as the GSP (Global Summer Programs) to be held at U.C. Berkeley, Yale and UTokyo announce their selected students. The FUTI summer scholarship award, called 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. The selected four UTokyo students include two who will participate in Yale’s English Language Institute (ELI) and one who will attend Yale’s Summer School (YSS). The fourth is Mr. Mohamed Khalil, an Egyptian Ph.D. student at UTokyo, who will participate in the University of Minnesota’s hydrogeology field program. In addition to the award that will be given to selected participants in the GSP programs at Yale and U.C. Berkeley, FUTI may give a few awards to outstanding UTokyo students who find reputable summer programs in the U.S. by themselves. Such award decisions will be made over the next few months. The eight students from U.S. universities will conduct research as summer interns at UTokyo’s science and engineering laboratories. They include six winners selected from approximately 100 U.S. undergraduate students who applied to the University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP), which is hosted by UTokyo professors in the School of Sciences. Ms. Sachiko Soeda, Project Specialist of the Program says: “The number of applications worldwide increased from 310 last year to 430 this year, about a 40% increase. In case of the U.S., the number of applicants almost doubled, i.e., from 62 to 123, and many applicants are top students from leading universities. We are grateful to Friends of UTokyo, Inc., which has doubled the number of scholarships from three last year to six this year.” The remaining two American awardees are MIT students who found their UTokyo hosts through MIT’s International Science & Technology Initiatives (MITSI) program. This is the fourth year that FUTI has provided support to MISTI students. U.S. Students who won FUTI- GLA UTRIP (University of Tokyo Research Internship Program) Participants Mr. Jacob Schmelz (University of Texas at Austin, Sophomore)— Prof. Kazuo Makishima (Physics) Mr. Mathew Kubicki (Yale University, Junior) — Prof. Kimiko Siomi (Biochemistry) Mr. Cye Ho (University of Virginia, Junior)— Prof. Hiroaki Aihara (Physics) Ms. Krysta Dummit (Princeton University, Sophomore)— Prof. Kazuo Tachibana (Chemistry) Mr. Aniruddha Bapat (Caltech, Junior) –Prof. Seiji Miyashita (Physics) Ms. Alana Ogata (William & Mary, Junior) Prof. Kaoru Yamauchi (Chemistry) MISTI (MIT International Science & Technology Initiatives)Participants Ms. Victoria Winter (MIT, junior)— Prof. Yuichi Takase & Prof Akira Ejiri (Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion) Mr. Chung-an Wu (MIT, senior)—Prof. Takuya Ueda (Molecular Biology) UTokyo students who won FUTI-GLA Yale’s ELI or YSS Participants Ms. Nako Kondo (Social and International Relations, Junior):YSS “US Strategy after the Cold War,” and “The Cold War” Mr. Junya Tominaga (Interdisciplinary Information Studies, Master 2nd year): ELI “6-Week Intensive Language Course” Mr. Kohei Oyabu (Aeronautics School of Engineering, Master 1st year) ELI “English for Postgraduate Study” Participant in Other Summer Schools Mr. Mahmoud Khalil (Geology Dept. PhD program first year): University of Minnesota, Hydrogeology Field Program. Articles in this newsletter:

As we announced in Newsletter No. 6, we have been actively pursuing our fourth Annual Campaign to raise fund for FUTI’s scholarships and research grant programs. We are thankful to many of you who have already graciously responded to our request. As you can find in related articles in this issue, the visibility of our summer scholarship program among UTokyo students is up, and the number of students in U.S. universities who wish to do summer internship at UTokyo exceeded 120, more than double, compared with the last year. As you may be aware, about one half of the fund for FUTI to support the programs consists of the dividends from Shintech, Inc. (a U.S. subsidiary of Shinetsu Kagaku Co.) Trust Fund, and the remaining half relies on donations from our alumni and friends like yourself. The donations we have received from July 2012 till April 8, 2013 comprise $57,560 (from 68 individuals) and $ 60,344 from dividends of Shintech Inc’s Trust Fund, with the total amounting to $117,864. The number of individual donors and their total amounts are somewhat lower than those we had by this time last year. They were $59,605 (from 72 individuals), $60,233 (Shintech’s dividends), for a total of $119,838. We would like to maintain, at the least, the same level of commitments to both scholarships and research grants as in the last year. We would like to ask you once again for your generous support so that we can exceed last year’s level in the remaining two and a half months. In order to make cash donations, mailing a check, or donating online from FUTI’s website using a credit card, will be the easiest, although a donation by wire transfer is also available. Please refer to the “Giving” page of our website. An interim report of our campaign results as of April 8, 2013 is now posted in the News section on the home page of our website. It will be updated periodically as we receive your donation. Articles in this newsletter:

In Newsletter No. 6 of last fall, we reported the messages from several donors. In the current issue we are pleased to deliver a message received from Mr. Shunichiro Kishioka, a member of the FUTI Advisory Committee. Mr. Shunichiro Kishioka Chairman, ITA, Inc. Advisor, The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago Member of the Board, Member of Executive Committee, and Governor of The Japan America Society of Chicago Honorary Chairman, Chicago Akamon-Kai University of Tokyo, Law Faculty, Class of 1964 I had the honor of joining FUTI’s Advisory Committee upon the recommendation of Mr. Sakurai and Mr. Masuda. During my trading company (“Shosh”) days, I established various business units, and have since collaborated with several Japanese corporations in the U.S. to found a number of new companies, where I served as a CEO or consultant., While I have noticed that a large number of students from other Japanese universities come to Chicago, and some of them work as interns for my own company, I am sad to note that the number of UTokyo students who visit this city is small. Chicago Akamon-kai, the UTokyo alumni association here, is composed mostly of businessmen and students studying at local universities. Because of this make-up, its members are by and large very pragmatic. Yet, we often find ourselves engaged in a lively argument on current topics. We also have illustrious pioneers in their chosen fields, like Dr. Yoichiro Nambu, Professor emeritus of the University of Chicago and Nobel Laureate. The German philosopher Nietzsche once remarked, “You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” I believe this statement is relevant for those who explore various boundaries of the business world as well as for those who start a new business. Among Americans we often find people who are not constrained within rigid frameworks, with much diversity in their perspectives and cuts (points of view). I wish that more young people of Japan will become resilient and widen their perspectives by experiencing debates with such people, sometimes even by losing an argument. Thus, I sincerely hope that more people will join our effort to support such students. Articles in this newsletter:

Princeton University and UTokyo (the University of Tokyo) have established a strategic partnership that will support collaborations in research and teaching. An outline of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) of this agreement was announced by both Princeton and UTokyo on February 6, 2012. This agreement is an example of internationalization efforts at both universities. Under the “Action Scenario FOREST 2015” strategy (where FOREST stands for “Frontline, Openness, Responsibility, Excellence, Sustainability, and Toughness”) , which was announced by President Junichi Hamada in 2009 soon after his installation to the presidency, UTokyo has been pursuing a program of internationalization that includes developing a global campus and promoting diversity and the pursuit of excellence in scholarships. Princeton, whose globalization effort is outlined in its 2007 “Princeton in the World” report, signed earlier similar strategic partnerships with the University of São Paulo in Brazil and Humboldt University in Berlin in November 2012 and January 2013, respectively. The MOU governs the strategic partnership between the two universities, and a joint governing committee comprised of faculty and senior staff from both institutions will seek out and review project proposals, but individual faculty initiatives will be the driving force behind the development of projects. Dr. Masako Egawa, executive vice president of UTokyo, who also serves FUTI as a director, said “It makes me extremely happy that this memorandum of strategic partnership has been signed based upon the research collaboration in many disciplines over the years and mutual trust between the two universities. In particular, undergraduate student exchange is epoch-making, providing great opportunities for students at both universities. I hope that the globalization of UTokyo will accelerate through this partnership,” she said. Prof. Jeremy Adelman, director of Princeton’s Council for International Teaching and Research, said: “What makes this partnership with a world-class university — the University of Tokyo — so important for Princeton is the breadth of the collaborations, spanning so many disciplines and interdisciplinary fields, from astrophysics to international affairs, to history and literature. It is precisely this variety that makes Tokyo so compelling to us.” Professor Masashi Haneda, vice president and director of the Division of International Affairs at UTokyo called the partnership “excellent news” and noted: “This is the first strategic partnership for UTokyo in the area of international academic exchange. We can now expect interaction in both education and research with a prestigious American university to progress rapidly.” Dr. Masaaki Yamada, FUTI Director of University Relations, who has been involved in multiple research and educational collaborations with UTokyo and many other leading universities says : “While I almost feel this initiative is overdue, I will be pleased to contribute to this new strategic collaboration directly through my fields of research and education, and through FUTI as well.” FUTI President Hisashi Kobayashi, a former Dean of Princeton’s Engineering School, who is currently the Sherman Fairchild University Professor emeritus of the university, remarks: “I am delighted that both of my alma maters have entered such an important relationship. I hope that FUTI can contribute to this partnership in some fashion.” Articles in this newsletter:

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of LDP, who recently returned to power, decided on December 16th to appoint Professor Emeritus Koichi Hamada of Yale University, a specialist of international finance theory, as Special Advisor (on Economics) to his new Cabinet. Mr. Abe will seek Prof. Hamada’s advice on economic policies and international finance in order to get out of deflation. As an anti-deflationary strategy, Mr. Abe announced his plan earlier to enter an agreement with the Bank of Japan (BOJ) on a policy that should allow him to carry out bold monetary easing by determining an inflation target. Mr. Masaaki Shirakawa, the Governor of BOJ, and the past prime minister Yoshihiko Noda were strongly opposed to Mr. Abe’s opinion and engaged in a dispute about the propriety of his assertion. At that time, Professor Hamada reportedly sent a fax letter to encourage Mr. Abe, by saying “After all, the BOJ’s course of actions turned out to be unsuccessful. Mr. Abe’s statement is totally correct.” Prof. Hamada met with Mr. Abe in the LBS Headquarters on December 10th and gave him advice on economic policies. (Sankei News, December 17, 2012) Articles in this newsletter:

FUTI President Hisashi Kobayashi received the 2012 C&C (Computer & Communications) Prize. The citation of his award reads “For his pioneering and leading contribution both to the invention of high-density and highly reliable digital recording technology and to the creation and development of a performance evaluation methodology for computer and communication systems.” http://www.candc.or.jp/en/2012/group_b.html The C&C Prize, sponsored by the NEC C&C Foundation (President Hajime Sasaki), is awarded to two groups annually in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research and development and/or pioneering work in the fields of semiconductors, computers, and/or telecommunications and in their integrated technologies. A list of the past recipients can be found at　 http://www.candc.or.jp/en/recipient.html The other 2012 C&C Prize went to the group of Prof. Osamu Yamada of Waseda University, Dr. Toru Kuroda and Mr. Masayuki Takada of NHK Research Lab in recognition of “Their outstanding leadership in the research and development of the ISDB-T digital terrestrial television broadcasting system.” The award ceremony was held at ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Tokyo on November 28, 2012. (http://www.candc.or.jp/en/2012/ceremony.html). For further details of the C&C Prize news, visit http://www.princeton.edu/engineering/news/archive/?id=9989 For the slides, http://hp.hisashikobayashi.com/the-2012-cc-computer-communications-prize/ Articles in this newsletter:

On October 17, 2012, Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, Academic Fellow of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, and Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, who chaired the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independents Investigation Commission (NAIIC), delivered a speech entitled “NAIIC Report on Fukushima: Lessons Learned and Next Steps Forward” at Japan Society of New York. After the welcoming speech by Japan Society’s President Motoatsu Sakuarai, Mr. Daniel Bases, Correspondent for Thompson Reuters, presided over the meeting. Dr. Kurokawa outlined the mission of NAIIC, its investigation process, its major findings and recommendations. He asserted that the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant subsequent to the earthquake and Tsunami of March 11 “cannot be regarded as a natural disaster. It was clearly a manmade disaster—that could and should have been prevented.” According to Prof. Kurokawa, its fundamental causes are to be found in the ingrained conventions of Japanese culture, namely, “our reflexive obedience; our reluctance to question authority; our devotion to “sticking with the program”; our groupism; and our insularity.” He also stated that only by grasping this mindset can one understand how Japan’s nuclear industry managed to avoid absorbing the critical lessons learned from Three Mile Island and Chernobyl; and how it became accepted practice to resist regulatory pressure and cover up small-scale accidents. Prof. Kurokawa explained NAIIC’s several recommendations for avoiding future nuclear catastrophes. They include: 1) a permanent committee in the National Diet to oversee the regulators in the field of nuclear energy; 2) a drastic corporate reform of Tokyo Electric Power Company and new relationships established among the electric power companies built on safety issues, mutual supervision and transparency; 3) establishment of a system to deal with long-term public health effects, including monitoring and decontaminating radiation-affected areas. Prof. Kurokawa concluded his lecture, saying that the mindset that supported the Fukushima catastrophe” can be found across Japan. In recognizing that fact, each of us should reflect on our responsibility as individuals in a democratic society.” This lecture was presented as part of the Yoko Makino Policy Series of Japan Society. For the reports published by the NAIIC, please visit http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2012/1205638_1870.html . Speaker Profile Kiyoshi Kurokawa, MD is an Academic Fellow of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies; Chairman, Health and Global Policy Institute; and Chair and Co-Founder of IMPACT Japan. A graduate of University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine, he was a professor of medicine in the departments of medicine at UCLA School of Medicine (1979-84) and University of Tokyo (1989-96); Dean of the Medical School at Tokai University (1996-2002); President of Science Council of Japan (2003-06); and Science Advisor to the Prime Minister (2006-08). He served as an executive member of many national and international professional societies of his disciplines, including Commissioner of WHO (2005-09); board members of A*STAR (Singapore), Khalifa University (Abu Dhabi);  Advisory Board to the Prime Minister of Malaysia;  and is an elected member of various scientific societies, including the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences of USA, Master of American College of Physicians and Founding Governor of ACP Japan Chapter (2003-2011). He has served and serves in many committees of the government of Japan. Among many honors he has received are the Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Government of Japan (1999), The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star (2011), AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, and Distinguished Achievement Award of the Tokyo American Club, Foreign Policy. Professor Kurokawa’s speech at the Welcoming Ceremony of UTokyo held on April 12, 2013 can be found in his website http://www.kiyoshikurokawa.com/en/blog/ Articles in this newsletter:

Chicago Akamonkai (UTokyo alumni association) held its year-end party on December 8, 2012 at a fashionable Italian restaurant, Carlucci, in a suburb of Chicago. Over 20 alumni participated, including some working in the greater Chicago region, several students from Northwestern University, and one each from Wisconsin and New York. Mr. Shigeru Mori, President of the Akamonkai and the co-owner of Carlucci, gave a welcoming speech, followed by self-introductions of the individual alumni. Ms. Masako Osako, a FUTI staff, discussed FUTI’s activities to support UTokyo’s internationalization effort, such as Global Leadership Awards to UTokyo and U.S. university students. To show support of FUTI, the attendees collected donations passing a donation bag around the table. The total gift from the members of the Chicago Akamonkai to FUTI has reached $1,200 this year, in addition to generous donations from Messrs. Ichihara, Kishioka and Mori. Articles in this newsletter:

On Saturday February 9th, 2013, the Annual Meeting of San Francisco Akamonkai (the UTokyo Alumni Group of the region) was held at Daly City Golf Club in the outskirts of San Francisco. The Akamonkai has approximately 80 registered members. The meeting was attended by about 40 members and Mr. Isao Matsuura, the president of Rakuyu-kai (Kyoto University Alumni Group), was invited as a guest. The participants enjoyed socialization over casual chats with cocktails for about 30 minutes, before they took their seats. After a welcoming speech by President Takashi Nakamura, Mr. Yasuhiko Okiyama, class of 1956, proposed a toast. Prof. Emeritus Shoshichi Kobayashi of Mathematics Department of U.C. Berkeley, who was the most senior member of the Akamonkai , passed away on August 29, 2012, thus his wife Mrs. Yukiko Kobayashi, his younger brother Hisashi Kobayashi (FUTI President) and his wife Masae were invited to this year’s meeting. After the lunch, Prof. Kobayashi gave a 45 minute talk entitled “The Life and Achievements of Shoshichi Kobayashi,” (The slides and You Tube video can be seen by visiting http://hp.hisashikobayashi.com/). In closing, he talked about the history and the current activities of FUTI, and asked for support from the members. After Ms. Miharu Furihata, Treasurer, presented a summary of the financial report of Year 2012, Mr. Kenji Karasaki, a humorous and entertaining character, presided over the raffle game, using the gifts from the members as prizes. The participants introduced themselves in turn as they won the raffle game, and talked about their latest news in a lively and jovial atmosphere. The party adjourned after a group photo. Articles in this newsletter: