On September 4, 2025, with the support of Friends of UTokyo, Satsukikai America hosted a gathering at the University of Tokyo’s New York office entitled “Dialogue with President Fujii About the University of Tokyo’s New Initiative, ‘College of Design’.” Over 20 participants gathered, representing a wide range of ages and specialties.
In April 2025, the University of Tokyo announced that it will open a new faculty, the UTokyo College of Design, the first new faculty in approximately 70 years since the founding of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1958. Preparations are currently underway for its opening in the fall of 2027. At the gathering, President Fujii spoke about the purpose and vision of the UTokyo College of Design, as well as the aspirations behind it. The Q&A session was lively. Below is a summary of the event. (For details about the College of Design, please refer to the official website: design.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp)
Highlights of President Fujii’s Remarks
• Educational Philosophy: Based on interdisciplinary education, we hope to cultivate leaders with the “design” expertise and the ability to realize their visions coordinating knowledge of various disciplines.
• Learning Process: Designing and implementing solutions to complex social issues requires proactive processes, such as connecting and empathizing with people and society, conceiving a new vision, creating “prototypes” to be tested in the real world, and capitalizing on diverse opinions generated through teamwork. The College of Design intends to facilitate these actions through providing these learning opportunities.
• College Environment: UTokyo aims at creating an environment in which our faculty- who represent the forefront of knowledge – and colleagues and students coming from around the world inspire each other and grow together.
Participants expressed interest in a range of topics, including the expansion of undergraduate courses taught in English, collaboration with overseas universities and the New York office, recruitment of international faculty, and new perspectives on the concept of academic discipline. These questions reflected a broader concern with the internationalization of education and evolving approaches to learning.
Further discussion centered on challenges such as securing funding to advance interdisciplinary research, attracting and retaining outstanding talent, supporting students’ career development, and strengthening the role of alumni networks. Overall, the exchanges highlighted the participants’ strong interest in the university’s comprehensive approach to international engagement that spans education, research, and career support.
On closing, Dr. Mina Tsuji, President of Satsuki America explained that the participation fee of $15 for this event will be donated to the “University of Tokyo 150th Anniversary Commemorative Fund.”
The alum association hopes to continue supporting the 150th anniversary project by using the participation fee. (Reference: Information on the University of Tokyo 150th Anniversary Commemorative Fund | University of Tokyo Foundation)
Translation: by Satsuki America
Note: We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the support of the President’s Office of the UTokyo as well as UTokyo NY Office.
