The Hsun Kwei & Aiko Takizawa Chou Scholarship, administered by Friends of UTokyo, Inc. (FUTI)is funded by a generous donation made to the University of Tokyo New York Office (UTokyoNY) by Dr. Hsun Kwei Chou and Mrs. Aiko Takizawa Chou.
Dr. Hsun Kwei Chou, a native of Shanghai City, moved to the United States upon receiving his PhD in Engineering from the University of Tokyo. In the U.S., he established himself as an “angel investor” after many successful ventures in the semiconductor-related business. His aspiration has been to foster “development and cooperation” among three nations: Namely, China, where he was raised; Japan, which provided him with an advanced education; and the United States, which presented him with business opportunities. He has donated large sums to educational institutions in these three countries because he believes his wealth to be a “gift from societies” and wishes to give back to them by donating to educational institutions that nurture people who strive to create a better society.
UTokyoNY was created to serve in the U.S.A. as a focal point of the globalization effort of UTokyo which is committed to be “the base of knowledge.” Since facilitating study abroad programs between UTokyo and U.S. universities matches the intention of Dr. and Mrs. Chou, it created the scholarship program bearing their names and entrusted FUTI to serve as its administrator.
FUTI is a charitable nonprofit organization registered in the State of New York, operated principally by alumni of the University of Tokyo. Since 2010 it has financially supported students and alumni of UTokyo who wish to study at U.S. universities and those in the U.S. seeking to study at UTokyo. In recent years, there is an increasing recognition of the value of and need for such programs.
The aspiration and intention of these three entities have aligned and come to fruition with the establishment of this scholarship program.
桑港（そうこう）赤門会（サンフランシスコ地区の東京大学同窓会）の2013年度総会がサンフランシスコ郊外のデイリー・シテイのゴルフ・クラブで２月９日（土）に開催された。現在登録されている会員の数は約８０名。当日は４０名程が集まった。京都大学同窓会の会長 松浦功氏もゲストとして招待され、参加者はカクテルを手にして約３０分が和気藹々と立ち雑談の後、全員がテーブルに着席、会長の中村卓氏の挨拶に引き続き、昭和31年卒の沖山泰彦氏の乾杯の音頭で始まった。
同会の最長老会員であった小林昭七氏（カリフォルニア大学数学科名誉教授）が昨年８月２９日に逝去したため、幸子夫人と実弟のFUTI理事長小林久志氏（正江夫人同伴）が招待され、昼食のあと、小林理事長は「小林昭七の人生と業績」と題する約４５分の講演をおこなった（興味のある人はhttp://hp.hisashikobayashi.com/をクリックすればスライド及びYou Tubeを観れる）。 締め括りに、小林FUTI理事長はFriends of UTokyoの設立の経緯と最近の活動を紹介し、桑港赤門会の会員の支援をお願いした。
財務担当の降旗美晴氏から２０１２年度の会計報告がなされたあと、ユーモア溢れる唐崎健二氏の司会で、参加者が持ち寄った品物を景品とするラッフルが行われ、和らいだ雰囲気の中で順次自己紹介と現況を報告し互いに親交を深めた。全員の記念撮影のあと閉会となった。
