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.
松木則夫政策ビジョン研究センター特任教授のニューヨークへの来訪を機に、10月2日Tiger Pacific Capital LPにて「睡眠と睡眠薬」というテーマで講演および懇親会が行われた。松木教授は東大理事・副学長でおられ、また東大友の会理事を務められている。日本薬学会及び日本薬理学会を中心に学会活動を行われ、両者で会頭（理事長）と年会長を務められた。
講演は、まず“なぜ眠りは必要なのか？”という問いから始まり、動物種によって睡眠時間や形態はバラエティーに富んでいること、睡眠の役割及び睡眠の質についてわかりやすく紹介された。さらに、神経伝達に着目して、眠りの仕組みについて解説いただき、興奮性神経伝達覚醒に関与する神経系とそれを抑制性する神経系伝達のバランスが重要であると述べられた。その上で、主な催眠薬の種類（ベンゾジアゼピン、オレキシン受容体拮抗薬、メラトニン受容体作動薬、抗ヒスタミン剤など）と、それらがどのような仕組みで睡眠を促すのか解説された。それぞれの薬が誕生した、意外な背景も紹介してくださった。
