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History of the Komaba Campus

In 1935,a land exchange took place between what was then the Tokyo Imperial University (the predecessor of the University of Tokyo) and Dai-ichi Koto Gakko (First High School), which occupied grounds adjacent to the Hongo Campus that is now the site of our Department of Agriculture. On this occasion, the Tokyo Imperial University, which had requested the land exchange, agreed to construct new buildings for Dai-ichi Koto Gakko, following the architectural styles used for the Hongo Campus, including what is now Building No. 1. Following the incorporation of Dai-ichi Koto Gakko into the University of Tokyo after World War II, the Komaba Campus became the seat of the College of Arts and Sciences. However the only buildings from that time that still stand today are Building No. 1, the Lecture Hall (Classroom No. 900), the Library (now a museum), and Building 101. Much of the campus was destroyed during the war, and in the early post-war days teaching and administration activities took place in what was left of the war-damaged buildings of Dai-ichi Koto Gakko and in hastily constructed classroom buildings. Thereafter, the College made great efforts to plant trees and restore the greenery on campus, and the rich greenery that we are blessed with at Komaba today is the legacy of this history. Many of the cherry trees for which Komaba has long been famous, including those lining the edges of the Rugby Field, were planted during these post-war days.

Starting in the 1980s, new research buildings were built in the western part of the campus, greatly enhancing our research facilities. Since the 2000s, with the aim of enriching our learning environment, new construction projects have been undertaken in the eastern part of the campus to support extra-curricular activities. 2006 saw the completion of Komaba Communication Plaza, which houses practice rooms for music and performing arts and other facilities for extra-curricular activities. Its opening has greatly changed the atmosphere of our campus. 2011 also saw the launch of 21 KOMCEE (21 Komaba Center for Educational Excellence), a building that was designed under the concept of 'an ideal education'. It is equipped with studio classrooms that make active use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to support active learning.

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