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Message from the Dean

A Campus of Traditions, Enriched by Nature and Culture

Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences
Keiichiro Ogawa

img2015.jpgAll students enrolled at the University of Tokyo begin their studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and spend their first two years in the Junior Division on the Komaba Campus. Here, more than 6500 first- and second-year students receive a broad education based on the ideals of the liberal arts. They use this opportunity to explore many possibilities and decide their future majors before advancing to the Senior Division.

The Komaba Campus is also home to the College of Arts and Sciences’ Senior Division, a liberal education-focused program with about 400 students. Since the foundation of the College in 1951, it has fostered many talented individuals who are now leaders in various fields in Japan.

The campus is also home to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, which encompasses disciplines across the humanities and sciences. Day and night, around 1400 students in five departments are making cutting-edge discoveries and conducting groundbreaking research. 

Nearly 9000 students thus study in these three levels at Komaba (the Junior and Senior Divisions and the Graduate School), while some 400 permanent faculty are engaged in education and research here.

Although the Komaba Campus is conveniently located only three minutes by train on the Inokashira Line from bustling Shibuya, it is spread across a vast area of more than 250,000 square metres. It is also blessed with abundant nature that makes one forget how close it is to the heart of the city. At the eastern end of the campus is a large pond, nicknamed the Ichiniro Pond (officially the Komaba Pond), with a fountain; along the southwestern side runs a small but refreshing brook.

At the heart of the campus stands the clock tower of Building 1, built in the 1930s, flanked by Classroom 900, the Komaba Museum, and Building 101. These classic structures allow us to sense the traditions and history of the College of Arts and Sciences and its predecessor, the former First Higher School of Japan.

At both ends of the ginkgo boulevard running through the centre of the campus are bright, relaxing expanses. The verdant eastern end has a large courtyard, surrounded by the extracurricular activity centre, the University Co-op stores, the cafeteria, and the library. There, we can see the comings and goings of students who gather at these facilities. At the western end, there are tennis courts and athletic fields which convey the lively energy of students enjoying sports.

The Komaba Campus also offers numerous opportunities for both university people and visitors to experience the education and research activities undertaken here. Throughout the year, the campus hosts talks, symposiums, and lecture series. Other events of interest include organ and piano concerts held regularly in various campus venues and exhibitions organised by the Komaba Museum. 

As the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences, I am making my utmost efforts to preserve the traditions of our campus, with its rich nature and culture, and to ensure that we continue to provide education and research meeting the highest standards.


 

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