On Saturday, May 23, 2026, Science Tokyo held a Homecoming Day event on its Ookayama Campus, welcoming alumni and many other guests for a day of connection and celebration.
Although rain in the days leading up to the event hinted at the approaching rainy season, Homecoming Day itself took place under cloudy skies and pleasantly mild weather typical for this time of year.
General meetings and other events were hosted by alumni associations of various science and engineering departments, while students organized numerous activities that were enjoyed by families and local residents. Visitors enjoyed performances by alumni, and children could be seen enjoying the stamp rally around campus. A variety of programs representing diverse fields were also held, such as a breath-check experience hosted by the Fresh Breath Clinic at Science Tokyo Hospital, and a life-saving emergency experience by TESSO, a student club organizing emergency medicine study sessions.
Science Tokyo Meeting, an Institute-sponsored event, was held at the 70th Anniversary Auditorium and online from 3:00 p.m. It opened with video messages from students who graduated in March 2026, followed by a keynote speech for the first session by Professor Koji Murofushi, Science Tokyo Vice President for Sports Science and Director of the GENTEN Research Center. Murofushi, who won a gold medal in the men’s hammer throw at the 2004 Athens Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, reflected on his career as an elite athlete and his research activities, and introduced the GENTEN Research Center, newly established in April 2026. Toward the end of the speech, audience members joined in simple exercises that can easily be incorporated into daily life.
The second session was facilitated by Mutsuko Hatano, Executive Vice President for Research, and a talk session was held on the Visionary Initiatives (VIs), the Institute-wide research framework introduced in April 2025. At the beginning of the session, Professor Kei Sakaguchi, Program Director (PD) of Innovative-Life Society for a Better Society, Professor Mika Goto, PD of GX Frontier for a Better Planet, and Professor Yoshikazu Isomura, acting on behalf of the PD of Future Intelligence for a Better Life, introduced the goals and activities of their respective initiatives. In the second half of the session, President and CEO Ohtake, President and CAO Tanaka, Hana Hisatsune (3rd year, School of Materials and Chemical Technology), and Hono Tajina (4th year, School of Dentistry) engaged in a lively discussion.
From 5:15 p.m., an evening reception was held at Tsubame Terrace, West Bldg. 5. The event was attended by many, including alumni, current students, faculty and staff members, and families of current students. The evening reception featured a photo exhibition, a video presentation blending scenes of the past and present Ookayama campus, and a quiz competition. As visitors mingled and reconnected, the venue was bustling until the end of the evening.
We would like to thank everyone who participated in Homecoming Day 2026 in Ookayama.
We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the alumni associations, student clubs and their alumni networks, and the various departments for their invaluable support in planning and organizing the event.
Homecoming Day 2026 in Yushima is scheduled to be held this fall. Details will be announced as they become available.
We look forward to your continued engagement with Science Tokyo.