Japan ministry asks University of Tokyo to review president selection

On Tuesday, Japan's education ministry requested the University of Tokyo to investigate the selection process for the institution's upcoming president, who finished second in a faculty and staff vote but was appointed nonetheless. This marks the first instance of such a request from the ministry, as it has been prompted by concerns raised both within and outside the country's premier academic institution regarding the selection.

Education Minister Yoshihiro Seki expressed regret during a press conference, commenting on the lack of clarity surrounding the selection process and the rationale behind the decision. According to Seki, the university is expected to furnish a comprehensive explanation.

Yuko Fujigaki, a 64-year-old professor specializing in science and technology studies at the university's graduate school, was appointed as the university's first female president on September 28. Her six-year term is scheduled to commence in April. In a faculty vote, Fujigaki received 553 votes, trailing Vice President Takao Someya by a significant margin with 1,107 votes.

The ministry official responsible for this inquiry highlighted the university's insufficient elucidation as to why Fujigaki was chosen over Someya, who garnered double the number of votes.

Following a petition submitted by a group of university faculty and staff last week, calling for an explanation of the selection process, the university clarified that while the vote played a role in the decision, the emphasis placed on it in comparison to other factors varied among the members of the selection committee. The education minister, during the press conference, acknowledged the university's description of the selection procedures but emphasized the need for more detailed information on how the committee reached its decision.