Princeton celebrates international partnership with ‘University of Tokyo Day’

Delegations from University of Tokyo and Princeton University celebrated and deepened their research and teaching partnership at “University of Tokyo Day” on the Princeton campus on Thursday, Feb. 27 and Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. “This event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the outstanding collaborative research and profoundly meaningful exchange experiences supported by Princeton’s Strategic Partnership with the University of Tokyo,” said James Raymo, the Henry Wendt III '55 Professor of East Asian Studies and professor of sociology. 

The strategic agreement between Princeton and the University of Tokyo was established in 2013. It's one of two strategic partnerships — along with Humboldt University in Berlin — central to Princeton’s internationalization efforts.

While on campus, University of Tokyo representatives were welcomed by University President Christopher L. Eisgruber, Deborah Yashar, Donald E. Stokes Professor of Public and International Affairs and director of Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), and Aly Kassam-Remtulla, vice provost for international affairs and operations. Michael Strauss, professor of astrophysical sciences, and Hiroe Ishihara, associate professor in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, moderated presentations by current and past recipients of the Strategic Partnership Grants. Professor Yujin Yaguchi and Senior Associate Dean Rebecca Graves-Bayazitoglu provided an overview of student exchange opportunities, after which several current students shared their own personal experiences studying, conducting research, and immersing themselves in new environments while on exchange programs. The Tokyo delegation also learned more about the scope of Princeton’s international research and academic programs and got a sense of campus life on two campus walkabouts.

Raymo, a member of the joint governance committee for the Tokyo-Princeton partnership, added, “The strong feelings of mutual trust, respect, and friendship characterizing this strategic partnership provide a solid foundation for continued investment in pathbreaking collaborative research and robust student exchange in the years to come.”