President FUJII Teruo (The University of Tokyo)

Japan’s 85 national universities, long established as centers of knowledge across the country, play a vital role in the nation’s development. They are global research hubs that, both individually and collectively, conduct world-leading research. Regional national universities also serve as gateways between their areas and the world: hosting international students, facilitating student exchanges, and playing a central role in the globalization of their regions by supporting the overseas expansion of local industries and the recruitment and development of international talent.

Yet the potential of these universities is greater still when they work not only as individual institutions but as a coherent whole. That is the conviction behind “The Future Vision of Japan’s National Universities,” published by the Japan Association of National Universities (JANU) in March 2025. This document sets out the shared resolve of all of the national universities to come together as a national university system—a single, flexible framework in which each university draws on its distinctive strengths—and to take on the challenge of creating a more innovative Japanese society.

Since assuming the JANU presidency, I have established a working group to realize this vision of a new national university system. The working group has set up dedicated taskforces on key themes such as human resource development, educational collaboration, and regional revitalization. Each taskforce is identifying challenges and clarifying roles while formulating strategies and proposals to improve existing systems.

Through these efforts, and through continued dialogue with society and the public, we are committed to enhancing our nation’s collective knowledge and making meaningful contributions to transforming Japanese society, nurturing a prosperous future, and building a peaceful and secure international community.

April 1, 2026