On February 19, 2026, a delegation of about twenty representatives from thirteen countries belonging to the Science & Technology Diplomatic Circle (S&TDC*), including diplomats, science and technology counselors, and attachés visited Tohoku University.
The delegates first toured the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), which is one of the centers of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI). Thereafter, they participated in meetings, discussions, and networking opportunities with the university’s executive leadership and relevant departments.
At the meeting directly after the AIMR tour, Special Advisor to the President and Specially Appointed Prof. Yoichiro Tanaka introduced initiatives tied to the university’s status as a University for International Research Excellence. Specially Appointed Assoc. Prof. Freddy Rocky Mason from the university’s Admissions Center went on to present on the Gateway College, which will open in 2027, as well as the future direction of the university’s international collaborations.
About twenty people from the university, including those from the Research Management Center and individual departments’ University Research Administrators (URAs), participated in the session for networking and exchange.
Toward the end of their visit, the delegates met with Executive Vice President Asako Sugimoto, Executive Vice President Toshiya Ueki, Vice President Masahiro Yamaguchi, and Specially Appointed Prof. Yoichiro Tanaka, and constructive discussions took place regarding the possibilities of future collaborations.
Through this visit, the university was able to widely share its research capabilities and collaborative international initiatives with representatives from many diplomatic missions, making it a meaningful opportunity to deepen cooperative relations with various countries.
*S&TDC is an association for diplomats stationed at the over eighty diplomatic missions based in Tokyo. It aims to share information on Japan’s science and technology. S&TDC members are taken on visits organized by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and its WPI Promotion Center, in cooperation with the WPI centers. Tohoku University’s AIMR was selected as the designated site visit for the 2025 fiscal year.
Contact:
Global Strategy Office
TEL: 022-217-4844
Email: kokusai-r*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace * with @)