GLP-GEfIL

On November 21 (Friday), and  22 (Saturday), Ms. Nanami Samejima, a 9th-cohort student of GEfIL, participated in the "Tokyo Forum 2025" held at Yasuda Auditorium on Hongo Campus. Representing the University of Tokyo, on the 22nd, Ms. Samejima participated in the group research presentation during the Youth Session with university students from the University of Tokyo and South Korea.

*What is the Tokyo Forum?

The Tokyo Forum is an international conference co-hosted by the University of Tokyo and the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies since 2019. This forum shall provide a meeting place of people, including, but not limited to, those in academia, government, business, NPOs, from all over the world. The two institutions will cooperate to encourage participants to freely shape and sharpen information and opinions on solutions to the problems faced by the current world and on the shape of the world and human society in the future.

Tokyo Forum 2025 Website: https://www.tokyoforum.tc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/index.html

Please allow us to share the experience of Ms. Samejima at "Tokyo Forum 2025" below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, my name is Nanami Samejima, a 9th cohort student of GLP-GEfIL.

On November 21 (Friday) and 22 (Saturday), I had the privilege of participating as one of the panellists at Tokyo Forum 2025, held at Yasuda Auditorium on the Hongo Campus.

The Youth Session presentation at Tokyo Forum was the culmination of months of preparation that began with our visit to Seoul in late August and continued through numerous online meetings.

Working together in a space that transcended language barriers, cultural backgrounds, and academic disciplines, Korean and Japanese students united to tackle the broad theme of “Capitalism.” The experience of wrestling with this topic and engaging in deep discussions over several months was truly invaluable.

What made this opportunity particularly enriching was the diversity of perspectives. Not only did we collaborate with peers from various fields within the social sciences, but we also engaged with students from STEM disciplines—something I rarely experience in my daily academic life. These interactions not only made our discussions more dynamic but also exposed me to viewpoints I had never considered before.

Beyond the discussions, the program offered numerous learning opportunities: listening to insights from journalists and lecturers, visiting companies that create social value, and conducting fieldwork in both Seoul and Tokyo. We also received guidance and feedback on our presentations from professors in Japan and Korea, which greatly enhanced the quality of our work.

One of the most meaningful aspects was the chance to speak with professors attending Tokyo Forum, including the vice president of the university. Hearing their perspectives on challenges and future directions from a leadership standpoint was a deeply interesting experience.

Standing before the university president, vice presidents, and distinguished professors in an international academic setting to present the ideas we had debated for months as a “youth voice” was a such an honour. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have met and learned alongside friends through this program and for the prospect for maintaining these valuable relationships in the future.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

（2025/12/05）