SocietyOct 20, 2026, 8:22 AM

Japan's Education Ministry Asks University of Tokyo to Review President Selection Process

Theo Kyodo News

Japan's education ministry has asked the University of Tokyo to review its presidential selection process after the candidate who placed second in a faculty and staff vote was chosen for the post last month. The request is seen as an effort to ensure the process at one of Japan's top universities is rule-compliant and widely supported internally. The university has not yet detailed the review's next steps or a response deadline.

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Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) formally asked the University of Tokyo on Oct. 17 to review its process for selecting the university's next president.

According to the university, the person chosen for the presidency last month finished only second in a vote held by faculty and staff. The outcome has raised concerns about transparency and about how well the process reflects the views of the university's academic and administrative staff.

The ministry's request for a review is seen as a step aimed at ensuring that the leadership selection process at one of Japan's leading universities follows the rules and commands broad support within the institution.

The University of Tokyo has not yet announced details of the next steps in the review or a deadline for responding to the ministry's request.