On 5 October 2024, approximately 150 Showa Gakuin Shuei Junior and Senior High School students and approximately 30 Showa Gakuin High School students gathered at the venue.
The students were initially nervous listening to Dean Kato's lecture, but gradually became engaged by the topics such as his passion for his research and how research at the Faculty of Engineering is applied to the real world. After the lecture, people kept asking questions. Even after the lecture ended, people kept queuing up to speak to Dean Kato.
Many people left comments after the lecture, including "the Dean's words such as 'studying is like doing muscle training', 'research is a happy life' and 'changing your perspective can help you see that failure is a good experience' really stuck with me. It was very helpful in thinking about a new direction for my life", and "I watched all the ‘CREATE THE FUTURE’ videos that were shown during the lecture. It was very informative to see the different areas and the reality of students both at the Faculty of Engineering". The event had increased their motivation to study at the University of Tokyo and to find research they were passionate about. Dean Kato's warm words made the students feel secure and confident, and it was a valuable lecture that helped them take the first step towards their future.
Midori Aoki (Metaverse School of Engineering)