University of Tokyo names first woman president

The University of Tokyo has appointed scientist Yuko Fujigaki as its first woman president in the institution's nearly 150-year history.

Fujigaki, a professor of science and technology at the university, told reporters on Tuesday that her appointment could “send a very strong message to society” and help promote gender equality in academia.

“I hope more women will be encouraged to enrol as students and to aspire to become scholars,” she said.

Fujigaki is set to serve as president for six years. She said the university had shown “an egregious lack” of initiative and urgency in dealing with recent scandals, and said she wanted it to fulfil its role as a symbol of academic society in Japan and globally.

The university, founded in 1877, apologised earlier this year after the arrest of a medical professor accused of accepting bribes from a cosmetic group. That followed the November arrest of a plastic surgeon who allegedly accepted bribes from a medical equipment manufacturer.