DATE2026.09.17 #Events

Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.

The University of Tokyo Faculty of Science Homecoming Day 2026—A Family Adventure in the Wonderland of Science—

The Faculty of Science at the University of Tokyo designates the University of Tokyo Homecoming Day as “Family Day” and hosts lectures that alumni and graduates can attend with their families.
The lectures are designed to be understandable to children in the upper grades of elementary school.
We hope this will be an opportunity for curious children to experience the world of science.

Date and Program

Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 1:30 p.m. (Doors open at 1:00 p.m.)
1:30–1:35 p.m. Opening Remarks: Prof. Eiichi Tajika, Dean of the School of Science
1:35–2:05 p.m. Lecture 1: “Let’s light up cells to make invisible visible!”— Kei Takahashi, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
2:05–2:15 p.m. Q&A Session for Lecture 1
2:15–2:25 p.m. Break
2:25–2:55 p.m. Lecture 2: “Flies Get Scared, Too!? How the Brain Creates Emotions”—Masato Tsuji, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
2:55–3:05 p.m. Q&A Session for Lecture 2
3:05 p.m.　　　　End

Introduction of Lecturers and Lectures

Lecture 1
“Let’s light up cells to make invisible visible!” by Kei Takahashi, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry 

Career Summary
I obtained my Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo. After that, I worked at the Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, then moved to Canada to work as a post-doc at University of Alberta. From 2025, I have been working as an assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo. My research focuses on the development and application of various types of imaging modalities, including fluorescent imaging and tissue-clearing.

Lecture Content
It is difficult to directly see what is happening inside our body. However, if we could label what we want to observe and make them glow, just like using a highlighter pen, wouldn’t be useful and exciting? Let’s light up cells and see what’s happening.

Lecture 2
 “Flies Get Scared, Too!? How the Brain Creates Emotions” by Masato Tsuji, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Career Summary
After completing the doctoral program in Biological Sciences at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Science, I became an Assistant Professor in the same department in 2019 and have held my current position since September 2026. My research focuses on the brain mechanisms underlying emotion.

Lecture Content
When we are afraid, we run away, our hearts race, and perceive things differently. Similar changes can also be seen in mice and fruit flies. By studying the cells and chemicals at work in the fruit fly brain, let’s explore how emotion arises in our brain.

Intended Audience

Elementary school students (upper grades), their parents, and graduates of this university
Live streaming via YouTube is open to everyone without registration.

Participation Fee

Free of charge

Registration link  (on-site participation only; advance registration required)

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/ZeknDuYf84

No registration is required for online participation. Click here to participate online. 

Notes

• Elementary school students must register together with a parent or guardian and arrive at the venue together.
• For families, only the representative of the family is required to register. Please enter the name and e-mail address of one representative as well as the grade level of the children who will participate on the day of the event.
• At the venue reception, we will confirm the automatic e-mail sent when your application is accepted or the reminder e-mail sent just before the event date. Please note that if we are unable to confirm your registration, you will not be allowed to enter the venue. (A printout of the e-mail is also acceptable.)
• School of Science provides "Barrier-Free Support". Please contact us in advance if you need facilities, information security, or other considerations due to a disability or other reason.

Location

Koshiba Hall, Faculty of Science Building No.1, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo— Access Map

Live Streaming

Anyone can watch the live streaming from the YouTube channel of the School of Science without prior registration. We invite the general public, as well as high school and university students, to attend. The lectures will be available on demand until 23:59 on October 18 (Sun.).

Other Information

■ The materials for participants (PDF) will be available here from around 10:00 a.m. on the day before Homecoming Day until the end of the lecture.
Click here for Prof. Kei Takahashi’s materials. Click here for Prof. Masato Tsuji’s materials.
Please note that the materials will not be distributed at the venue, so those attending on-site can download them from here.

■Each lecture will be followed by a Q&A session .
Questions will be accepted via Slido, so please bring your own device to the venue.
Please enter the lecture-specific access code on the Slido website to ask your questions.
Please note that this access code is only valid on the day of Homecoming Day 2026.
Questions for Professor Takahashi, Department of Chemistry: #5407206
Questions for Professor Tsuji, Department of Biological Sciences: #3016833

Organized by

School of Science, The University of Tokyo

Contact

Office of Communication, School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Email: kouhou.s@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp