The fundamental objective of Tokyo University of the Arts is to provide leadership in the development of art and culture in Japan. As Japan's only national arts university, Tokyo University of the Arts conducts education and research on arts at a consistently high standard, while respecting the spirit of freedom and creativity that has prevailed since its establishment.

      To take the opportunity of the 120th anniversary of the university's founding, 11 universities from Japan, China, and Korea came together in 2007 to deliver a joint "Declaration of the Arts," which culminated in the launching of a fresh set of initiatives designed to promote stronger organizational ties and the worldwide dissemination of East Asian arts.

      The University also changed its English name from "Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music" to "Tokyo University of the Arts" in order to reflect its desire to embrace a wider range of disciplines, as seen with the creation of its Graduate School of Film and New Media. This change in name came about at a perfect time for Japan's leading arts university, and represents a broadening of scope in both name and substance.

      During the entrance and graduation ceremonies each year, I give an on-stage calligraphy demonstration using ancient Chinese characters. Through the characters, I try to convey a special message to new students, who are full of hopes and uncertainty, and to recent graduates, who are embarking on their journey as new members of society. In essence, I ask them to cultivate not just their own lives and characters, but their sense of gratitude toward others as well.

      Take this character, "discern," which means to perceive everything as it truly is. This character embodies my hope that our young men and women will broaden their horizons and develop an international outlook, thereby turning into adults possessing outstanding creativity, solid judgment, and the ability to shape the future.

      The University is an institution that attracts a great deal of public attention in its essential mission as well as giving a great deal of attention to the essential meaning of all things. As such, we strive to transform the sum of our precious experiences, gained through both giving and drawing attention, to 'attentive and attractive' works of art and making them public. We will continue on our path toward creating an exceptional academic environment that reflects global artistic trends, while preserving traditions that have been cherished since the University's establishment.

MIYATA Ryôhei, President
Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku