Tama Art University

President's message

Igarashi Takenobu

NAITO Hiroshi
President

Something as Important as Water and Air

Tama Art University has a history of nearly 90 years, during which time it has produced numerous outstanding artists and designers. I believe that the liberal school culture fostered by the faculty and current and past students has provided a rich soil for creativity to flourish.

Just by looking around a little, we can see that there are many problems in today's society. The world continues to be ravaged by war, global warming and climate change, the rapid evolution of computer technology, and the arrival of a super-aging society. Just thinking about them, I feel the weight of these issues.

However, if you look at it from a different perspective, you can say that your time has come. The old ways of thinking are no longer useful. The time has come for the younger generation, like you, to take an active role. In any age, in any world, creation is an important force that raises people's spirits and gives them hope for tomorrow. Creation is as important as the water and air we need to live.

There have been many difficult times in this world in recent history. It is clear from our university’s past achievements that each time we have overcome these difficulties with the power of creativity, and have achieved wonderful results. Let us work together to create a new culture for a new era. I welcome your young power.

President's Profile

NAITO Hiroshi

Brief Biography

1974
Graduated from the Department of Architecture,
School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
1976
Master’s degree program completion, Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University (M.Arch)
Chief Architect at the office of architect Fernando Higueras (Spain) (until 1978)
1979
Worked at the office of architect Kiyonori Kikutake (until 1981)
1981
Established Naito Architect & Associates
2001
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (until 2002)
2002
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (until 2011)
2010
Executive Vice President, The University of Tokyo (until 2011)
2011
Emeritus Professor, The University of Tokyo
2022
Chairman, Japan Institute of Design Promotion
2023
President, Tama Art University (inauguration)

Major Awards Received

1993
The Minister of Education’s Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists
Prize of the Architectural Institute of Japan for Design
2001
Mainichi Art Award
2020
The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize