Wed Sep 18 02:47:00 UTC 2024: ## University of Tokyo Students Protest Proposed Tuition Hike

**Tokyo, Japan** – Students from the University of Tokyo are protesting a proposed tuition increase, delivering a petition with over 27,500 signatures to university officials Tuesday. The petition calls for the university to delay the decision, which is expected to be finalized by the end of the month.

The student group, which has been collecting signatures online since June, met with University Vice President Hiroaki Aihara for 30 minutes. They presented their petition and a written request for a postponement. Aihara acknowledged that the university has been considering the tuition hike for three years and said he would convey the group’s concerns to internal meetings.

“If they’ve been discussing this for three years, they should have involved students and faculty in the conversation,” said Rei Kanazawa, a 21-year-old senior at the university. “We’re calling for open dialogue and at least a postponement of the decision.”

Faculty members have also voiced concerns about the tuition hike, arguing that it could set a precedent for other universities to follow suit. Some believe the government should increase public funding instead of burdening students.

The University of Tokyo announced its plan on Sept. 10 to raise annual tuition fees by approximately ¥100,000 ($706) for undergraduates entering the university in the next academic year.

Read More