TOKYO FORUM 2026

Welcome to Tokyo Forum 2026.

This year, we will gather under the theme “AI as a Transformative Technology: Humanity, Knowledge, and Civilization.”

AI is rapidly becoming embedded in our daily lives, our institutions, and our societies. It is changing how we access information and make decisions. Even more profoundly, it is reshaping how we understand knowledge, creativity, and human agency. At this moment of technological transformation, we need to consider carefully what AI means for humanity and civilization.

In 2027, the University of Tokyo will celebrate its 150th anniversary. Throughout its long history, our university has pursued excellence in science and technology. At the same time, scholars in the humanities and social sciences have examined the nature and role of technology from a critical perspective.

Tokyo Forum 2026 gives us an opportunity to bring these traditions together. At this year’s gathering, we will discuss both the possibilities and the limitations of AI. We will explore how AI can contribute to human well-being and social inclusion. We will ask how it can help foster meaningful connections across cultures and generations, and how it can support the preservation and transmission of collective memory in the digital age. More broadly, we will consider how universities can help guide technological innovation toward the betterment of society.

We look forward to welcoming you to Yasuda Auditorium.

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Tokyo Forum 2026, convened under the theme of “AI as a Transformative Technology: Humanity, Knowledge, and Civilization.”

Artificial intelligence is reshaping economies, institutions, and societies at an unprecedented speed. It is transforming how knowledge is created, decisions are made, and people engage with the world. Fundamentally, it compels us to reconsider technology’s relationship with humanity and how this transformation can be guided toward human progress and the public good.

AI is not merely a technological competition. It raises fundamental questions of trust, responsibility, and the future direction of society—questions no single nation or institution can address alone. This conviction, together with our belief that Korea and Japan have an important role to play, led our two institutions to convene this Forum, bringing together scholars, policymakers, business leaders, and the next generation.

As the University of Tokyo approaches its 150th anniversary in 2027, this milestone invites reflection on the enduring role of universities and research institutions: advancing knowledge, providing intellectual leadership, bridging disciplines, connecting societies, and shaping a future where technological progress advances with human values—a mission our two institutions are honored to pursue together.

I thank all who join us and warmly welcome you to Tokyo Forum 2026. I look forward to the ideas, collaborations, and friendships that will emerge here.