If you thought that was strange, you’re just as behind the times as me (lol). Institute of Science Tokyo is the abbreviation for renewaled Tokyo University of Science. It is a new university that was formed when Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University merged in October last year.
While looking at a map of the area, I was making plans to go for a photo walk around the area around Senzokuike Park in Shinagawa Ward, and I realized that there was no more TIT in Ookayama. Come to think of it, I’ve known a few people since I was young, and I’ve passed through Ookayama on the train many times, but I’ve never been to the ex-TIT campus. I decided to drop in on the way to Senzokuike.
I came straight to the Tokyu Ookayama Station.
The plaza in front of the station is right opposite the main gate of the campus of the Science University. The building with the eye-catching, rather striking design is apparently the Centennial Hall.
The campus seems to extend across both the Tokyu Oimachi Line and the Meguro Line.
In the photo above, both sides of the railway line are the grounds of TIT, or rather, TUS.
Oh, a sharp skyline that looks very much like the cutting edge of science. The south exterior wall is lined with solar panels.
It’s the weekend, so there are only a few people around, but perhaps because it’s surrounded by the upscale residential area, I saw not a few people walking their dogs (lol).
Also, I couldn’t take photos so easily, but I was surprised to see that there were so many female students among the small number of people. It may have just been a coincidence, but the old image of Tokyo Tech as a “school for boys” may be changing a little.
Leaving that aside, the buildings and signboards are very “scientific”.
Since it’s called ‘Ooka Mountain’, the large campus is quite hilly, so taking a walk is good exercise.
This is the ‘Main Building’. It’s exactly as I imagined the university to be – simple and robust, without any frills (that’s my own personal opinion).
Sorry for the long article.
Finally, here’s one more piece of evidence that it’s not just my brain that has trouble keeping up with change.
As you can see, there are still a few ‘TIT’ signs here and there. It’s hard to change lots of things all at once, so some things get put off until later, right? This photo walk was strangely reassuring, as even the cutting edge of Japanese science academia has a human touch.
Next time, we’ll head to Senzokuike Pond, which is just a few minutes’ walk from here.
