Sächsische Landesbibliothek - Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek
Abstract
The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) is one of the leading Asian universities. The University of Tokyo Forests (UTF) was established in 1894 as the first university forest in Asia. To date, UTF owns seven forests and has accumulated long-term data regarding forest ecosystems, conifer plantations, and selection cutting with natural regeneration, in addition to data regarding meteorology and hydrology. In terms of quantity and quality, this longitudinal dataset is among the best available in the world of forest science. A teaching staff of 26 people belongs to UTF. The advantages of studying under the supervision of UTF staff members are as follows. First, students have the opportunity to gain broad disciplinary knowledge from the 26 members of the teaching staff. Second, they can use UTF as a context for their research fieldwork, relying on good research facilities supported by a 50-strong technical staff. Third, they can utilize longitudinal data accumulated by UTF over a period of more than 100 years. Students from at least ten countries have been supervised at UTF. Students are selected, in particular, from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. UTF has also provided fieldwork classes for students of foreign universities, such as Universiti Malaysia Sabah and the National Taiwan University. These students gain experience in disciplines such as forest vegetation and forest management, where Japanese practice differs from that of their own countries. Students can stay at UTF lodges for a modest fee. Students from European universities are also welcome to undertake fieldwork courses at UTF. We accept interns from overseas. Recently, interns from European universities have been increasing in number. The unique culture of Japan - with its traditional features and more modern ones, like the Japanese comics manga - are fascinating to European students. UTF provides the best environment for forest education in Asia
