SAFER CAMPUS AT UTOKYO PURPLE LIGHT UP 2025

As part of the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan)'s Diversity Research Environment Initiative, UTokyo Gender Equality Reform #WeChange, the University of Tokyo is committed to creating a safe and inclusive campus free from gender-based harassment and violence.

To support this effort, the university illuminated the historic Main Gate of the Hongo Campus—one of its most iconic landmarks—in purple for one week in December 2025. Inspired by the Purple Ribbon, the international symbol of the movement to end violence against women, the installation aimed to raise awareness among students, staff, local residents and the wider public about gender equality, the eradication of harassment and violence, and the university’s commitment to human rights.

As a lighting designer and alumna of the University of Tokyo, and as someone committed to advancing the status of women, I embraced this initiative through a design concept structured around three key ideas.

The first, “Purple that Resonates”, sought to create a distinctive tone of purple, carefully selected from among countless variations to achieve a color that was both powerful and elegant.

The second, “Purple that Connects”, extended the illumination beyond the gate’s stone pillars to include the upper crossbeam. This gesture symbolized the importance of connection and collaboration—essential values in advancing gender equality and collective social change.

The third, “Purple that Endures”, drew on the architectural character and materiality of the historic gate, originally built during the Meiji era. Through a refined and dignified lighting treatment, the project quested to leave a lasting impression on visitors and, in its own modest way, contribute to changing perceptions and raising awareness.

Throughout the installation, the project received enthusiastic feedback not only from students and university staff, but also from local residents. Many remarked that it had revealed a landmark they had previously overlooked, encouraging them to see it in a new light.