In accordance with one of its educational principles “Tackle social issues proactively,” Toyo University has established a Volunteer Support Office to promote its students’ social contribution. The office has offered various volunteer training programs in view of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. In AY 2018, the office continues to offer training program for “Omotenashi Language Volunteers”(showing warm hospitality to international visitors through language services) in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and also implements new programs, such as the Introductory Training for Volunteers and a program titled “Learn the Basics of Para-sports.” In March 2018, Toyo University concluded a Unified Schools partnership agreement with the Special Olympics Nippon Foundation, etc. Based on this agreement, which was the first of its type to be concluded in Japan, the university promotes Unified Sports® aimed at joining athletes with and without intellectual disabilities in training themselves and playing in the same team, to enable them to come to appreciate each other’s individuality.

Furthermore, prior to the issuance of a call for Tokyo 2020 Games volunteers scheduled for the summer of 2018, Toyo University is cooperating with Bournemouth University, which has the experience of training volunteers for the London 2012 Games, to offer a sports volunteer training program focused on supporting people with disabilities.

On July 21, 2017, Toyo University launched a website titled “LINK UP TOYO—Connecting People and History toward the Future—” (http://linkuptoyo.com/; in Japanese) as its new communication tool. The website showcases research conducted by Toyo University faculty members, and the activities of Toyo University students and alumni. For example, the website contains an explanation of the meaning of dreams given by Professor Eiko Matsuda, Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Sociology; an interview with Mr. Takahiro Takauji, a Toyo University Alumnus, who writes the popular blog “Mainichi Panda” (Pandas Every Day) in which he has been reporting on the pandas at Ueno Zoo every day for six years; and an introduction to the campus life of an excellent professional surfer-cum-competent university student. Featuring such contents concerning various themes, the website provides information on the forefronts of various fields, which may motivate readers to reflect on the future, and information helpful for readers to live a better life, and also introduces readers to what current university students are doing and thinking.

In April 2017, Toyo University established the Information Networking for Innovation and Design collaboration Hub for University and Business (INIAD cHUB), as an organization serving as a hub for open collaboration between the university and business. INIAD cHUB concluded a mutual cooperation and collaboration agreement with the Industry and Labor Department, Saitama Prefecture, in November 2017, and a memorandum on technical cooperation with the Urban Renaissance Agency in January 2018. INIAD cHUB thus aims to bring together world-class, state-of-the-art knowledge from inside and outside Japan and create innovations through collaboration with companies, groups and organizations in various fields while using information and communication technologies. In addition, in October 2017, Toyo University opened the Academia-Industry Collaboration One-stop Service Counter based on a comprehensive agreement with Kita Ward, Tokyo. By opening this counter, Toyo University aims to share its academic knowledge with society through academia-industry collaboration programs, and contribute to facilitating Kita Ward’s industrial promotion.

Mr. Hitoshi Ueki (December 25, 1926–March 27, 2007) was an iconic entertainer of the Showa Era, who shared laughs and exuberance with Japanese people during the country’s high economic growth period and left his name in the history of Japanese show business. He studied at Toyo University and belonged to the sprint division of the university’s athletics club. To mark the 90th anniversary of his birth, the “Toyo University Exhibition on Hitoshi Ueki: Tracing the Achievement of the Excellent Alumnus” took place on the Hakusan Campus from October 11 to 22, 2017. This exhibition featured special exhibits celebrating the broadcast of the NHK General TV drama Ueki Hitoshi to Nobosemon; a section titled “Toyo University and Hitoshi Ueki: Tracing the Life of Toyo University Alumnus Hitoshi Ueki through Photos and Moving Images”; musical instruments he usually played as a member of the Crazy Cats; the scripts of TV programs in which he appeared, such as Shabondama Holiday; posters and still photos of over 30 movies in which he acted; and his costumes and beloved items. The exhibition traced the history of entertainment in the Showa Era and Mr. Ueki’s life, and celebrated his outstanding achievement.