Sex imbalance at Japan's top university is worth worrying about

Underrepresentation of women at University of Tokyo has significant consequences

Momoko Nakayama and Fumiya Uchikoshi

October 22, 2023 05:00 JST

Limited application opportunities at public national universities like the University of Tokyo likely disproportionately penalize women averse to high-stakes competition. © Jiji

Momoko Nakayama is a student in the joint public policy master's degree program at the University of Tokyo and Columbia University focused on gender issues. Fumiya Uchikoshi, who holds master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Tokyo, is a doctoral candidate in sociology at Princeton University.

"Good luck on your exams for Todai, but say farewell to your marriage prospects if you get in."