The official YouTube channel of the business video media "ReHacQ" has released a special talk session video from the "University for International Research Excellnce UREX1 Forum 2026 -Explore Your Unknown-," which was held in Marunouchi, Tokyo, on Friday, February 27, 2026. Professor Satoshi Kato, Vice Director of the Center for Integrated Japanese Studies (CIJS), appears in this feature, engaging in an hour-long discussion with Hiroki Takahashi, the producer and host of ReHacQ.

The forum was held to widely communicate the achievements and future vision of Tohoku University as the first accredited "University for International Research Excellnce" (designated by the Japanese government). It attracted a diverse audience, including business professionals as well as academics.

Professor Kato—who is a professor at the Center for Academic Resources and Archives (Tohoku University Archives) specializing in history and archival science—has spent many years researching the history of Tohoku University. From this unique perspective, he speaks about the university's enduring traditions since its founding—"Research First," "Open Doors," and "Practice-Oriented Research and Education"—while sharing various historical anecdotes. He also discusses Tohoku University's present-day characteristics, such as its vibrant academic freedom and active ecosystem of university-launched startups.

You can watch the full session via the link below.

■ Video Details

• Title: 【高橋弘樹vs歴史学者】東北大は何が違う？アインシュタイン、幻の獲得計画とは?【ReHacQvs加藤諭】 (Takahashi Hiroki vs. Historian: What makes Tohoku University different? The lost plan to recruit Albert Einstein?)

• Guest: Prof. Satoshi Kato (Professor, Tohoku University Archives, Center for Academic Resources and Archives / Vice Director, Center for Integrated Japanese Studies)

• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qx54PymOKC4?si=YKFe3L19jMFRnu8X

■ Related Links

• University for International Research Excellnce UREX1 Forum 2026 Official Website: https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/urex1/forum2026/