New education minister Hirofumi Hirano said he supports the University of Tokyo's recent proposal to shift the start of its academic year from April to autumn, a move that would put the school in line with international norms.

The fall enrollment proposal by a university panel is "something that caused a huge stir among universities. . . . I want to wish them good luck while observing the move," the 62-year-old Lower House member said in a group interview Monday.

Such reform is the responsibility of universities themselves, and the education ministry won't be taking the lead on any such issue, Hirano said.