The University of Tokyo has begun considering increasing its tuition fees, a move that students have opposed as a threat to the freedom to learn and is being closely watched for possible effects on other national universities.
Tuition fees at national universities have been set by each institution based on a ministerial ordinance since they were turned into national university corporations in fiscal 2004. The standard undergraduate annual tuition is set at ¥535,800 ($3,417), and universities can set their tuitions at up to 1.2 times that amount, or ¥642,960.
The University of Tokyo has maintained fees at the standard level, leaving headroom of about ¥100,000.