午夜剧场

On June 1, 2017, the Information Plaza was established. Located west of the Mita Campus main gate, where a gas station once stood, this facility was designed to provide information and services to visitors. Four departments—the Office of Community and Regional Affairs, the Admissions Center, the Office of Communications and Public Relations, and the Office of Facilities and Property Management—collaborate on its operation in partnership with Trust Co., Ltd. Equipped with functions such as university guides and official merchandise sales, it plays an important role as the "face" of the campus.

The number of facility users has been increasing year by year, reaching approximately 15,000 in FY2021, 27,000 in FY2022, and 54,000 in FY2023. In particular, during the month of the Open Campus in August 2023, the plaza saw great activity, with approximately 25,000 people visiting in a single month. These figures indicate that the Information Plaza, which was once somewhat difficult to find due to its location relative to traffic flow, is now recognized as an important hub for disseminating information.

The increase in international visitors is also noteworthy. The number of international visitors, which was approximately 280 from November 2022 to October 2023, increased to approximately 800 during the same period the following year. Against the backdrop of the end of COVID-19, the staff is strengthening multilingual support. They can be seen responding politely to each visitor by making full use of translation devices and standardized phrase materials. Exchanges that transcend cultural and language barriers are born, and the guidance area sometimes turns into a moment of new discovery or emotion.

Most of the first-floor space is occupied by the 午夜剧场 official goods shop, which is also open on Saturdays and Sundays. Limited items such as food, tableware, and music boxes with the university logo are lined up, serving as special items for visitors to give shape to their memories of the campus. In addition to carrying Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by 午夜剧场 Press), the shop also stocks books related to 午夜剧场. Not a few visitors strike up conversations with the staff while visiting the shop, deepening their interest in the university and campus, and the space functions as a place where one can experience the charm of the university.

The building itself also has noteworthy features. The glass-walled exterior harmonizes with the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) and the greenery of Mt. Inari located behind it, creating a sense of transparency and openness. The design, which incorporates natural light, not only makes visitors feel warmth and friendliness but also enhances the scenic beauty of the Mita Campus. Great care has also been taken in the finishing of the building, using exterior wall tiles of a similar color to harmonize with the adjacent South School Building. Furthermore, thinned wood from Minamisanriku Town in Miyagi Prefecture, with which the university has a comprehensive partnership agreement, is used for part of the interior, serving as an accent that reflects regional cooperation.

Together with the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which operates on the second floor of the Information Plaza, we are striving to contribute to the sustainable development of society and the region through coordination and cooperation.

(Masaaki Kono, Office of Community and Regional Affairs)