Do you ever feel stuck in conventional thinking? Want to break free from fixed ideas and explore new possibilities?

An event tailored for individuals with such aspirations was held on June 30, 2024 at the Higashiyama Campus of Nagoya University. This event, TEDxNagoyaU, featured speakers dedicated to "creating the new norms of the future," sharing their valuable ideas and performances.

The theme of this event was "Hit Reset." The aim was to give participants the opportunity to reset their perspectives through eye-opening presentations and engaging interactions with speakers and fellow attendees. Among the lineup of eight dynamic speakers were a Japanese language teacher with over one million social media followers, a middle school entrepreneur who developed a clip-free earring, and a businessperson who created a device to extend food freshness and combat food waste.

All participants struck an "X" pose at the TEDxNagoyaU main event (June 30, 2024).

TEDxNagoyaU: An Officially Licensed TED Event

TED is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that plans and operates lecture events featuring prominent figures from around the world. The initiative presents "ideas worth spreading" in talks of 18 minutes or less and has hosted notable individuals such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Apple co-founder and iPhone creator Steve Jobs, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, gaining global attention.

TEDxNagoyaU is an officially licensed branch of this global TED movement, primarily run by students from Nagoya University. It operates as a recognized student circle comprising students from Nagoya University and other universities in Aichi Prefecture. In 2024, the team consisted of 44 members from 13 universities. They are responsible for producing an annual main event and three smaller salon events per year. Everything is student-led, from selecting speakers to managing event proceedings, designing venue setups, attracting attendees, hosting after-parties, and negotiating with corporate sponsors.

Members fully orchestrated the venue's acoustics, lighting, and other stage effects (June 30, 2024).

Presentations and Stage Effects Were Created in Collaboration Between Speakers and Staff

The powerful, high-impact presentations that defined TEDx events were not solely the work of the speakers. It was TEDx tradition for speakers to collaborate closely with staff, who contributed not only to the speech scripts but also to visual materials shown during presentations, speaker attire, gestures, lighting, and stage effects, all coming together in a cohesive production.

Staff refined stage setups and effects through trial and error.

Each speech was curated by members known as "curators." Kohki Tanida, a first-year doctoral student at Nagoya University's Graduate School of Science, served as one such curator. "Bridging the gap between what speakers want to express and what TEDxNagoyaU aims to communicate can be challenging," he explained, "but it's essential to discuss how to refine their speech while staying true to their ideas."

Tanida admitted that he was not particularly skilled at listening to others and engaging in discussions before joining TEDxNagoyaU. "In society, we often face situations where our own refined thoughts alone aren't enough to navigate challenges. I want to apply this experience to my future endeavors," he reflected.

A Team United to Create One Event

On May 30, precisely one month before the main event, an online meeting commenced at 8:00 PM. A total of 37 members gathered, each belonging to teams responsible for overall coordination, event operations, public relations, external affairs, and presentation planning. They shared updates on their progress and discussed challenges in their respective roles.

Reports and discussions flowed in rapidly:

• "We've placed the order for staff T-shirts."
• "Can the speakers condense their talks to within 15 minutes?"
• "We need to finalize booth placements for the after-party, so let's check the venue at Toyoda Auditorium."
• "Does anyone have a car to transport materials?"

The coordination team facilitated the meeting, organizing the influx of information, ensuring that tasks were effectively assigned, and guiding problem-solving discussions.

Kaho Iwata, a third-year student in Nagoya University's School of Informatics, took on the role of overall coordinator. "I joined TEDxNagoyaU because I wanted to work towards a shared goal with others," she explained. At that time, as the team leader, she energetically managed negotiations with TED headquarters, oversaw the entire event, and engaged in external relations. "By spreading ideas worth sharing, we can contribute to Japan's societal progress and betterment. It's rewarding when participants tell us they are glad they attended and gained something new," she said.

At 9:30 PM, the meeting concluded as scheduled, and the facilitator wrapped up with a reminder: "Let's ensure each team is clear on their tasks and aim for a fully polished rehearsal two weeks before the main event!" In customary fashion, the meeting concluded with an ippon-jime, a traditional hand-clapping gesture.

After the online meeting, team members took a commemorative photo (May 30, 2024).

TEDxNagoyaU was established in 2013, becoming one of the first university-based TEDx partners in Japan. It remained the only student-led TEDx event that continued uninterrupted even during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning recognition as the longest-standing TEDx organization in Japan. The main event featured impactful presentations, discussion sessions to deepen understanding, and networking parties for attendees. The previous event in 2023 achieved an outstanding satisfaction rating of 4.75 out of 5.

Participants exchanged ideas during a discussion session to enhance understanding of the presentations (June 30, 2024).

Hiroaki Imai, a second-year law student at Nagoya University, joined TEDxNagoyaU to gain experience working with professionals. As part of the external affairs team, he visited companies to secure sponsorships while also contributing to event planning, operations, and audience engagement. The number of sponsoring companies had reached 40. "The number has steadily increased over the past few years," he noted.

"The focus for typical festivals is about enjoying the moment and having fun. However, TEDx leaves a lasting impact--it continues to stimulate participants, speakers, and even corporate sponsors long after the event ends. It's a truly fulfilling initiative," Imai said. With that year's culmination approaching, he was already looking ahead--aiming to more than double audience numbers the following year.

Members visited Seichi Matsuo, President of Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, and Naoshi Sugiyama, President of Nagoya University, to explain the main event (May 17, 2024).