Passing through the Main Gate of Sapporo Campus and walking alongside the Central Lawn will bring visitors to the Faculty of Agriculture Building. Constructed in 1935, this stately structure is distinguished by its clock tower, which rises from the center of the facade. In years past, the sound of its bell was thought to be a familiar presence in the daily lives of students. Yet due to wartime suspension and later mechanical failures, the bell remained silent for many decades.
Left: Faculty of Agriculture Building
Right: The "Elm Bell" in the Faculty of Agriculture Building
In recent years, however, a project to restore the bell was launched with the support of the Hokkaido University Agricultural Alumni Association. Initiated as part of preparations for the University's 150th anniversary, the project involved extensive investigations and restoration work. In February 2024, the team successfully sounded the bell on a trial basis, marking its first ringing in several decades.
On Friday, August 14, 2026, the University's anniversary of its founding, a commemorative bell-ringing ceremony celebrating the revival of the "Elm Bell" was held at the Faculty of Agriculture Building.
The event began with a briefing session in the auditorium on the fifth floor, where President Kiyohiro Houkin delivered opening remarks, stating, "The bell has traditionally been a symbol of liberty. Its sound also defines and unites a community, making it a symbol of community as well. For this reason, the revival of the Elm Bell holds special significance. It symbolizes Hokkaido University's commitment to academic freedom and strengthening its autonomy as it moves forward into the future." This was followed by an address from Tomohiko Kubo, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. After Atsushi Yokota, Vice President, outlined the restoration project, a commemorative plaque was unveiled, describing the historical significance of the Elm Bell and the aspirations behind its revival.
Left: President Kiyohiro Houkin delivering his remarks
Right: Commemorative plaque for the "Elm Bell"
The bell-ringing ceremony itself took place in the clock tower on the eighth floor. Reached by a narrow spiral staircase, the tower rises above the treetops of the campus and offers sweeping views of the university farm and the iconic Poplar Avenue. Surrounded by panoramic scenery stretching in every direction, President Houkin rang the first official note of the restored Elm Bell.
Left: President Kiyohiro Houkin (right) ringing the bell, with Dean Tomohiko Kubo
Right: View from a north-facing window of the clock tower (photo taken on July 6)
Following the ceremony in the tower, participants moved to the open parking area in front of the Faculty of Agriculture Building to listen to the bell from outside. As its sound rang out once again, those gathered paused to appreciate the clear, resonant tones and the lingering echoes that drifted through the summer air.
Text and photos by Public Relations & Communications Division
