No.17 2013.9.30

国際学術文化振興センター

JOSAI INTERNATIONAL CENTER
for the Promotion of Art and Science(JICPAS)

No.17（2013.9.30）

International Exchange
Exchange Students from Around the World Participate in
Fall Entrance Ceremonies of JIU and JU

International
Exchange

Dates: September 11 & 21, 2013
Places: Josai International University, Chiba Togane Campus; Josai University, Sakado Campus
On September 11 and 21, 2013, entrance ceremonies were held at
Josai International University and Josai University, respectively. Using
education and human resource development as cornerstones, Josai has
made great strides in designing an overseas education program thatcultivates global leadership and an international perspective. Having
formed alliances with 107 different universities in 21 countries, Josai
embarked on new academic exchange programs with four universities
in Poland, three in the Czech Republic, as well as universities inSoutheast Asia and Hong Kong within the last year.
The Josai International University entrance ceremony welcomed
students from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Norway, Hungary,
the United States, Canada, Spain, Brazil, France, India, Thailand,
Columbia, Tunisia, and Macao—as well as, for the first time, elevenstudents from Poland and two from the Czech Republic—making it
seventeen countries in all.
The entering class at Josai University included students from sevendifferent universities worldwide, including eight from Hungary’s
Eötvös Loránd University, two from the University of Warsaw, twofrom China’s Dalian University of Technology, 31 from the Dalian
University of Foreign Languages, and three from Dongseo University
in Korea.
The nearly one thousand students at Josai who study Hungarian
welcomed the arrival of these new exchange students. This academic
year will see the beginning of new language courses in Polish andCzech, which will contribute to the international flavor of Josai evenfurther. With each coming entrance and commencement ceremony,one witnesses the progression of Josai’s global education program in
the number of international students studying here and Josai students
studying abroad.

A view of Josai’s Fall entrance ceremony

Hungarian exchange students sing at the alumni association meeting after the entrance ceremony

Exchange student participants at the Josai Fall entrance ceremony1

No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Hosts Ceremony for Noriko Mizuta Hungary, Poland,
Czech Scholarship; Pays Visit to Polish Embassy

International
Exchange

D a t e: September 30, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus

Scholarship Recipients

The six ambassadors from this year’s Friendship Association pose alongside Chancellor Mizuta, JU
President Yasunori Morimoto, and JIU Vice President Masumi Ishida

On September 30, 2013, Josai hosted the award ceremony for thisyear’s Noriko Mizuta Hungary, Poland, Czech Scholarship at theTokyo Kioicho Campus.
The Noriko Mizuta Hungary Scholarship was established tocommemorate the visit of Hungarian President Sólyom László toTokyo Kioicho Campus in December 2009. With the goal of serving
as a bridge between Japan and Hungary through the development of
human resources, this scholarship funds the tuition of outstanding
Hungarian exchange students to Josai.
As part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international
exchange to cultivate global human resources, our universities haveformed academic exchange agreements with a number of institutions
worldwide, with a particular emphasis on universities in the V4 andother parts of Central Europe. This year’s scholarship, now in its
4th year, also awarded students from Poland and the Czech Republicgiving words of thanks and their personal pledges for the forthcoming
scholarship year. The students first thanked Chancellor Mizuta and theother foundation members for providing a scholarship that will allow
them to fully dedicate themselves to their studies. They pledged to use
this scholarship year to study traditional Japanese culture, economics,
and society and to work to facilitate mutual cultural understanding
between Japan and their home countries.
The ceremony concluded with Chancellor Mizuta providing wordsof encouragement to the students. She said, “To become global
professionals, please do your best to actively study the culture, history,
and arts of countries other than your own. I strongly believe that the
precious experience you will have studying here in Japan will positively
contribute to the development of your future career. I also hope thatyour presence will provide a good stimulus to the Japanese students at
our universities.”
Since 2008, nearly 2,000 students at Josai and Josai International
University have studied Hungarian. With the addition of language
courses in Polish and Czech beginning April, 2013, Josai will become
an even richer place for global education.
In addition, on September 26, the thirteen Polish recipients of the
Mizuta Scholarship, along with a Josai delegation led by Chancellor
Mizuta, visited the Polish Embassy in Japan to meet Ambassador Cyryl

who will be studying at Josai or Josai International University, thus
extending the scholarship to include students from three countries.
This year’s scholarship recipients consist of 15 students from Budapest
Business School, Corvinus University of Budapest, Szent István
University, Eötvös Loránd University, the College of Nyíregyháza,
Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, theUniversity of Szeged, and the University of Debrecen in Hungary who
will be studying at either JU or JIU; 13 students from the Universityof Warsaw, the University of Lodz, the Polish-Japanese Institute ofInformation Technology in Poland who will be studying at either
JU or JIU; and two students from Charles University in Prague andMasaryk University in the Czech Republic who will be studying at
JIU—30 students in all.
At the ceremony, after presenting award certificates to each scholarshipstudent, Chancellor Mizuta named two ambassadors from eachcountry for the student friendship association, presenting each studentwith a sash. Much will be expected from these six ambassadors inbuilding cultural exchange between Japan and their home countries.
The ceremony continued with three spokespeople (Fehér István
from Hungary, Czubek Jowita Agnieszka from Poland, and Rezazgui
David from the Czech Republic) from this year’s scholarship classCommemorative photo with participants2No.17 2013.9.30
Kozaczewski.

and Japan, but to become a skilled professional who can contribute at

The ambassador warmly greeted the first time exchange students,

a global level.”giving them words of encouragement by saying, “The possibilities

The scholarship students then gave self-introductions one-by-one infor your future are infinite. Please make the most of this valuable

fluent Japanese, expressing their personal goals for the year abroad.

opportunity at Josai to study and experience many things and in turnAmbassador Kozaczewski also indicated that he has great expectations

use this experience to not only serve as a mediator between Poland

for the growth of these students during their scholarship year.

Honorary Degree
Chancellor Mizuta Named Honorary Professor of
Dalian University of Technology

Honorary
DegreeD a t e: May 27, 2013
Place: Dalian University of Technology, People’s Republic of China
On May 27, 2013, during a Josai delegation visit to China, Chancellor
Noriko Mizuta was named an honorary faculty member at the Dalian
University of Technology.
Josai first formed an academic exchange agreement with Dalian on
August 5, 2007. The “Mikio Mizuta Memorial” Noriko Mizuta
Scholarship Fund was established the same year in the interest of
fostering global human resources in China. To date, nearly one
hundred students have received this award, the funds of which havedone much to support their studies. In that very same year, theMikio Mizuta Memorial Book Donation was also established, withover 770 volumes in the fields of economics, culture, history, naturalscience, dictionary, and others being contributed a total of ninetimes. In addition, the two universities have been extremely active
in collaborating in a variety of programs including internship and inservice training, joint research, conference and symposia, as well as
faculty and student exchange. Finally, in 2010 the three universities—
along with Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University ofForeign Languages and Northeastern University—established theJapan-China Joint Doctoral Degree, which has brought many Chinese
graduate students to Josai for research and to attend intensive seminars.
The first students from this program will receive their PhDs this spring.
It is to acknowledge her contributions and achievements in the
aforementioned areas, that Chancellor Mizuta was named an honorary
professor at the Dalian University of Technology. At a ceremony
attended by numerous representatives from both universities,

Chancellor Mizuta received her award along with a university
badge from Party Secretary Zhang Dexiang of Dalian University ofTechnology.
Dalian University of Technology has acknowledged a number of
exceptional scholars in a variety of fields with honorary professor
awards including Nobel Prize winners Ryoji Noyori, Akira Suzuki,
and Eiichi Negishi, as well as Josai’s own Advisor Takashi Murai, andSpecial Advisor to the Chancellor Akihisa Inoue (formerly of Tohoku
University).
After receiving her award, Chancellor Mizuta addressed the audienceby saying, “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award and be
acknowledged for the efforts that have gone into deepening ties andeducational exchange between Josai and Dalian. I will continue towork hard for the sake of fostering global human resources which
will in turn contribute to both the development of our universities
and the growth of Japan-China relations.” Following the ceremony,
Chancellor Mizuta gave a lecture entitled “Character Formation andResearch in Joint Multicultural Education” for the students andfaculty members assembled to commemorate her award.
This honor marks the sixth honorary professorship or doctoral degree
that Chancellor Mizuta has received from other universities includingSouth China Normal University (professorship, Dec., 2007), Dongseo
University (doctorate, Sep., 2010), Szent István University (doctorate,Jun., 2011), Northeastern University (professorship, Sep., 2012), andBudapest Business School (professorship, Nov., 2012).

Chancellor Mizuta receives her honorary professorship from Party Secretary Zhang Dexiang (left)

A view of the event mid-lecture3No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Holds Ceremony to Honor Chancellor Mizuta’s
Honorary Professorship from Dalian University of Technology

Honorary
DegreeD a t e: June 14, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On June 14, 2013, a ceremony to celebrate Chancellor Noriko
Mizuta’s honorary professorship from the Dalian University ofTechnology (DUT) was held at the 3rd building of Tokyo KioichoCampus.
The honorary professorship was conferred upon Chancellor Mizuta
at DUT on May 27. This ceremony, conceived through the work of
Josai University Educational Corporation Advisor Takashi Murai,
Special Advisor to the Chancellor Akihisa Inoue, Josai University
President Yasunori Morimoto, Josai International University
President Hakuo Yanagisawa, and Josai University Educational
Corporation Director Hiroto Taketomi, among others, was attended
by 150 faculty and staff members connected to Josai and otherinvitees.
DUT was founded as one of National Key Universities in 1949.
This university’s curriculum is not just limited to technology, butalso has programs in economics, commercial science, Chinese
literature, foreign literature, and other culture related fields. With anenrollment of 24,000 students, DUT stands as a major representative
university in China.
To this point, DUT has awarded many exceptional scholars in avariety of fields with honorary professorships including—in Japan—
Nobel Prize winners Ryoji Noyori, Akira Suzuki, and Eiichi Negishi,
as well as Josai’s own Advisor Takashi Murai and Special Advisor to
the Chancellor, Akihisa Inoue.
A Josai delegation led by Chancellor Mizuta has visited DUT
every year since 2007, increasing their program of exchange witheach successive year. In 2008, Josai delivered the results of a joint
research project with DUT, a research on current situation of Dalian
special economic zone in Dalian, to the then mayor of Dalian, Xia
Deren. In 2011, Josai collaborated with Saitama prefecture to forma training program in Dalian that seeks to advance the Chinese
market through the development of young human resources in theindustry and that aims at attracting businesses to the region. In
2012, Josai established the Josai Executive Program for Women’s
Empowerment and Leadership (JEWEL) and contributed Dalian’s
economic development, providing training programs such aspolitics, economics, and industry with Dalian government andDUT. Even in education, Josai has made remarkable achievements
in developing high-level economic/marketing education through
JMBA in collaboration with faculty of management and economics

Commemorative photo with Japan-China Joint Doctoral Program students

A view of the reception

Speech from visiting Dalian government spokesperson Wang Xin

1st year student in financial management in the JMBA program, DUT Zhang Yanbo

4

No.17 2013.9.30
of DUT and promoting the acquisition of doctoral degrees for

Later, between sessions of lively banter, students from the Japan-

Japanese language faculty at the DUT, collaborated with DUT, Dalian

China Joint Doctoral Program—the first student in the program to

University of Foreign Language, and Northeastern University in 2010.

receive their PhD, Dalian University of Foreign Languages’ AssistantIn addition, Josai has promoted a number of cultural programs byProfessor Wang Mei; JMBA student spokesperson, Zhang Yanbo ofaccepting numerous exchange students into their programs, facilitating

DUT; and Vice President of the Josai-Dalian Friendship Association,

student training through internships both at home and abroad,founding the Japan-China Short Poetry Association, and donating
Mizuta Sakura trees. It is for all the aforementioned contributions
and achievements for the promotion of international education, that
Chancellor Mizuta was awarded the honorary professorship fromDUT.
The ceremony began with one of the event founders, Professor
Kazunobu Fukushima of Josai University, who provided a brief
introduction. Advisor Murai who outlined the history of exchange
between Josai and Dalian followed him. JIU Vice President Masato
Kurabayashi then explained the overviews and achievements of theJapan-China Joint Doctoral and JMBA programs.
This was followed by congratulatory words from visiting Dalian
government official Wang Xin and introductions of industry officials
who have collaborated with Josai.

Li Hongdi—delivered words of thanks to Chancellor Mizuta.
Finally, Chancellor Mizuta gave a brief address, saying, “It is a greathonor to be recognized with an honorary professorship from the
Dalian University of Technology for all the effort that has gone intodeveloping ties and joint education between the Dalian Universityof Technology and the Josai University Educational Corporation.
I’m also deeply honored to see so many people assembled here today
in celebration. I vow to continue to do my best in promoting thedevelopment of human resources who can serve as links for thecontinued growth of both universities and Japan-China relations.”
The ceremony concluded with Chancellor Mizuta receiving acommemorative gift from President Morimoto and a bouquetfrom Josai, DUT, and Joint Doctoral program students, with JIUPresident Yanagisawa providing the rousing final words.

Chancellor Mizuta Accepts Honorary Professorship from
Shenyang Normal University, Gives Commemorative Lecture

Honorary
DegreeD a t e: September 16, 2013
Place: Shenyang Normal University, People’s Republic of China
On September 16, 2013, Chancellor Noriko Mizuta was awarded
an honorary professorship from Shenyang Normal University anddelivered a special lecture to commemorate the occasion.
Josai and Shenyang Normal University first formed an agreement of
academic exchange in October 2011 and have since been extremely
active in a variety of collaborative programs, including student andfaculty exchange. This month’s visit also saw the formation of the
2+2 Japan-China Joint Education Program, with which one can expect
even more opportunities for exchange.
In addition, Shenyang’s Museum of Natural History provided vitalassistance in constructing a full-scale, eight meter-long model of a
carnivorous dinosaur for display in Josai’s fossil gallery which recently
opened in the new building of the Tokyo Kioicho Campus. Museumof Natural History director Sun Ge also serves as an advisor to theMizuta Memorial Museum.
The honorary professorship was given to Chancellor Mizuta inrecognition of her outstanding contributions and achievements inworking to build academic exchange between the two universities.
Representatives from both universities attended the ceremony thatwas held at the Museum of Natural History lecture hall in which
Chancellor Mizuta was presented with a certificate and badge in honorof her award from university president Lin Qun.
Chancellor Mizuta gave some brief words of acceptance by saying,“It is a great honor to be awarded the title of honorary professor
from this university. I pledge to continue to contribute to thedevelopment of our two universities and the fostering of global
human resources.”
Following the ceremony, Chancellor Mizuta delivered a lecture tocommemorate the event titled, “Character Building and Multicultural
Education and Research.” In this lecture, Chancellor Mizuta

touched on her personal experience as an exchange student abroad
and faculty member to illustrate both the necessity and difficultyof understanding foreign cultures. She also discussed the shapeof university education in the 21st century and the importance ofcontinuing to promote multicultural education and research, while
about 120 faculty members and graduate students in attendance
listened in rapt attention.
This award marks the 7th honorary title that Chancellor Mizuta hasreceived from another university. These universities include South
China Normal University (honorary professorship), Korea’s Dongseo
University (honorary doctoral degree), Hungary’s Szent István
University (honorary doctoral degree), China’s Northeastern University(honorary professorship), Hungary’s Budapest Business School(honorary professorship), and China’s Dalian University of Technology(honorary professorship).

President Lin Qun presents Chancellor Mizuta with the honorary professorship certificate

5No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Forms Academic Exchange Agreement with Thailand’s
Josai VisitsUniversity
City University of Hong Kong, Signs Academic Exchange Agreement International
Rangsit
Exchange
October
10, 2012
D a t e: April
5, 2013
City University
Hong Kong,
People’s Republicof ChinaCampus
Place: Josai
University of
Educational
Corporation,
Tokyo Kioicho
On April 5, 2013, Josai established an academic exchange agreementwith Thailand’s Rangsit University.
As part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international
exchange to cultivate global human resources, our university has
formed academic exchange programs with a variety of institutions
worldwide, focusing recently on universities in Central Europe andother parts of Asia.
On the day of the signing, Professor Piyasuda Mawai, Ph.D., Directorof the Faculty of Liberal Arts, arrived with his delegation, and, after
meeting with Chancellor Noriko Mizuta and other executives from
Josai, finalized the agreement.
Rangsit University is a private institution located in Thailand’s Pathum
Thani prefecture, which neighbors the capital of Bangkok. It was firstfounded as a single-subject college in 1988 before becoming a fullfledged university in 1990. At present, Rangsit University offers 82
different bachelor’s degrees, 31 master’s degrees and seven doctoral
degrees, and counts an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students inall. With their emphasis on the five different fields of Health-Science,
Social Humanities, Engineering Technology, Business-Economics,
and Fine Art, Rangsit University offers a wide-range of possibilities foracademic exchange with our university.
After finalizing the exchange agreement, the Rangsit delegation

International
Exchange

Photo commemorating the exchange agreement signing with Professor Piyasuda Mawai (frontrow, right) and Chancellor Mizuta (left)

proceeded to Josai International University’s Chiba Togane Campus
where they were given a tour of the premises and met with JIU Vice
President Masato Kurabayashi, the Acting Chair of International
Humanities, and Language Education Center Director Maria Shiguemi
Ichiyama to discuss concrete measures for a student exchange program,
focusing particularly on Japanese language education. Considering
Rangsit University’s comprehensive English language program, one
can expect many fruitful exchanges that incorporate this and othersubjects in the near future.

Josai Forms Academic Exchange Agreement with theThai-Nichi Institute of Technology

International
Exchange

D a t e: May 8, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On May 8, 2013, Josai formed an academic exchange agreement with
the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology.
As part of Josai University Educational Corporation’s Mid-term Target ofstrengthening international exchange to cultivate global human resources,
our university has been very proactive in forming academic exchange
agreements with a variety of institutions worldwide, focusing specificallyon universities in Central Europe and other parts of Asia. Following
Technology Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan) President Prayoon

Shiowattana’s visit to Josai in October of last year and the subsequentsigning of an agreement of alliance between Josai and the TPA, Josai
has had the opportunity to form academic exchange agreements withthe two Thai institutes of higher learning—Bangkok University in
January and Rangsit University in April of this year. In addition, on
the day before the signing with Thai-Nichi (5/7), Josai had the privilegeof hosting the 2nd annual ASEAN Forum Josai, inviting Professor
Prayoon to give the keynote speech, just another example of how Josai isdeepening its relations with Thailand. This most recent agreement with
the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology is another such example.
On the day of the signing, a delegation from the Thai-Nichi Instituteof Technology led by President Krisada Visavateeranon met with
Chancellor Noriko Mizuta and other Josai University Educational
Corporation board members at the international conference roomin the 3rd building of Tokyo Kioicho Campus where they finalized
the agreement. President Krisada remarked, in fluent Japanese, that,“While our university is a young one, our enrollment is increasing witheach year and, with our engineering department as the focal point, weare rapidly developing our education program. All the students at ouruniversity are studying the Japanese language with great enthusiasm,
and we are devoting much energy to cultivating professionals who are
fluent in Japanese. With this agreement with Josai, I hope to continue

Signing the academic exchange agreement6No.17 2013.9.30
to strengthen our alliance and exchange with Japanese universities.”

located in the Thai capital of Bangkok, founded in 2007 under theDuring the meeting that followed, representatives discussed concrete

motto, “Expanding learning, cultivating industry, and contributing

measures for developing an exchange program centered primarily on

to economics and society.” The university consists of three schools

Japanese language education.

with four fields of study and an enrollment of 4,200. Technology

In addition, with this agreement, Josai has the pleasure of adding Thai-

Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan) (TPA), the university’s parent

Nichi Institute of Technology Vice President Pornanong Niyomka
Horikawa as the latest of L-WIN (Leaders-Women International
Network), an international network comprised of female leader ofpresidents and vice presidents from Josai and foreign sister universities.
The Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology is a private university

organization, is a group devoted to the development of Thai humanresources, the advancement and dissemination of information technology,
and the growth of Japan-Thai relations, among other endeavors.
We are all expecting great things to come out of this most recent
exchange agreement with the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology.

The 19 th Annual Czech Debate Contest is held at Josai
D a t e: May 25, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On May 25, 2013, the 19th Annual Czech Debate Contest was held

International
Exchange

under the auspice of the Embassy of the Czech Republic at Tokyo
Kioicho Campus of Josai University Educational Corporation.
Until this year, the contest was held annually at the Czech Embassy,
but with the embassy currently undergoing renovation, Josai provide
a venue for the contest. As a part of Josai’s Mid-term Target, ouruniversity has actively conducted exchanges with universities fromCentral European countries such as the Czech Republic. Josai alsobegan offering a course on the Czech language for the first time this year.
Ambassador Kateřina Fialková provided opening remarks before
the debate, saying, “With each year, the positive reputation of thisevent continues to grow. I believe that this debate contest is partially
responsible for the increased number of Czech speaking Japanese whowill serve as links for Japanese-Czech amnesty. This is the first timethat the debate will take place outside the Czech Embassy, at Josai

University. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Chancellor
Noriko Mizuta and all those involved in making this event possible.”
Chancellor Mizuta also gave a brief greeting by saying, “It is a greathonor for Josai to host the Czech Debate Contest. It is my hopethat Josai students who have started studying the Czech language willcompete in the context next year.”
There were ten participants, both male and female, in this year’s contest.
The proceedings began with each contestant giving a self-introduction
in Czech. They then each gave a five-minute speech on one of two
set topics, either “food and household customs” or “personal plans
for the future.” While each contestant differed in age, grade, learning
experience, and environment, all demonstrated the fruits of their hard
work before a large audience.
Based on the scrupulous assessment of the five judge panel ofAmbassador Fialková, Professor Kenichi Abe (Rikkyo University),

Ms. Utsuda shakes hands with Ambassador Fialková during the award ceremony

A commemorative photo with contestants and judges

Recipient of the Chancellor’s Award, Ôe (center)

Ambassadors view the photography exhibition at the 3rd building art gallery

7No.17 2013.9.30
Professor Markéta Gebhartová (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies),

Czech Exchange,” coordinated in conjunction with the debate contest.

Kôhei Tsukamoto (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Central and SouthAs part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international

Eastern Europe Division), and Ryôko Yamamoto (Czech Center),exchange to cultivate global human resources, our university has formed

Hikari Utsuda was given first prize, receiving her certificate and prize ofacademic exchange programs with a number of institutions worldwide,a one-month study abroad stay at a Czech university including airfare

with a particular emphasis on universities in Central Europe. Duringfrom Prague to other European cities, from Ambassador Fialková.
Contestant Tomoko Ôe received honorable mention with the—special
to this year’s contest—Noriko Mizuta Chancellor’s Award along witha certificate and memento from Chancellor Mizuta.
To close the event, three Josai student representatives who began
studying the Czech language last April took the stage to give greetings
and announce their aspirations for the future in Czech. We have great
expectations for these students in terms of their improvement in the
Czech language and ability to promote global communication.
In addition, the Mizuta Art Gallery located in the 3rd building of

Chancellor Mizuta’s visit to the Czech Republic last March, Josai wasable to form an academic exchange agreement with the University of
Economics, Prague thanks to the gracious introduction of Ambassador
Fialková. This agreement will be followed by another Josai visit to the
Czech Republic in June, with stops at the aforementioned Universityof Economics, Charles University in Prague, and Masaryk University.
The exhibition featured numerous photos of the beautiful Czech
landscape, Josai’s visit to the Czech Republic last June, various
symposia and events related to the Czech Republic that have been
held at Josai, and other photos that introduce Czech music, literature,animation, puppet theater, and other products of their unique culture.

campus held a special photography exhibition entitled “Josai and3rd Meeting of the Josai Dalian-Northeastern
University Alumni Association Held

International
Exchange

D a t e: May 26, 2013
Place: Shangri-La Hotel, Dalian, People’s Republic of China
On May 26, 2013, a visiting Josai delegation led by Chancellor
Noriko Mizuta participated in the 3rd Meeting of the Josai Dalian-Doctoral Program has made, which will graduate its first class of PhD
recipients this spring.” Chancellor Mizuta later added, “Your homeinstitution, Josai University, will soon pass its 50th anniversary, andwe would like to request your continued support in the future.” Thealumni association then presented Chancellor Mizuta with a generous
donation to commemorate Josai’s 50th anniversary. Afterward, Dalian

Northeastern University Alumni Association at a hotel in downtown
Dalian, China.
Nearly 120 participants attended this meeting including graduatesof the Japan-China Joint Doctoral Program who studied at Josai or
Josai International University, graduates from the JMBA scholarshipor joint education program, past recipients of the “Takashi Mukaibo
Memorial” Takashi Murai scholarship and “Mikio Mizuta Memorial”
Noriko Mizuta scholarships, as well as graduates by privately fundedstudying, and visiting professors from Dalian University of Foreign
Languages, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian Maritime
University, and Northeastern University. It’s with great pleasure thatwe’ve seen the alumni association grow in both attendance and content
each year.
Chancellor Mizuta kicked off the meeting by expressing her pleasure atbeing able to meet alumni again, saying, “This marks the 3rd meetingof the alumni association, and today we are pleased to be joined byformer graduates from as far away as Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin.
It gives me great pleasure to see all the alumni gathered today, many of
who have gone on to start businesses, work in the mass media, or serve
as industry leaders. I’m also pleased at the strides that the Japan-China

University of Technology professor and President of the Dalian
China-Japan Alumni Association Du Fenggang, Professor Chen Yanof the Dalian University of Foreign Languages, and others provided
a few words.
In addition, Professor Zhang Wei of Dalian University of Technology
led a ceremony to name faculty for JIU’s Global Institute for Green
Materials.
This meeting assembled alumni working as leaders in a wide variety
of fields, such as university faculty at European, American or Chinese
institutions and business executives in China’s global industry. Their
spirit and dedication to human resource development has spread tothe current generation of Josai students who have expressed a similar
will to excellence. With the combined efforts and contributions ofmembers of the alumni association, we can expect continued growth ofJapan-China relations and development in the economic and cultural
realms.

Chancellor Mizuta takes commemorative photo with the alumni association, donation in handCommemorative photo with all participants

8No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Visits China Business Executives Academy, Dalian
D a t e: May 27, 2013
Place: China Business Executives Academy, Dalian, People’s Republic of China
On May 27, 2013, a Josai delegation led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta
visited China Business Executives Academy, Dalian, meeting withacademy president Lin Anxi.
The Business Executives Academy, Dalian opened its doors in Septemberof last year as a learning institution dedicated to the education andtraining of business and industry executives across China while forming
alliances with other business schools around the globe. As enrollees fromall over China mostly undergo a program at seminar house, the inside of
the campus has facilities such as restaurant and hotel accommodation.
After serving as party secretary for the Dalian University of Technology
for many years, Professor Lin was named president of China Business
Executives Academy, Dalian. Professor Lin has also made invaluable
contributions in establishing the Josai University Educational Corporation
offices in Dalian as well as the Japan-China Joint PhD Program.
During the meeting, Professor Lin enlightened the group with the many
trials and tribulations of building the academy, while the Josai group

International
Exchange

provided reports on the progress of Josai’s academic exchange with the
Dalian University of Technology and the Japan-China Joint PhD Program.
Afterward, Professor Lin led the delegation on a guided tour of theirglorious new campus and facilities, also giving the group a glimpse of
the grove of beautiful Mizuta Sakura trees that were donated by Josaiin a tree planting ceremony in May 2012.

Chancellor Mizuta (left) and Advisor Takashi Murai (center) meet with President Lin (right)

Dalian University of Technology Holds Ceremony for “Takashi Mukaibo
Memorial” Takashi Murai Scholarship, “Mikio Mizuta Memorial”
Noriko Mizuta Scholarship, 9th Annual Mikio Mizuta Book Donation

International
Exchange

D a t e: May 27, 2013
Place: Dalian University of Technology, People’s Republic of China

A shot of Chancellor Mizuta and Party Secretary Zhang Dexiang’s meeting

The scholarship award ceremony

On May 27, 2013, a Josai delegation led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta
paid a visit to the Dalian University of Technology.
Following a meeting with Party Secretary Zhang Dexiang, representatives
from both universities—including Secretary Zhang and university
Vice President Ning Guiling—assembled for the ceremony to present
the “Takashi Mukaibo Memorial” Takashi Murai Scholarship andthe “Mikio Mizuta Memorial” Noriko Mizuta Scholarship. Thesescholarships were awarded to thirty-nine Dalian graduate students inall, presented by either Chancellor Mizuta or Advisor Takashi Murai,
respectively. The scholarships were awarded to outstanding PhD or
MA students in a variety of fields of whom much is expected in theirchosen endeavors of either academic research or business.
This was followed by the ceremony for the Mikio Mizuta Book Donation,
this time presented by Josai Professor Kazunobu Fukushima to Dalian
University of Technology Chair of Economics Su Jingqin. This donationconsists of selections from a collection which can trace the contributions Mikio
Mizuta made toward Japan’s economic development from Japan’s period of

economic recovery following WWII to the high-growth period of the Japaneconomy. To date 763 volumes have been donated to Dalian University ofTechnology’s library. This, the 9th installment of the donation, collects 117
volumes from government and serial publications, white papers, and Josai
University and Josai International University memorandums, in addition to
texts on applied mathematics, women’s studies, and social welfare.

The book donation catalogue being presented to Professor Su Jingqin (left)

9No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Visits Dalian University of Foreign Languages andCelebrates the Name Changes Ceremony

International
Exchange

D a t e: May 28, 2013
Place: Dalian University of Foreign Languages, People’s Republic of China
On May 28, 2013, a Josai delegation led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta
visited Dalian University of Foreign Languages (DLUFL), meetingwith Party Secretary Liu Zhenwan and university president Sun Yuhua.
The Dalian University of Foreign Languages is regarded as the mostprestigious national university of foreign studies in Northeast China
with an enrollment of approximately 13,000 students.
This year, DLUFL received an upgrade in status, changing its name fromthe Dalian Academy of Foreign Languages to the Dalian University ofForeign Languages. Josai’s visit landed fortuitously on the day before
the name change ceremony. The meeting between the Josai delegation
and DLUFL officials was used to reflect on the accomplishments of theiracademic exchange program thus far as well as evaluate the progress of
the Japan-China Tourism and Human Resources program. They also

discussed the progress of fellowships and acceptance to the DLUFL allEnglish school for those Dalian students intending to study at Josai
International University’s Faculty of Tourism in the future.
At the name change ceremony, the Josai delegation presented DLUFL
with a model of the ship Nippon Maru to honor the “setting sail” of
their new university. In return, Party Secretary Liu awarded eachmember of the delegation with a personally inscribed certificate.
Secretary Liu has, for many years, worked at the forefront of the
tourism field, establishing Dalian as the “Romantic City,” while
spearheading the branding movement in the realm of global urban
tourism. Secretary Liu led the delegation on a guided tour of campus,
even introducing them to the grove of red acacia trees that he has been
personally responsible for cultivating.

Chancellor Mizuta meets with President Sun of DLUFL

Party Secretary Liu (left) poses with Nippon Maru model in hand alongside Chancellor Mizuta

Josai Forms Academic Exchange Agreement with Poland’s University of Warsaw
D a t e: June 3, 2013
Place: University of Warsaw, Republic of Poland
On June 3, 2013, the Josai University Educational Corporation
formed an academic exchange agreement with the University of
Warsaw in Poland.
As part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international
exchange to cultivate global human resources, our university has formed
academic exchange programs with a number of institutions worldwide,with a particular emphasis on universities in Central Europe and otherparts of Asia. Josai has in fact already formed exchange agreementswith the Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology and the
University of Lodz. Katsuhiko Namikawa, director of the Management
Planning Office, and Maria Shiguemi Ichiyama, director of the Center
for Language Education at Josai International University, visited the
University of Warsaw on Chancellor Noriko Mizuta’s behalf to finalize
the exchange agreement. With this visit, the representatives met
with vice president of research and exchange, Alojzy Z. Nowak andthey completed the academic exchange agreement, with both parties
pledging to devote full attention for the success of the partnership.
The University of Warsaw is a multi-disciplinary university founded in
1816 and counts the composer Frédéric François Chopin as one of its
graduates. At present, the university offers over 100 courses in fields
from social science to natural science and has a total enrollment ofInternational
Exchange

61,300. While Poland is known as the first European nation to engage
in research of Japanese language and culture, the University of Warsaw
served as a central institution in establishing this field by offering the firstcourse on the Japanese language in 1919. Even today, their department
of Japanese and Korean studies in the East Asian Studies Center stands
at the center of the Japanese research field in Europe.
With this academic exchange agreement in place, Josai is planning toaccept foreign students at University of Warsaw. In addition, the two
universities will discuss cooperative projects in a variety of areas, including
joint education and research programs and faculty and student exchange.

Vice President Alojzy Z. Nowak (right) and Director Namikawa sign the academic exchange agreement10No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Visits the University of British Columbia and Princess Takamado Gives a Lecture
D a t e: June 17-18, 2013
Place: The University of British Columbia, Canada
On June 17 and 18, 2013, a delegation from the Josai University
Educational Corporation led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta paid a visit
to the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada.
This most recent visit was made to discuss the expansion of academic
exchange between UBC and Josai University Educational Corporation.
The delegation met with university President Stephen J. Toope andProvost David Farrar and later toured the facilities of the School ofSocial Work, meeting with Director Timothy Stainton.
On the 18th, the delegation attended a lecture hosted by UBC regarding

International
Exchangecurrent enrollment of 40,000 undergraduate and 10,000 graduate students
makes it the largest multidisciplinary university in Western Canada.
Josai’s relationship with UBC began in 1991 when Chancellor Mizuta
worked there as an eminent professor. Josai has since maintained
the deep connection between the two schools by inviting visiting
professors from UBC on a regular basis. In recent years, Josai
International University’s Faculty of International Humanities formed
an academic exchange agreement with the UBC’s Department of AsianStudies thus establishing a number of cooperative programs including
the dispatching of Japanese language lecturers to UBC and a summer
research and training program at the JIU Faculties of International
Humanities and Social Work Studies.

the Princess Takamado collection of ornamental miniature handcarvings (known as “netsuke” in Japanese). The lecture was held at the
Liu Institute, located adjacent to the Department of Asian Studies,and drew a large audience of students, faculty, scholarsof Japanese culture, and members of the local JapaneseCanadian community who contributed to a lively discussionthat ran over the allotted time. Princess Takamado ishighly regarded as both a collector and scholar of netsuke
and opened an exhibition about photos of netsuke entitled“The Princess Takamado Special Exhibition—Birds that
Fly and Netsuke that Travel” in addition to her collectionof netsuke at the Mizuta Museum of Art in Josai University
in September 2012.
The University of British Columbia was founded in 1908. Its With President Toope (center) at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology

A shot of the Princess Takamado lecture

Rector of Petra Christian University Visits Josai, Forms Academic Exchange Agreement
D a t e: July 5, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On July 5, 2013, Professor Dr. Rolly Intan of Indonesia’s Petra
Christian University (PCU) visited Tokyo Kioicho Campus to form
an academic exchange agreement with our university.
As part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international exchange
to cultivate global human resources, our university has formed academic
exchange agreements with a number of institutions worldwide, with aparticular emphasis on universities in Central Europe and other parts of Asia.
Josai’s relations with PCU were born out of their participation in the Asia
Summer Program which was held at PCU last July. With Professor Intan’svisit in this time, our two universities signed an academic exchange agreement.
PCU is a private university founded in 1961 in Indonesia’s second largest
city of Surabaya with aspirations of becoming an international university
rooted in the principles of compassion and Christian values. The university
is composed of six undergraduate schools with twenty-one majors and two
graduate schools. Their curriculum is not just academic in nature, withmany programs that emphasize the cultivation of technical expertise andpractical skill. The enrollment of PCU is approximately 8,000 students.
After arriving on campus, Professor Intan and Director of International
Exchange Meilinda MA were given a tour of the facilities in Josai’s recently
completed 3rd building, followed by a meeting with Chancellor Noriko

International
Exchangelead to many fruitful collaborations in a variety of fields.” Professor Intanalso addressed the group by saying, “I hope that this academic exchange
agreement will work to promote the growth of human resources notjust in Japan and Indonesia, but on a global scale.” The two parties
then signed the academic exchange agreement, rendering it official.
After leaving Tokyo Kioicho Campus, PCU delegation then proceeded
to the Awa Campus, the home of Josai International Univeristy’s Facultyof Tourism, where they were given a tour of campus and met with theaforementioned department to discuss concrete plans for implementing
academic exchange. The following day, the delegation visited the Chiba
Togane Campus where they were guided on another tour of campus facilities,
followed by a student-conducted interview of Professor Intan in English.

Mizuta and other Josai executives in the international conference room.
Preceding the signing, Chancellor Mizuta spoke on behalf of the Josai group,
saying, “As Josai and Petra Christian University bear many similarities interms of academics, it is my hope that this academic exchange agreement will

Signing of the academic exchange agreement11No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Forms Academic Exchange Agreement with China’s Collegeof Humanities & Sciences of Northeast Normal University

International
Exchange

D a t e: September 9, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On September 9, 2013, Chancellor Mu Shuyuan and Honorary
Director of the School of Japanese Language and Culture Hong
Xichuan of the College of Humanities & Sciences of Northeast Normal
University in Changchun, Jilin visited Tokyo Kioicho Campus to
finalize an academic exchange agreement between the two schools. A
joint Japan-China education program was also included as part of thiscomprehensive agreement.
The College of Humanities & Sciences of Northeast Normal University
is a private university that was founded in 1988 and certified by China’s
Department of Education in 2004. Located in Changchun, Jilin—in theheart of Changchun’s high-tech industry—the university consists of 13
academic schools (such as International Commerce, Literature, Social Welfare,Fine Art, and Design), 42 majors, and an enrollment of approximately 10,000.
At the signing, Josai University Educational Corporation Chancellor Noriko
Mizuta gave a few words by saying, “With programs in media, social welfare,business, and others, the College of Humanities & Sciences of Northeast
Normal University and Josai University Educational Corporation sharemany common fields. By combining our efforts, I hope that we can cultivate
the global human resources that are so essential in the 21st century.”

The signing of the agreement“Josai University Educational Corporation brings its wealth of experienceand diverse range of subjects. Using our common fields as a base, I hopethat we can extend academic exchange between our two schools.” Theacademic exchange agreement was then signed by both parties.
The goal of the joint education program will be to develop human resources
who can contribute to today’s global society as experts in specialized fields
such as business, finance, tourism, media, IT, and welfare and possess a
facility with Japanese, Chinese, and English as well as a comprehensive
knowledge of Japanese and Chinese culture and society.

Chancellor Mizuta was followed by Chancellor Mu Shuyuan who said,

Josai Visits China Medical University, Agrees on Nursing Training ProgramD a t e: September 13, 2013
Place: China Medical University, People’s Republic of China

International
Exchange

On September 13, a Josai University Educational Corporation delegation
Japanese language education and Japanese literature, with representatives
led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta visited China Medical University infrom the two schools agreeing to continue to develop these projects.
Shenyang where they met with university president Zhao Qun.
After their meeting, the Josai delegation took in China Medical University’s
After meeting with Party Secretary Dai Wanjin during a visit in Octoberhistorical exhibition room with it’s numerous photographs and other2011, Josai and China Medical University formed an academic exchange
historical materials and visited the buildings that housed the Southagreement in December of the same year. The two schools have since
Manchuria Medical College, the precursor to China Medical University.
been in discussion to develop joint education programs that cultivate
Kanae Iida, a member of the Josai delegation and director of JIU’s Faculty
highly skilled human resources in medical welfare, environmentalof Nursing, also held an interview with CMU’s nursing director to discuss
science, nursing, pharmacy, and linguistics, as well as an overseas training
their hosting of the training program and later toured the facilities of the
program for Josai International University’s Faculty of Nursing.
university affiliated hospital, the largest general hospital in Northeast China.
This latest meeting was attended by President Zhao, as well as Director
With this most recent visit and agreement, one can expect many greatof International Exchange, Pan Bochen, and Vice Chairman for the
programs to come out of the Japan-China partnership, ones that are
Japanese Language Institute, Wang He.
aimed at the development of human resources in the medical, nursing,
At the meeting, Chancellor Mizuta remarked that, “In light of theand welfare fields, in addition to Japanese language education.
continuation of decreased birthrates and a rapidly aging populationin Japan and China, our hope is to deepen Japan-China alliance todevelop treatment, care giving, and welfare programs that address
this issue.” President Zhao registered his agreement by adding,“Our plan is to strengthen academic exchange between our two
universities in the interest of fostering medical professionals who
are deeply rooted in both the national and local communities.”
To this point, students in Josai International University’s Facultyof Nursing have performed their training in the United States
during their first year. However, there was working-level talk ofmoving this program to China Medical University. There wasalso talk of faculty appointment and joint research programs in Meeting with Chancellor Mizuta and President Zhao
The China Medical University campus
12No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Forms Agreement with Northeastern University for Joint ProgramD a t e: September 14, 2013
Place: Northeastern University, People’s Republic of China
On September 14, 2013, a Josai delegation led by Chancellor Noriko
Mizuta visited Northeastern University in China’s Shenyang province tomeet with university president Ding Lieyun and finalize an agreementthat will develop a joint program between the two universities.
There are very few examples of joint programs formed between Japanese
universities and universities abroad, making this a groundbreaking proposalthat offers exciting new prospects for international academic exchange.
The details of this agreement stipulate the formation of a jointly run
department (under the provisional name “Northeastern University Facultyof International Cultural Innovation”) on the campuses of both universities.
This program will promote research and education primarily in the fields
of engineering, humanities, and media studies in the interest of developing
highly skilled professionals who can contribute at the global level.
At the meeting, the Josai delegation sat with President Ding, along withVice President Jiang Maofa, Assistant to the President Wu Jinsong,
Director of International Collaboration and Exchange Yu Fuxiao,
Director of the School of Foreign Languages Wang Qiuju, and otherNortheastern University faculty to discuss the details of this proposal.
During the meeting, Chancellor Mizuta addressed the participants
with the following: “It is a great honor to be involved in the creationof a joint program with Northeastern University, an institution witha rich tradition, as it greets its 90th anniversary. By combining theInternational
Exchange

Finalizing the agreement

Josai University Educational Corporation with its excellence in thehumanities—the goal is to cultivate professionals who are able toutilize cutting-edge technology in the creative industry.”
Based on this agreement, the two universities will form a planningcommittee that will then focus on the various preparations necessary
for the establishment of the joint program, including the acquisitionsof permits and licenses from the Chinese Board of Education, with thegoal of opening program doors as soon as possible.
Josai and Northeastern University first formed a program of academic
exchange in August 2010, and have since actively engaged in a number offaculty and student exchanges. Then, Josai and Northeastern University,
along with the Dalian University of Technology and Dalian University ofForeign Languages, established the Japan-China Joint PhD Program in
2010, leading numerous exchange students to enroll in its intensive lecture
series. Lastly, in recognition of her contributions and achievements in therealm of academic exchange, Chancellor Mizuta was conferred with anhonorary professorship from Northeastern University in September 2012.

strength of both our universities, this program will take linguistics,
culture, and media as its core curriculum with the hope of developing
creative and globally-minded human resources.” President Ding
then added, “Through the establishment of this joint program thatutilizes the strengths of both schools—Northeastern University
with its excellence in environmental science and technology andJosai Forms Academic Exchange Agreement with Jilin
Teachers' Institute of Engineering & Technology

International
Exchange

D a t e: September 14, 2013
Place: Jilin Teachers' Institute of Engineering & Technology, People’s Republic of China
On September 14, 2013, a Josai delegation led by Chancellor Noriko
Mizuta met with university Vice President Liu Qi of the Jilin Teachers'
Institute of Engineering & Technology in downtown Shenyang toform an academic exchange agreement between the two universities.
The Jilin Teachers' Institute of Engineering & Technology, with its finearts department that offers degrees in many different fields such as design,
fashion, animation, and industrial arts, has much in common with Josai
International University’s Faculty of Media Studies. Thus, with thismost recent agreement, we can anticipate many future educational andresearch collaborations, including faculty and student exchange.
During the meeting, in accordance with the growth of China’s tourism
industry and increased demand for highly trained professionals in thisarea, Chancellor Mizuta offered to host exchange students from Jilin
who wish to study at JIU’s Faculty of Tourism or Graduate Schoolof International Administration. Vice President Liu expressed his
agreement with the plan, saying, “We hope to begin the program ofacademic exchange as soon as possible in order to actualize these goals.”
Located in Changchun, Jilin, the Jilin Teachers' Institute of Engineering& Technology is a public university founded in 1979 under theapproval of the State Council, and is widely known as the top fulltime occupational university in the three Northeastern provinces of
Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang, as well as in Inner Mongolia. The
university is comprised of seven academic departments in the fields ofengineering, physical science, humanities, management, economics,
education, and fine arts, and has an enrollment of approximately 11,000.

A commemorative photo with representatives from both parties

13

No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Visits Northeastern University for 90 th Anniversary
Celebration, Chancellor Mizuta Gives Keynote SpeechInternational
Exchange

D a t e: September 15, 2013
Place: Northeastern University, People’s Republic of China

A view of the Northeastern University ceremony

A view of the keynote lecture

On September 15, 2013, a Josai University Educational Corporationdelegation led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta travelled to China’s
Northeastern University to take part in commemorating the 90th

In this first of 15 planned lectures, Chancellor Mizuta explained theformation process and history of literature and literary criticism, citing
multiple theories of literary criticism to a rapt audience of approximately
70 faculty members and graduate students from the Japanese language
department.
Following the lecture, the delegation was reunited with former
graduates of Josai International University who are now teachingat Northeastern University’s Japanese language department. They
chatted about daily life in China and exchanged advice on teaching
and ways to approach students.
Later that evening, the Josai delegation joined students, alumni, andmembers of the local community in the packed gymnasium to enjoy a “nightof performance” to celebrate Northeastern University’s 90th anniversary.

anniversary of that school’s founding. Josai, invited as a sister school ofNortheastern University—with whom they have enjoyed great successin the areas of academic exchange and human resource development—
was one of only two Japanese universities invited to the ceremony.
Since their 1923 founding, Northeastern University has remained
dedicated to the founding credo (“Self discipline, seeking and acting
for truth”) in developing their school. Northeastern University has
already produced over 250,000 graduates and has contributed to thedevelopment of not just domestic but global human resources, while
also being distinguished for their research in a wide variety of fields.
At present, Northeastern University is on pace to realize its goal of
becoming, “known as one of the leading universities in all of China
and a top research university worldwide.”
Many different events commemorating Northeastern University’s 90th
anniversary were held on that day, under a cloudless blue sky, but for the
ceremony held mid-morning in front of the main auditorium, Chancellor
Mizuta took a special seat on the stage alongside other invited guests.
In the afternoon, academic forums were held individually at eachgraduate school, with Chancellor Mizuta—who has been named
honorary professor at Northeastern University—giving a keynote
lecture on the subject of “What is Literary Criticism?” at a classroom
in the School of Foreign Languages.

A night of performance

Josai Visits China’s Liaoning University
D a t e: September 16, 2013
Place: Liaoning University, People’s Republic of China
On September 16, 2013, a Josai delegation led by Chancellor Noriko
Mizuta paid a visit to Liaoning University where they met with
university president Huang Taiyan and other administrators.
Founded in 1948, Liaoning University is a national university withan enrollment of 27,000. As a key national university, the school is
widely recognized as a top-ranked institution in Liaoning province.
Liaoning is a multidisciplinary university comprised of 25 departmentswith schools in international economics, financial management, andInternational
Exchangecommercial management. The university, replete with a Japanese
language department, attracts many Japanese exchange students eachyear. Josai first formed an academic exchange agreement with Liaoning
University upon their visit in October 2011, and the two schools havesince been in active discussion regarding their forthcoming programof exchange.
Seated in attendance at the meeting were Chancellor Mizuta andAdvisor Takashi Murai of Josai University as well as President Huang
14No.17 2013.9.30
Taiyan and Vice President Xu Ping of Liaoning University. The
meeting began with both parties providing reports on recent activities
and research projects at their respective universities before moving on
to discuss larger topics of Japanese culture and language education as
well as certain key environmental, business, and welfare issues that areimportant to both nations and pertinent to a program of exchange.
Chancellor Mizuta spoke at the meeting, providing the following
proposal, “With the beginning of the 2+2 program, we hope to
implement a concrete program of exchange with Liaoning University
as soon as possible. As our university is channeling much energy into
sports, we are also interested in planning some form of sports-related
exchange.” President Huang then added, “Our two universities sharemany common strengths and areas of study. Since Liaoning also has
a Japanese Language Education Center, we would like to embark on a
program of exchange at not just the student but the faculty level as well.”Afterwards the delegation was guided on a tour of the Liaoning campus,
which only seemed to have become more beautiful since the last visit.

The meeting with Chancellor Mizuta and President Huang

Under the guidance of Assistant Director of International Exchange,
Zhang Haibo, the group took a walking tour of the classrooms at
Liaoning’s law department, as well as the gymnasium, library, andother campus facilities.

Josai Visits Shenyang Normal University, Agrees toStart 2+2 Program

International
Exchange

D a t e: September 16, 2013
Place: Shenyang Normal University, People’s Republic of China
On September 16, 2013, a Josai delegation led by Chancellor Noriko
Mizuta paid a visit to Shenyang Normal University to meet with
university President Lin Qun.
Aside from President Lin, Vice President Zhang Hui, museum
Director Sun Ge, and Director of International Exchange Zhang Wei,
were present at the meeting that took place at the Museum of Natural
History located on the university campus.
Chancellor Mizuta began the meeting by thanking the people at theMuseum of Natural History for their assistance in constructing theeight meter-long full-scale model skeleton of a carnivorous dinosaur
that is now on display at the Josai fossils gallery in the new 3rdbuilding of the Tokyo Kioicho Campus that opened in April 2013.
Chancellor Mizuta provided a report on the gallery’s recent activities,
remarking on its success in attracting a great number of visitors.
She also provided an overview of the activities and research at Josai
International University’s Faculty of Media Studies and Faculty ofTourism and stressed the importance of cultivating global humanresources in the fields of nursing and social welfare, given the ongoingreality of decreasing birthrates and an aging population.
President Lin commented, “Through the study of one another’s culture
and language, my hope is to produce exceptional human resources who

can contribute to the development of both of our nations.”
With the formation of an academic exchange agreement in October
2011, Josai and Shenyang Normal University have been actively
discussing a program for faculty and student exchange.
And with this most recent visit, the two schools have agreed upon theimplementation of a Japan-China joint education program. Based on
this agreement, and through continuing consultation between the twoschools, one can expect the creation of a 2+2 joint program in thefields of business administration, IT, media studies, tourism, welfare,humanities, and environmental science.
Following the meeting, the delegation was led on a tour of campus
where they attended an exhibition of the diverse range of artwork
created by the Fine Arts faculty, were shown a number of rare
documents at the university library archive, and enjoyed a cup of tea
with students from the Tourism department.
Shenyang Normal University is also known as the premiere school forstudy of Manchurian history and culture and the Manchu language,
which, at present, is in danger of disappearing. With Shenyang Normal
University’s plan to create a Manchurian studies graduate program in
the near future, Josai expressed their willingness to serve as a consultant
on the Japan side in helping to develop this area of research.

Chancellor Mizuta and President Lin at the meeting

Enjoying a cup of tea at the department of Tourism

15

No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Visits China’s Bohai University, Forms Academic Exchange Agreement
D a t e: September 17, 2013
Place: Bohai University, People’s Republic of China

International
Exchange

On September 17, 2013, a Josai University Educational Corporationdelegation led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta visited Bohai University
in China to meet with university president Yang Yandong and formed
an academic exchange agreement.
Bohai University is a multi-disciplinary university located in Jinzhou
in the western part of Liaoning province and is operated under the
direct jurisdiction of Liaoning. Following the consolidation of Jinzhou
Normal University (founded 1950) and Liaoning Commercial School(founded 1951) in 2003, the name of the resulting institution waschanged to Bohai University.
Located on a sprawling campus of more than 1.3 million square meters,
Bohai University has an enrollment of 23,000 with 22 academic
departments such as administration, education, history, tourism,
commercial science, biology, mathematics, foreign languages, physicalscience, journalism, and fine arts, as well as 56 majors.

Present at the meeting were Chancellor Mizuta and Vice President
Masato Kurabayashi from Josai International University and President
Yang Yandong and Deputy Party Secretary Zhao Hui of Bohai.
Chancellor Mizuta addressed the participants by saying, “I had been
told that the Bohai campus was one of the most beautiful in China, but
upon coming here I was thoroughly impressed. I hope that students
at my university also have the opportunity to study at this beautiful
campus.” President Yang also remarked that, “As Bohai University has
had little opportunity to interact with Japanese universities, we are eager
to begin this program of academic exchange with Josai.” The two parties
then signed the agreement, rendering the academic exchange official.
Since Josai and Bohai University have much in common in terms offields and departments—including tourism, media studies, and finearts—we can anticipate a variety of collaborative projects with thismost recent exchange agreement.

A commemorative photo with representatives from both universities

A sprawling campus that makes use of its botanical garden

Josai Forms Comprehensive Agreement with the Sun Music Group to Foster
Resources for Entertainments of Next Generation, Will Start “Course on
Contemporary Arts and Entertainment” in JIU’s Faculty of Media Studies

International
Exchange

D a t e: July 19, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On July 19, 2013, at Tokyo Kioicho Campus, the Josai University Educational
Corporation held a signing ceremony and press conference to announce theformation of a comprehensive agreement with Sun Music Group to foster
the next generation of visual and media artists and entertainers.
In accordance with this agreement, beginning August 26th at thein the near future.” This was followed by remarks from CEO Aizawa
who expressed his ambition for this alliance by saying, “By combining
JIU’s comprehensive system of human resource development with ourcutting-edge know-how, I hope that we can foster human resources
capable of producing new cultural content in this global digital age.”
The agreement was then finalized with the signatures of Chancellor
Mizuta and CEO Aizawa.
Following the signing, Dean of the Faculty of Media Studies,
Fukuyuki En, provided an overview of the Josai University Educational
Corporation and the Faculty of Media Studies’ approach toward thedevelopment of human resources, while outlining the goals for thiscooperative agreement with Sun Music Group.
Finally, Director of Sun Music Production, Inc., Hiroyuki Oka, who willserve as a lecturer for the “Course on Contemporary Arts and Entertainment”
starting in August, closed the press conference with a presentation thatsummarized the objectives and curriculum for the program.
The festivities then moved to a classroom on the 3rd floor where CEOTokyo Kioicho Campus, Josai International University will offer a
new “Course on Contemporary Arts and Entertainment” in the film &performing arts course, the Faculty of Media Studies to foster humanresources for entertainments of next generation.
Chancellor Noriko Mizuta; Dean of the Faculty of Media Studies,
Fukuyuki En; CEO of Sun Music Group, Masahisa Aizawa; andDirector of Sun Music Production, Inc., Hiroyuki Oka were on handfor the press conference which gathered reporters from educational
related magazines as well as the general media.
Chancellor Mizuta gave a brief address before the signing, saying, “At theFaculty of Media Studies, we have devoted much energy to the developmentof human resources who are capable of working at the forefront of society.
We are extremely excited at this latest opportunity to fulfill a big dream ofours—that of developing human resources who can contribute at the global
level in the field of entertainment, an area that will increase in importance

Aizawa and Director Oka served as guest lecturers in the Faculty ofMedia Studies course “Introduction to Media” where they spoke on“The Role and Function of Entertainment Production” before an
16

No.17 2013.9.30

Chancellor Mizuta and CEO Aizawa provide opening remarks

A look at CEO Aizawa and Director Oka’s guest lectureattentive audience of about 200 students.
The curriculum for JIU’s Faculty of Media Studies at the Tokyo KioichoCampus is comprised of eight specialties including (professionally supervised)production and direction, visual technology, visual arts, animation and CG,
performing arts, theater, music and sound, and content business in the interestof developing human resources that can contribute in a diverse range of fields.
Sun Music Group has been cultivating talent in the field of performing artsfor over forty years, producing some of the most well known talent in theindustry. They also operate the Sun Music Academy, and Tokyo☆showbizthat serves as a training facility for up and coming performers.
This time, by combining a media related comprehensive education
system of JIU with the exceptional know-how of the Sun Music Group,
we can foster human resources who will carry the future of Japan’scultural content industry including film, media, dance, and acting
into the global digital age and can contribute to future socioeconomic
growth through the development of new cultural content.
In the current world of broadcast media, the need for drama andentertainment programming is greater than ever, producing a tremendous

demand for talent in the performing and commentating arenas. In this day
and age there is also an increasing emphasis on service experience based on“comfort, hospitality, satisfaction, and impression” for the formation of brandidentity. By following this sort of approach to entertainment education,
JIU’s Faculty of Media Studies hopes to cultivate human resources whoare prepared to compete in this era of “experiential economics.”
For our “Course on Contemporary Arts and Entertainment,” students will
be encouraged to develop an individual sense of expression and production
skills through lectures on entertainment principles (fundamental knowledge,
theories of expression), training (basic training in physical expression), as
well as practice (production training). In so doing, the hope is to produce
human resources in a broad range of entertainment fields including not
only those who work as actors, scenario writers, promoters, producers,
and directors, but also those who work in departments of advertisingand public relations, sales, planning, and marketing of the talent agency,
content production company, and event company. This unprecedented
alliance between the entertainment industry and an academic institution
figures as a bold experiment that hopes to yield equally exciting results.

Josai Group Holds Summer English Seminar in Malaysia,
Visits Malaysian Ministry of Tourism

International
Exchange

Dates: August 26-September 10, September 5-20, 2013
Places: Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia
From August 26 to September 10 and from September 5 to 20, 2013,
respectively, the Josai Group held Summer English seminars at two different
universities in Malaysia. The group—comprised of Josai University, Josai
International University, and Josai Base College—sent approximately 120
students to Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Universiti Tunku
Abdul Rahman (UTAR) for this two-week-long English immersion program.
This marks the second year of the program, which began in 2012. In
studying in Malaysia—a member of the Commonwealth of Nations anda multicultural nation that stands as a forerunner of the tourism industry
within Asia—the goal of this program is an intensive study of English in

an attempt to elevate ability and obtain a more international perspective.
Upon the invitation of Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen (former Malaysian
Minister of Tourism and current Tourism advisor and honorary doctoral
recipient from JIU), participants in the seminar joined thirteen students
and interns from Josai’s Faculty and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences working at Malaysia’s Management and Science University(MSU) to visit the Ministry of Tourism. Once there, Ng Yen Yen gave
a lecture and Q&A session regarding Malaysian tourism. The group wasthen treated to lunch, making the visit a great opportunity to experience
the famed hospitality of a country known for its commitment to tourism.

Participants surround former Minister of Tourism Ng Yen Yen

A group photo with all seminar participants

17No.17 2013.9.30

Talks and Symposia
Japan/Asia Film and Image Research Center and JIU Faculty ofMedia Studies Cosponsor “Supernatural Asia” Symposium

Talks
and
Symposia

D a t e: April 27, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus

Director Hideo Nakata (R) provides commentary after the screening

The basement auditorium during session 1

On April 27, 2013, in commemoration of the newly completed 3rd

where Associate Professors Felicidad Bliss Lim of the University ofCalifornia, Irvine and Mayumo Inoue of Hitotsubashi University
gave talks on Aswang Transmedia and Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s
Hauntology, respectively.
For the 3rd session, Professor Akira Mizuta Lippit and head researchersof the Japan/Asia Film and Image Research Center Professor Aaron
Gerow (Yale University) and Professor Mark Nornes (University ofMichigan) joined Professors Felicidad Bliss Lim and Mayumo Inouefor a workshop on the symposium’s theme of “supernatural Asia,”
engaging in a lively discussion surrounding issues of the natural,
supernatural, and unnatural.
The symposium counted roughly 150 participants in all, including film
industry professionals, foreign and domestic scholars, and students
from the JIU Faculty of Media Studies, all of whom listened in rapt
attention during the lecture and workshop sessions.

building of Tokyo Kioicho Campus, Josai University Educational
Corporation hosted the symposium “Supernatural Asia—Exploring
the Natural and Supernatural in Asian Cinema,” cosponsoredby the Japan/Asia Film and Image Research Center and the Josai
International University Faculty of Media Studies with cooperationfrom the Nikkatsu Corporation.
This symposium considers the way in which concepts of the “natural”
and “supernatural” (or “unnatural”) are represented in Asian andJapanese visual media, presenting arguments from a variety of angles.
Akira Mizuta Lippit, Head and Visiting Professor of the Japan/Asia Filmand Image Research Center, Josai University Educational Corporation
and Chair of the Division of Critical Studies for the School of Cinematic
Arts at the University of Southern California, opened the symposiumby saying, “In both the East and Southeast Asian film industries, muchattention has been devoted to the horror genre in recent years. Today,
through film screenings, lectures, and workshops, we’d like to explore
definitions of the natural and supernatural as they appear in film.”
The symposium was divided into three sessions, the first being devoted
to a screening of the hit Hollywood film The Ring 2 at the basement
auditorium in the 1st building of Tokyo Kioicho Campus. The Ring
2 is famous Japanese horror director Hideo Nakata’s remake of his
own film, having also directed the films Ringu and Ringu 2. Following
the screening, Mr. Nakata entertained the audience with recollections
and amusing anecdotes surrounding the production of the film
and participated in a lively Q&A with media studies students whothemselves aspire to work in the film industry.
For the afternoon session, the symposium moved to the 3rd building

The session 3 workshop in session

President Way Kuo of City University of Hong Kong Visits Josai, Gives Lecture
D a t e: April 30, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On April 30, 2013, President Way Kuo of the City University of Hong
Kong (CityU) visited Tokyo Kioicho Campus to give a lecture.

Talks
and
Symposia

Professor Kuo’s visit is a result of the academic exchange agreementthat Josai formed with CityU last October, wherein a Josai delegation18

No.17 2013.9.30

Professor Kuo during his lecture

Professors Kuo and Honorary Professor C. T. Liu receive flowers from the students following lecture

A look at the lecture hall in mid-session

Interacting with students at the English floor

led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta visited the Hong Kong Campus to
finalize the proposal.
Professor Kuo, Honorary Professor C. T. Liu, and other members ofthe visiting CityU delegation convened in the international conference
room in the newly completed 3rd building where they met withof the facilities. The state of the art media studies facilities (a fieldalso emphasized by CityU) and the fossil gallery were the subject ofparticular admiration by the group.
On the following day (May 1), the CityU delegation paid a visit to
Josai International University where, after meeting with the Chairsof JIU’s various departments, were given a tour of the campus’ main
facilities including the Global Institute for Green Materials, theInternational Exchange Lounge, the English Floor (a place where bothinternational and Japanese students are able to interact using English),
the Information Science Research Center, and the Center for Lifelong
Education. The delegation was also interviewed, in English, by JIU
exchange students at the in-campus television studio. This interview
will be uploaded to the JIU website soon, where it will be available forviewing.
The City University of Hong Kong was founded in 1984, and is a
public institution located in Hong Kong’s Kowloon Tong. The
university has seven schools in all including the College of Business,
School of Law, School of Creative Media, and School of Energy andEnvironment, of which the School of Creative Media is the most wellknown. With an enrollment of 20,000, CityU has established allianceswith many local industries to offer valuable on-the-job training to its
students. In addition, CityU was ranked 95th in the 2012-13 QSworldwide university rankings.

Chancellor Mizuta and other Josai executives to discuss concrete plans
for the future of their academic exchange.
Following the meeting, Professor Kuo delivered his lecture entitled,“Reliability and Survivability: Nuclear Energy and the Future of
Energy,” in the basement auditorium of the campus’ 1st building.
Professor Kuo, as a world-renowned scholar in electronic systemdesign, reliability modeling, and nuclear energy, gave a highly
informative talk from a variety of scientific perspectives, providing
many comprehensible examples to make it understandable to all. His
lecture centered on the variety of nuclear and natural energy options
available, a topic that has been widely discussed since the Tohoku
earthquake in 2011 and the public reconsideration of nuclear energy
following the disaster.
Josai also has plans to publish a Japanese translation of Professor Kuo’s
paper on the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant as
another cooperative project between our university and CityU.
After the lecture, the visiting delegation reconvened at the recently
completed 3rd building where they were given a floor-by-floor tour
19

No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Plays Host to TPA for 2nd Annual ASEAN Forum Josai
D a t e: May 7, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus

Talks
and
Symposia

ASEAN, and it is in commemoration of this relationship that theforum was given the name “ASEAN Forum Josai.” This also marks
the first year that a faculty member from Josai’s sister Malaysian school
has been invited to speak at the forum, having extended the invitation
to Professor Prayoon last March.
TPA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1973 by former exchange
students and researchers to Japan with the goal of importing anddisseminating the latest technology and know-how from Japan toThailand in the interest of cultivating human resources. Since its
founding, the TPA has been very active in organizing seminars thatteach Japanese language and industry know-how, as well as successfully
implementing Japanese industrial techniques and labor management.
In addition, TPA serves as the parent organization behind the ThaiNichi Institute of Technology, which was established in 2007 under
the goal of forming a university that taught Japanese craftsmanship.
As part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international
exchange to cultivate global human resources, our university has
been very proactive in forming academic exchange agreements with avariety of institutions worldwide, focusing specifically on universities
in Central Europe and other parts of Asia. In accordance with thisplan, Professor Prayoon visited Josai in October 2012 where he andChancellor Noriko Mizuta signed an agreement of alliance between
TPA and Josai. Through this alliance, Josai was able to expand its
academic exchange even further, signing agreements with Bangkok
University in January and Rangsit University in April of this year.
It is to acknowledge the immense amount of energy that Professor
Prayoon has devoted to strengthening Japan-Thailand relations that
he was invited to give a lecture he entitled, “The Success of Japan-Thai
Relations and Contributions to the Growth of ASEAN industry.”
Before the lecture, Chancellor Mizuta gave words of welcome, followed
by Advisor to the TPA, Jirō Aikō, who introduced Professor Prayoon.
In his speech, Professor Prayoon provided details and background on
the formation of the TPA, an organization he has poured his heart andsoul into to further its development, based on the idea that, “Educationand human resource development are the most vital components ofMinister from the Embassy of Thailand, Singtong Lapisatepun speaks at the reception

JETRO Advisor, Yasuo Hayashi speaks at the reception

Former Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, Hisahiko Okazaki speaks at the reception

TPA Advisor, Shirō Miyamoto speaks at the reception

Professor Prayoon delivers his speech

On May 7, 2013, Josai Center for Innovation hosted the 2nd annual
ASEAN Forum Josai, welcoming Technology Promotion Association(Thailand-Japan) (TPA) President, Assistant Professor Prayoon
Shiowattana, who gave a lecture in the basement-level auditorium of
the 1st building of Tokyo Kioicho Campus.
This year marks the 40th year of friendly relations between Japan and20

No.17 2013.9.30
economic growth.” Professor Prayoon then expounded on his mostMiyamoto; Hosei University Advisor on Academic Affairs, Tadao

significant achievement, the foundation of the Thai-Nichi InstituteKiyonari; TPA and ASEAN cabinet members; representatives fromof Technology. Lastly, Professor Prayoon spoke on Japan-Thailand

the financial sector; and scholars and academics all listened attentively

cooperation as well as the potential for growth in the ASEAN.

while Professor Prayoon delivered his speech. And the reception that

Attendees, including former Chancellor of Tokyo Metropolitan

followed served as a sterling example of the fruits of Japan-Thailand

University, Hiroshi Takahashi; former Minister of Justice, Seiken
Sugiura; Minister from the Embassy of Thailand, Singtong
Lapisatepun; former Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, Hisahiko
Okazaki; JETRO Advisor, Yasuo Hayashi; TPA Advisor, Shirōexchange as well as its potential for future growth judging by the
lively discussion and exchange of information that took place among
participants.

JIU Hosts Japan-Korea Symposium for 20 th Anniversary
D a t e: May 18, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus

Talks
and
Symposia

On May 18, 2013, Josai hosted the Japan-Korea Symposium “The‘Korean Wave’ and ‘Japanese Wave’ amid Globalization” at Tokyo
Kioicho Campus basement auditorium. The event was sponsored by
Josai International University’s Institute for Gender and Women’sStudies and the Center for Korean Cultural Studies, and cosponsored
by JIU’s Faculty for International Humanities.
With ten years having passed since the “Winter Sonata” boom, thisconference exchanged opinions with both Japanese and Korean scholarsthat interrogate the state of contemporary Korean and Japanese culture
by asking questions such as: What was the effect of the Korean Wave
on Japan and Korea? What is the role of TV dramas and other visualmedia in the global age? How are women represented in Japanese andKorean dramas?
Chancellor Noriko Mizuta provided opening remarks at the symposiumby saying, “At present, Korean popular culture demonstrates a tremendous
global influence that transcends both gender and generational differences.
That both Japanese and Korean scholars have assembled here today to
discuss Japanese and Korean popular culture is very significant indeed.”
Next InYoung Nam, Director of Dongseo University’s KwonTaek
IM Film Center delivered a keynote lecture entitled “A Glimpse in
the Female Mirror: The Present State of Korean Feminist Film.”
Professor Nam contends that while cinema is thought of as “a mirrorthat reflects the self,” feminist theory contends that this “self” is in fact
a construction that has been universalized through the phallocentricmale discourse, thereby rendering female identity abject by confining
it to the back side of the mirror. Using these concepts as a criticalfoundation, Professor Nam’s presentation aims to extricate female
identity from its confines within the mirror through the analysis ofmodern feminist cinema.
The symposium continued with panel presentations from Associate
Professor JiYoung Jung of Ewha Womans University on “Images ofJoseon Dynasty Women and Gender Hierarchy in Modern Korean
Society,” Professor Minato Kawamura of Hosei University on “TheOrigin and Future of the Korean Wave,” Professor Takeshi Usami
of Chuo University on “Theories of the Japanese and Korean TV
Drama,” and Professor EunKyung Yang of Chungnam National
University on “Asian Cultural Commonality in the Korean andJapanese Waves,” with Visiting Professor Yasuko Wachi of JIU
serving as discussant.
The auditorium was packed to capacity with nearly 200 participants
both affiliated and unaffiliated with Josai, including fans of Korean
popular culture, students studying the Korean language, and scholars
interested in Korea and gender studies. Despite the continued
turbulence of political relations between Japan and Korea, this
symposium confirmed the cooperation that, at the level of popular
culture, has taken place between the two countries since 1990
insuring that the popularity of Korean culture is not a mere “boom”
and illuminating the potential for a new cultural community in East
Asia. It was thus that the symposium ended with a rousing standing
ovation.
Following the symposium, we were joined by Sim DongSup, directorof the Korean Cultural Center, Korean Embassy as a sponsor ofthis symposium, Shinkun Haku, national Diet member, Melissa
McCormick, Harvard Professor of Japanese Art History and others forthe reception where participants engaged in lively conversation.

The four panelists (from left: Associate Professors Jung and Professors Kawamura, Usami, Yang)

A commemorative photo with the keynote speaker, panelists, and university affiliates

21No.17 2013.9.30

Josai Hosts 3rd ASEAN Forum Josai, Talks
andInvites Former Secretary-General
Symposiaof the ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan● Access Map

D a t e: August 24, 2013
Place: Josai University Educational Corporation,
Tokyo Kioicho Campus
On August 24, 2013, at Tokyo Kioicho Campus, the Josai Center for Innovation
hosted the 3rd Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Josai Forum,cosponsored by Nara prefecture. This year’s forum invited former SecretaryGeneral of the ASEAN, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan to deliver a lecture entitled, “Japanin Developing East Asia and the Changing State of Global Affairs.”
The commemorative lecture series dubbed “ASEAN Forum Josai” wasdeveloped to celebrate the 40th anniversary of cooperative relations between
Japan and ASEAN. The first installment, which invited lecturers from
Josai’s sister schools in Malaysia, was held in March and the second, whichfeatured a lecture from Technology Promotion Association, ThailandJapan (TPA) President Prayoon Shiowattana, took place in May.
Dr. Surin’s lecture provided an overview of Japan-ASEAN relations since the1960s, demonstrating how Japan has stood at the forefront of cooperation with
ASEAN, illustrating their contributions in helping to resolve the Asian financial
crisis in the 1990s or the East Timor issue in Indonesia in 1999. Dr. Surin
also discussed the continued importance of Japan’s role in regional integration,
the strong interest in Japan’s response to TPP negotiations, and the positive
outlook of Japan’s tendency toward economic recovery, despite changing
global conditions brought about by the rise of China and other factors.
Finally, Dr. Surin added that while, in the process of economic development,
ASEAN has significantly enhanced industrial production facilities, what the
future calls for is the advancement of science technology, and innovation,areas in which he expects Japan will continue to make valuable contributions.
The lecture was followed by a Q&A session and concluded with a lively
discussion that reaffirmed Japan-China-Korea-ASEAN relations andemphasized the importance of exchange amongst the younger generation.

Dr. Surin delivers his speech22