PRESS RELEASE November 8, 2013

No. 977

Leading Journalists to come to Japan
from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco
International Symposium"North Africa and Japan in the 21 Century: Creating the Society of Peace andCoexistence through International Cultural Exchange"

November 20, 2013 at Liberty Hall, Meiji University Tokyo
The Japan Foundation and the Institute for Disarmament and Peace Studies at Meiji University will co-host an
International Symposium "North Africa and Japan in the 21 Century: Creating the Society of Peace andCoexistence through International Cultural Exchange" on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at the Liberty Hall in Meiji
University. At the symposium, Japanese and North African key figures will discuss the possible role of Cultural andIntellectual Exchange.
In recent years, political climate in Arab world including North Africa has drastically changed and has impacted on
the society on so many levels. The information we receive from the news coverage in Japan is mainly about theissues on politics and economy. North Africa is promising place for Japanese enterprise to advance its business,
however every time when foreign people are targeted by the terrorist attack, we cannot remove the possibility ofmisunderstanding of the areas and hampering the deepening of the mutual understanding.
Under the circumstances, it is important for us to hear directly from the people what the ordinary citizens are feelingand how they see Japan. At the Symposium, the panelists will deliver their opinions on the possible role of culturaland civil exchange in order to realize multidimensional mutual understanding and empathy.

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 Time: 15:00-19:00 (Door Open:14:45)
Venue: Liberty Hall, Meiji University （1-1 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo）
Directions: 5 min. walk from Ochanomizu Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line), Shin Ochanomizu
station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line), Jinbocho station (Toei Mita Line)
Organizer: The Japan Foundation, The Institute for Disarmament and Peace Studies at Meiji University
Supporter: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japaｎ
Language: Japanese/English (Simultaneous Interpretation available)
Admission: Free (advance registration required)
For Registration: Please send the name, organization/company and contact details in the text with
"North Africa International Symposium" in the subject line to north_africa_symposium@hotmail.com
by Monday, November 18, 2013. (The above contact is an email address for the office in Meiji
University. We will not use personal information for any purpose other than the purpose for which itwas collected.)[Contact] Europe, Middle East and Africa Section, Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange Dept.
Point of Contact: Sone Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6071〒160-0004

東京都新宿区四谷 4-4-1
www.jpf.go.jp

PRESS RLEASE November 8, 2013

No. 977 P2

International Symposium “North Africa and Japan in the 21 Century - Creating theSociety of Peace and Coexistence through International Cultural Exchange”
Date:
Time:
Venue:
Language:

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
15:00-19:00 (Door Open: 14:45)
Liberty Hall, Meiji University
Japanese/English (Simultaneous Interpretation available)

Program Schedule
14:45
15:00 – 15:05
15:05 – 15:25

15:25 – 16:55
16:55 – 17:15
17:15 – 18:55
18:55 – 19:00

Registration
Opening Speech: Welcome/Greetings from Organizer
Key Note Speech: "Creating the Society of Peace and Coexistence throughInternational Cultural Exchange, from the stand point of Algeria
Hostage Crisis in In Amenas" (Makoto Katsumata)Session1: "Rethink the Presence of North Africa in Japan and how itis seen"
Break
Session2: "To Increase Awareness of Japanese Culture and theSense of Value in North Africa" (Moderator: Keiko Takaki)
Closing Speech

Panelists (North Africa) Abdulbaset Mohamed Ben Geth (Libiya, International News Reproter, Libya's State News
Agency "LANA", International News Dept.) Mohamed Ait Lachger (Morocco, Principal Editor in Chief, SNRT public television) Tarek Chehidi （Tunisia, Coordinator, ADEA Secretariat,African Development Bank）
 Noura Kort (Tunisia, Radio host and coordinator at Radio Tunis Chaine Internationale (RTCI)) Smail Debeche （Algeria, Professor, University of Algiers III）
Panelists （Japan）
 Makoto Katsumata (Professor, Meiji Gakuin University, Director, International Peace ResearchInstitute, Meiji Gakuin University)
 Kunio Fukuda (Professor, Meiji University, Director, The Institute for Disarmament and Peace
Studies at Meiji University ) Hiroshi Fuse (Journalist, Editorial Writer at The Mainichi Newspapers, Editor in Chief atquarterly journal "Arab") Keiko Takaki (Professor, J. F. Oberlin University)
 Yuichi Kasuya (Professor, Kanazawa University)[Contact] Europe, Middle East and Africa Section, Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange Dept.
Point of Contact: Sone Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6071〒160-0004

東京都新宿区四谷 4-4-1
www.jpf.go.jp