On February 16, 2012, Her Excellency Jadwiga Maria Rodowicz, Ambassador of Poland, visited Josai’s Kioicho campus to have an interview with Chancellor Mizuta.
    For Josai, in the interest of reaching our mid-range goal of increasing international exchange and promote the development of human resources on a global scale, we are especially committed to broadening our academic exchange with central European countries such as Hungary and Poland. The recent visit from Ambassador Rodowicz is just another component of this plan.

During their interview, Chancellor Mizuta stated, “During the course of our exchange with Poland, I have had the good fortune of receiving much advice from Ambassador Rodowicz. Being the largest nation in central Europe, Poland is also an epicenter for Japan studies. For this reason, I’m looking forward to deepening our exchange with Poland, from which we can expect great things.”
    Ambassador Rodowicz responded by saying that, “Our country feels a great kinship with the people of Japan. With our relationship with Josai University serving as the nucleus, it is my hope that we are able to develop the exchange between Japan and Poland even further.”

Following her interview with Chancellor Mizuta, Ambassador Rodowicz delivered a lecture entitled “Diplomatic Relations Between Japan and Poland” in the basement auditorium in front of Josai and JIU students. Her speech covered Japan-Polish relations from a variety of angles, tracing historical changes and democratization in Poland, as well as describing Polish culture and the construction of their recent strategic partnership with Japan.
    Ambassador Rodowicz’s husband—the famous documentary film director Waldemar Czechowski who made the trip to Japan with his wife—also participated in the lecture by giving a speech on “The E-Movie in Poland,” explaining the evolution of media and its role in his home country. The students in the audience listened in rapt attention to both speakers.
    Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jiro Kodera, was also in attendance and gave a few words to the audience. “The so-called “Visegrád 4 (V4)”—the four European nations of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic—will prove to be of vital importance to the future of Japan. As a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I would like to offer my unwavering support for Josai’s academic exchange project,” he said.
    The reception that followed gave those in attendance the chance to meet with Ambassador Rodowicz and Mr. Czechowski and serving as a springboard for further exchange between the two countries.

With 2009 marking the 90-year anniversary of Japan-Poland diplomatic relations, recent years have seen an increased interest in Polish history, culture, and arts in Japan. At Josai, we are considering hosting a panel exhibition on the great Madame Curie, a much beloved figure in Japan.

In September 2011, Josai formed an academic exchange agreement with the Poland Institute of Information Sciences, but with the visit of Ambassador Rodowicz, we hope to extend our project of academic exchange to other Polish universities as well.