On May 7, 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 Josai University Educational Corporation’s Tokyo Kioicho Campus.

This year marks the 40th year of friendly relations between Japan and ASEAN, and it is in commemoration of this relationship that the forum 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 and disseminating the latest technology and know-how from Japan to Thailand in the interest of cultivating human resources. Since its founding, the TPA has been very active in organizing seminars that teach 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 Thai-Nichi 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 a variety of institutions worldwide, focusing specifically on universities in Central Europe and other parts of Asia. In accordance with this plan, Professor Prayoon visited Josai in October of last year where he and Josai Chancellor 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 and soul into to further its development, based on the idea that, “Education and human resource development are the most vital components of economic growth.” Professor Prayoon then expounded on his most significant achievement, the foundation of the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology. Lastly, Professor Prayoon spoke on Japan-Thailand cooperation as well as the potential for growth in the ASEAN.

Attendees, including former Chancellor of Tokyo Metropolitan 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, Shirō Miyamoto; Hosei University Advisor on Academic Affairs, Tadao Kiyonari; TPA and ASEAN cabinet members; representatives from the financial sector; and scholars and academics all listened attentively while Professor Prayoon delivered his speech. And the reception that followed served as a sterling example of the fruits of Japan-Thailand exchange as well as its potential for future growth judging by the lively discussion and exchange of information that took place among participants.