Chancellor Noriko Mizuta led a delegation from Josai University Educational Corporation (Chancellor’s Office Manager Yukihisa Kitamura, JU and JIU Vice President Kenji Sugibayashi, JIU Professor Tian Yuan) to China from December 22 to 24, 2015. The delegation visited Peking University (PKU), Tsinghua University (THU), Beijing Normal University (BNU), and Capital Normal University (CNU).
　 In 2015, Peking University Press released a Chinese edition of Noriko Mizuta’s “Modernism and the Development of Post-war Women’s Poetry” (Shichosha, 2012). As a celebratory gesture, PKU and CNU hosted lecture and panel discussion events in her honor.
　 Chancellor Mizuta visited the two universities on December 23 to participate in the lecture and panel discussion.

[Visit Details]
December 22

Peking University	[Visit]	Wu Zhipan - Executive Vice President, Li Yansong - Vice President
Beijing Normal University	[Meeting]	Zhang Qinghua - Executive Director of the International Writing Center

On December 22 at 3:00 P.M., the delegation met with Vice Presidents Wu Zhipan and Li Yansong from PKU. While they spoke mostly of the Peking University Press’s recent Chinese translation of “Modernism and the Development of Post-war Women’s Poetry,” representatives from both universities also discussed future opportunities for more concrete exchange.

Later, the Josai delegation met up with many BNU figures that they had not seen since the year before last, including Executive Director Zhang Qinghua of the BNU International Writing Center. A preliminary agreement was signed for future collaboration between the BNU International Writing Center and our own International Modern Poetry Center.
　 It was unfortunate that novelist Mo Yan, who is affiliated with BNU’s International Writing Center, was unable to be present for the occasion. Although both sides felt his absence, they promised to proceed with their plans to create a joint project based on poetry, critique, and literature.

December 23 in the morning:

Capital Normal University	[Lecture]	Sun Xiaoya - Professor Zhao Minli - Director at the Research Center of Chinese Poetry Peking University
Peking University	[Panel Discussion]	Huang Nubo - Deputy Director of the International Contemporary Poetry Writing Center Xie Mian - Peking University Chinese Poetry Researcher
Tsinghua University	[Visit]	Xue Qikun - Vice President

At 10:00 AM on December 23, CNU held a lecture by Noriko Mizuta that examined women’s poetry. Like the day before, this event was also intended to commemorate the Chinese edition of “Modernism and the Development of Post-war Women’s Poetry.”
　 Many students, poets, and Chinese writers ― including Bei Dao and Xi Chuan ― came to listen carefully to Chancellor Mizuta’s words. During the Q&A session, the topic of China’s developing movements in women’s poetry and feminist commentary were also discussed, making it quite a lively lecture. After that, Chancellor Mizuta and Director Zhao Minli signed a preliminary agreement for future cooperation between the CNU Contemporary Poetry Institute and Research Center of Chinese Poetry and our International Modern Poetry Center.

Continuing on, the chancellor attended a PKU panel discussion at 2:00 PM regarding the theme of modernism. Similar to the earlier event, this discussion had been planned as a celebration of the Chinese edition of “Modernism and the Development of Post-war Women’s Poetry.” About twenty different Chinese poets and writers took the podium during the panel. Each speaker discussed “modernism” in reference to novels, leading to a very thought-provoking panel discussion. The event was advertised widely, with Chinese Radio International reporter and announcer Wang Xiaoyan providing interpretation.
　 When the panel was over, Chancellor Mizuta was given a tour around PKU and shown the traditional style of Japanese residential architecture used in the building of the International Contemporary Poetry Writing Center. After that, Professor Xie Mian personally handed Chancellor Mizuta an invitation to meet with experts from the PKU Research Institute of Chinese Poetry. This time, Chancellor Mizuta was joined by the Center’s Deputy Director Huang Nubo. The two signed a preliminary agreement for future collaboration between PKU’s International Contemporary Poetry Writing Center and our university’s International Modern Poetry Center.

At the same time, around 2:00 PM on December 23, Yukihisa Kitamura and Kenji Sugibayashi were visiting Tsinghua University. They were welcomed by Vice President Xue Qikun and everyone from the International Education Center. Members of THU’s School of Social Sciences, including its Dean Li Qiang and Deputy Director Zhang Chenggang, joined the delegation for an intimate conference, as well. The friendly discussion touched on many specific details about future and current international exchange between the two universities.

With this visit, Josai University tangibly strengthened its ties to Peking University, Tsinghua University, Capital Normal University, and Beijing Normal University. It has greatly expanded its exchange with these universities in the region of Beijing.