Josai Participates in the 65th Anniversary Ceremony of Shenyang Normal University

On May 21, 2016, Josai Chancellor Noriko Mizuta was invited to deliver a keynote lecture on the topic of “University Education and Globalization” at the World University Presidents’ Forum at Shenyang Normal University to commemorate their 65th anniversary. More than forty representatives from sister institutions around the world participated in the forum, making for a highly productive event.
　 Josai and Shenyang Normal University first established an academic exchange agreement, with Professor Zhang Dexiang serving as liaison, and they have since collaborated on many programs, particularly related to the Museum of Paleontology and in the field of Japanese language education and in the graduate program in art and design.

Josai also participated in a ceremony led by SYNU President Lin Qun to commemorate the installation of a new plaque in Shenyang’s Friendship Forest that honors Josai’s past tree donation.

Following the Presidents’ Forum, the Josai delegation met with Secretary Yu Wenming and Director Sun Ge to pledge their continued support in promoting the Museum of Paleontology. Afterwards, the delegation was given a guided tour of the facilities at the School of Art and Design by Zhang Peng, the Director of the program, and, over tea discussed plans to begin both faculty and student exchanges.

A meeting of the Josai-Dalian/Northeastern Alumni Association was Held

On May 22, the Josai University Educational Corporation, which recently its celebrated their 50th anniversary, joined the 5th meeting of the Josai-Dalian/Northeastern Alumni Association at a downtown Dalian hotel. Assistant Director of the Dalian University of Technology and Dalian University of Foreign Languages, You Zhishen, who himself is an alumnus, served as host for the evening.
　 Attendees also included current and former exchange students who studied at Josai and Josai International Universities, JMBA scholarship recipients, graduates of the joint education program, recipients of the “Takashi Mukaibo Memorial” Takashi Murai Scholarship, “Mikio Mizuta Memorial” Noriko Mizuta Scholarship, and other private scholarships; in addition to representatives from the Dalian People’s Foreign Friendly Association, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Foreign Languages, and China’s Northeastern University.
　 Guests of honor included former Secretary of Dalian University of Technology, and recipient of an honorary doctoral degree from Josai, Zhang Dexiang, Du Fenggang from the Dalian University of Technology and President of the China-Japan Alumni Association, Professor Chen Yan of the Dalian University of Foreign Languages, and Manager of the Dalian Foreign Affairs Office, Yu Tao (who made a surprise appearance), all of whom provided heartfelt words of greeting.

Alumni who assembled for this meeting expressed their gratitude to their mentors and home institutions and pledged to continue working for the continued development of their universities and the fostering of China-Japan cultural understanding.

The alumni meeting also celebrated the publication of the Chinese language edition of Chancellor Mizuta’s poetry collection, Kiron (The Road Home). The volume, which was translated by Professor Chen Yan, was presented as a gift to each attendee.

Chancellor Mizuta then announced the foundation of the Kiro Poetry Award for exchange students from the funds raised as part of Josai University Educational Corporation’s 50th anniversary last year. This exciting news was greeted with applause with the alumni meeting participants.

• The Kiro Poetry Award for exchange students

Dalian University of Technology
Josai Delegation Pays a Visit to the Dalian University of Technology and to the Party Secretary

On May 23 at 10:00 AM, the Josai University Educational Corporation delegation led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta paid a visit to newly appointed Party Secretary Wang Hansong.
　 Secretary Wang, who is well aware of the details and accomplishments of Josai’s academic exchange with the Dalian University of Technology, expressed his appreciation for the scholarship offerings, the Japan-China joint graduate program, the Mikio Mizuta Memorial Book Donation, and research trips that have come as a result of this collaboration. He also stated that it was an honor for the Dalian University of Technology Press to publish the Chinese edition of Chancellor Mizuta’s poetry collection, Kiro, and presented Chancellor Mizuta with a special hardbound edition of the book.

The meeting followed with a presentation for the “Takashi Mukaibo Memorial” Takashi Murai and “Mikio Mizuta Memorial” Noriko Mizuta Scholarships as well as the 12th Mikio Mizuta Book Donation.

The ceremony, which was attended by former university Vice President Jia Zhen and other Dalian faculty, began with the presentation of the “Takashi Mukaibo Memorial” Takashi Murai and “Mikio Mizuta Memorial” Noriko Mizuta Scholarships to twenty students by Chancellor Mizuta and Hiroyuki Murai (President of Baroque Japan, Limited), eldest son of Takashi Murai. We all expect outstanding achievements, both in their respective research fields and as members of society, from the twenty Dalian Master’s and PhD students chosen for the award. We are also pleased to see that Mr. Murai has taken up the same noble cause established by his father.

This was followed by the ceremony for the Mikio Mizuta Book Donation, during which Josai University Professor Kazunobu Fukushima presented a catalog of books to Dalian University of Technology Chair of Financial Management Su Jingqin. This collection is dedicated to the Financial Management department’s MBA program and caters specifically to researchers, post-graduate students, and future exchange students enrolling in Josai’s JMBA program who are interested in Japanese finance and business.

By meeting with Party Secretary Wang Hansong as well as University President Guo Dongming, this visit was an excellent opportunity to deepen the relationship between our two schools. We hope that Dalian University of Technology alumni and President Guo will have the opportunity to visit Josai University in the future in the interest of expanding our project of academic exchange further.

Dalian University of Foreign Languages
Josai Delegation Visits Dalian University of Foreign Languages and President Liu Hong

On May 23 at 1:30 PM, the Josai delegation paid a visit to the Dalian University of Foreign Languages where they had a meeting with newly appointed President Liu Hong, congratulating her on her achievement. Josai and DUFL have collaborated on many projects including the promotion of graduate and Japanese language education, as well as fostering human resources in the tourist industry, and hope to enjoy many more programs of exchange in the future.

On May 23 at 3:00 PM the Dalian University of Foreign Languages hosted a joint international symposium, co-organized by DUFL and Josai University/Josai International University and the China-Japan Society for Short Poetry, entitled “Expression Abroad: Contemporary Poetry in Japan and China.”
　 With a keynote lecture on “expression abroad” by Chancellor Mizuta, the symposium was attended by Chen Yan, Du Fenggang, Liu Liguo, and Tian Yuan, as well as He Zhiyong and Meng Haixia, recent Josai doctoral recipients who now work as assistant professors at DUFL. Lushun, Dalian is home to a long-standing Japanese community and possesses its own unique brand of modernism, making it a particularly appropriate site for this symposium. The symposium featured many interesting presentations by young scholars working at Dalian, making for a very enriching event indeed.

Josai Delegation Meets with the New Chairperson of the Dalian People’s International Friendship Association, Chancellor Mizuta Named Special Overseas Chancellor

In the afternoon of May 23, Josai Chancellor Mizuta held a meeting with Huai Zhongmin, newly appointed chairperson of the Dalian People’s International Friendship Association. Huai, who took over the position from former chairperson Li Yongjin, expressed his desire to continue their program of friendly exchange with Josai University. He then invited Chancellor Mizuta to become the association’s Special Overseas Chancellor, to which she readily consented, and presented her with an official edict.

Josai Delegation Meets with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics President Chunyu Xia

On May 24, the Josai delegation, led by Chancellor Noriko Mizuta, met with President Xia Chunyu and other representatives of Dongbei University of Finance and Economics. Joining President Xia was Director of Academic Affairs Zhang Juntao, Director of the International Exchange Institute Zhang Yuci and Professor Fang Aixiang, among others.
　 Since forming their academic exchange agreement in 2015, their partnership has continued to progress with Josai accepting exchange students at both the undergraduate and post-graduate level to their Faculty of Contemporary Policy Studies as well as researchers from Dongbei. In the future, the two schools have agreed to expand their exchange by forming joint programs in the fields of Management, Welfare, Media, Tourism, Humanities and Environmental Studies, in addition to exchange at the junior college level.