On November 18, 2016, the Josai University Educational Corporation (Chancellor Noriko Mizuta) held the "Second International Symposium Commemorating the Cikada Prize" in the first building’s underground Hall on the Tokyo Kioicho Campus. The symposium is linked to the Cikada Prize, a prize awarded by the Swedish government to exceptional poets in East Asia who are able to express the inviolability of life. The first international symposium at Josai was held on June 7, 2014. It was sponsored by the Josai International Center for the Promotion of Art and Science. It was co-sponsored by the Japan-Sweden Society and the Shichosha publishing company, under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden in Japan. It was also supported by the Kinokuniya Company, the Yurtec Corporation and the Japan Times. All past prize winners, including those from abroad and many prominent Japanese poets, took to the stage to discuss the theme of "Giving Word to the Inviolability of Life". An audience of about 160 people, consisting of poets, citizens, students, and faculty, listened attentively to the discussion and poetry recitation of each session.

The Cikada Prize was founded in 2004 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Harry Martinson, Swedish poet and Nobel Laureate of Literature. The name of the prize was inspired by Martinson's poetry collection "Cikada (meaning cicada)", which was published in 1953. This poetry collection was crucially influenced by the atomic bombings of Japan and the development of the hydrogen bomb after the Second World War. The first winner was Mr. Sakon So, a poet and critic, the second winner was Mr. Kota Kaneko, a poet. Chancellor Mizuta, who is also a poet, became the sixth winner in 2013.

The speakers this year were:

-	Mr. Lars Vargö, former Swedish Ambassador to Japan, poet.
-	Mr. Bei Dao from China, the seventh winner, poet.
-	Mr. Shuntaro Tanikawa, poet.
-	Ms. Moon Chung-hee from Korea, the fifth winner, poet.
-	Mr. Mutsuro Takahashi, poet.
-	Ms. Y Nhi from Vietnam, the eighth winner, poet.
-	Chancellor Noriko Mizuta, the sixth winner, poet.
-	Mr. Gozo Yoshimasu, poet.

Video messages sent by Mr. Kaneko and Mr. Yang Mu in Taiwan (the ninth winner, poet) were also played. Mr. Tian Yuan, Vice Director of the Josai International Modern Poetry Center, Mr. Jordan Smith, Associate Professor in the Department of International Humanities of Josai International University, and Mr. Vargö moderated each session.

At the beginning of the morning session, Chancellor Mizuta gave welcome words saying, "I am very happy to see the Cikada Prize gaining recognition internationally. I would like to take advantage of today's event as a great opportunity to deepen the level of our reflections." Magnus Robach, Swedish Ambassador to Japan, added, "I would like to express my gratitude for holding this symposium, and for inviting all the former prize winners. I believe that poetry is important in the modern age. Although it is now is the age of smartphones, it is necessary to listen to our inner voice". Mr. Vargö, serving also as Chairman of the Cikada Prize, outlined the history of the Cikada Prize. He explained, "I believe that Mr. Martinson used a cicada as a symbol of life. I hope that today's symposium is a highly fruitful and interesting event."
　 In his video message entitled 'The Message to the Cikada Prize', Mr. Kaneko stated, "The Cikada Prize is indeed animism. It is possible for the Cikada Prize to take the role of presenting the world with short-poem style of literature. It will be really exciting to witness a Japanese poet who could be nominated as a Nobel Prize candidate in that field."

After the opening address, dialogues and the poetry recitation began with Mr. Bei and Mr. Tanikawa on the theme of "Giving Word to the Inviolability of Life". Mr. Tanikawa noted, "Animism, touched upon by Mr. Kaneko in his video message, which is the belief that God dwells within all things, is thinking about life beyond humans. This is a great opportunity to return to the Japanese tradition of animism." Mr. Bei stated, "Although my heart has been drifting at all times, my world has expanded since I began to meet a variety of poets. I have now come to the stage where I can see, like a bird, the frontiers of the world."
　 In the afternoon, the poetry recitation by Ms. Moon and Mr. Takahashi was held on the theme of "The Inviolability of Gender and Life", followed by a discussion. Another discussion was held between Ms. Moon, Ms. Mizuta, Mr. Bei and Ms. Y on the theme of "Poetry and Reality". Mr. Takahashi stated, "I think that poetry originally belonged to women, and now belongs to women again". Mr. Moon answered, "All poets are fundamentally women. Male poets exist due to their feminine nature." In regard to poetry and reality, Ms. Mizuta added, "As far as those who are deeply wounded by reality are concerned, the deeper the wound is, the longer they may keep facing the trauma." Speaking of the relationship between poetry and fiction, Ms. Y said, "Successful poetry, I think, is not related to the alternatives of falsity and truth, but to how the readers feel." The discussion expanded to include Bob Dylan, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Ms. Moon confessed, "I felt bewildered." In contrast, Ms. Mizuta maintained, "It pleased me." Ms. Y also endorsed the selection of Bob Dylan by saying, "It was a good choice."

Finally, there were poetry recitations by Mr. Yoshimasu, Ms. Y, Mr. Vargö, Mr. Smith and Ms. Mizuta.