Chancellor Noriko Mizuta was awarded the Pro Cultura Hungarica from the Republic of Hungary

Mr. Erno Bohar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Japan, presented the Pro Cultura Hungarica to JIU Chancellor Noriko Mizuta at the Hungarian Embassy in Tokyo on May 18, 2011. The Pro Cultura Hungarica is the Hungarian equivalent to the Japanese Order of Cultural Merit, and past awardees include Mr. Hiromasa Yonekura, Chairman of the Nippon Keidanren (The Japan Business Federation), and Mr. Ken-ichiro Kobayashi, conductor.

About 45 people, including Josai University/Josai International University faculty members, students from Hungary, and Japanese students who had studied in Hungary were invited by the Hungarian Embassy to celebrate the awarding of the order to the Chancellor.

Ambassador Bohar stated that the award was to recognize the positive work undertaken by Josai University Educational Corporation for the educational and cultural exchanges between Hungary and Japan, the setting up of the Mizuta Hungary Scholarship to commemorate the visit by President Sólyom László of the Republic of Hungary to the Corporation, and its contribution to the student exchange and human resource development of the two countries.

Chancellor Mizuta expressed her thanks, saying, “I am pleased to receive this award today, but I fully understand that the award is for the Josai University Educational Corporation. We will continue our efforts toward student exchange and human resource development of the two countries now and in the future.”

Ms. Maki Ide, Josai International University Graduate School student, gave a congratulatory speech, saying that she was lucky to be able to study at Budapest Business School College of International Management and Business where she learned not only the Hungarian language but also many others thanks to the student exchange.

Then, Ms. Sayaka Wada played Franz Liszt’s “Liebestraume No.3” on piano. The performance was a gift from the Hungarian Embassy to celebrate the award.

Following the piano performance, the　Embassy’s hospitality was clearly demonstrated in the delicious Hungarian dishes served. Chancellor Mizuta and Ambassador Bohar enjoyed the good food and conversation with the students and seemed to be happy and satisfied with the progress the students have made in language proficiency.

Toward the end of the event, the students sang together a Hungarian song of celebration in Hungarian as a surprise, which made all the participants feel united and comforted.