On December 17, 2013, His Excellency Ambassador Lars Vargö of the Embassy of Sweden in Japan visited Tokyo Kioicho Campus and gave a special lecture that was open to the public.

As part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international exchange to cultivate global human resources, our university has formed academic exchange agreements with a number of institutions worldwide as well as an active program of exchange with Sweden facilitated by the Embassy of Sweden. Activities have included, most recently, a tree planting ceremony at Josai International University in October 2012 to honor the accomplishments of Swedish businessman Raoul Wallenberg who saved more than 10,000 Jews from the Nazi holocaust during World War II.
　 In addition, Chancellor Noriko Mizuta was awarded Sweden’s Cikada Prize―an award that recognizes poets who are able to capture the majesty of life in East Asia―for her outstanding work in poetry at a ceremony that took place on December 9, 2013, at the Embassy of Sweden.

Having also delivered a lecture for the Executive Program, “The New Global Society and the Future of Japan,” in JIU’s Graduate School of International Administration in July 2012, this special public lecture marks Ambassador Vargö’s second visit to Josai.

Chancellor Mizuta gave a brief introduction before the lecture, saying, “While Sweden is widely known for the Nobel Prize, it is also home to many international corporations and is one of the forerunners in promoting social equality for women, making it a country from which Japan could learn many things, not just academic in nature. I hope this lecture provides a stimulus for our students and expands their international perspective.”

Ambassador Vargö’s lecture, entitled “Sweden’s Choices and Future,” which he delivered in a fluent Japanese with the occasional humorous insertion, began with an overview of Sweden, including its industry, politics, education, and welfare systems and covered a broad range of topics such as Sweden’s unique qualities and similarities and differences with Japan. In particular, Ambassador Vargö’s lecture of Sweden’s social welfare system supported by high taxation was highly suggestive for Japan which is currently facing demands for increased treatment facilities brought about by a rapidly growing elderly population.
　 More than 130 audience members gathered for Ambassador Vargö’s lecture, all of whom listened with great interest. Guests included Ambassador Vargö’s wife as well as many from the business and industry sector with close ties to Sweden such as current Vice President of the Japan-Sweden Society and former MITI vice-minister Shinji Fukukawa, Vice President of the Japan-Sweden Society Nils Hornmark, JETRO advisor Yasuo Hayashi, and director for the Japan Institute of Scandinavian Studies Masahiro Sunaga. Guests from Josai included Chancellor Mizuta, Josai University president Yasunori Morimoto, Josai International University President Hakuo Yanagisawa, as well as international and domestic students from both JU and JIU.
　 In the reception that followed, guests took the opportunity to discuss many of the issues included in Ambassador Vargö’s lecture, as well as to ask questions and interact with Ambassador Vargö himself.

With Ambassador Vargö’s visit and lecture, we here at Josai eagerly anticipate the beginning of a program of academic exchange with Swedish universities.