Ceremony to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Kyoto University North American Center (20 November 2019)

發表日期

2019/12/19

A ceremony to celebrate the first anniversary of the Kyoto University North American Center was held on 20 November 2019 in Washington DC. It was attended by eighty-one participants, including members of the Kyoto University Washington DC Alumni Association and the New York Rakuyu-kai alumni association.

The North American Center opened in October 2018 as the University's third overseas center, in addition to the European Center (in Heidelberg, Germany) and ASEAN Center (in Bangkok, Thailand). With the aim of enhancing the University's presence and supporting academic and student exchange activities in North America, the Center has actively promoted discussions with universities, academic institutions, and alumni associations in the region. The ceremony provided an opportunity to further strengthen relationships with these organizations, which have been supporting the Center's activities.

The ceremony opened with a speech by Dr Juichi Yamagiwa, president of Kyoto University, which was followed by speeches by His Excellency Mr Shinsuke Sugiyama, Japanese ambassador to the United States, Mr Yoshiaki Nishimura, senior executive advisor of Sumitomo Riko Company Ltd and vice-president of the Kyoto University Kanae-Kai, Dr Sachiko Kuno, president and CEO of the S&R Foundation, and Frank Jannuzi, president of the Mansfield Foundation. The speakers expressed their encouragement for the future activities of the Center.

Director Nathan Badenoch of the North American Center gave an overview of the Center's activities during its first year, and President Yamagiwa delivered a lecture on Japanese perceptions of nature, which drew on his research into gorillas. The ceremony closed with an address by Dr Kayo Inaba, executive vice-president for gender equality, international affairs, and public relations.

After the ceremony, a reception opened with addresses by President Yamagiwa, Mr Kenichiro Mukai, president of the Kyoto University Washington DC Alumni Association, and Mr Hiroharu Okamoto, honorary chair of New York Rakuyu-kai. The two alumni shared their memories of the University, and expressed their hopes for the future of the Center. The reception was then brought to a close with an address by Professor Yoshihiro Tokuga, vice-president for university fund administration and alumni affairs.

The North American Center functions as the University's "window" to North America and a hub for the deepening of cooperative relationships and the enhancement of internationalization efforts relating to the region.

President Yamagiwa