Japanese Ambassador visits Leiden University
The new Japanese Ambassador, Michii Rokuichiro, visited Leiden University on 2 March. The Netherlands and Japan share a long-standing relationship in which the exchange of knowledge has always played a central role.
The ambassador was welcomed by the President of the Executive Board, Luc Sels, and by staff who work closely with Japanese partners. Rokuichiro was pleasantly surprised to learn that the cooperation between Leiden University and Japan stretches back many years.
During the visit, Rokuichiro learned that the university works with 22 partner universities. These partnerships include student exchanges, for example, in Japanese Studies. Leiden is the only university in the Netherlands and one of the few in Europe to offer Japanese Studies. Japanese students who are studying Dutch also come here to further their academic training.
Owada Chair
Leiden University has strong ties with Japanese universities in the fields of medicine, law and geopolitics. The ambassador spoke with the LUMC about internship opportunities for medical students at Nagasaki University. He also learned about the annual Owada Chair symposium, held alternately at Leiden University and the University of Tokyo. This explores the interplay between international law and geopolitics from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Japan collections
The ambassador was given a guided tour of the Academy Building and University Libraries Leiden (UBL), where he viewed a selection of special objects from the Japan collections. This was a preview of what the public can expect to see this year: from January to December, UBL is organising a range of activities highlighting its Japan collections.
These events mark 200 years since Philipp Franz von Siebold, physician at the Dutch trading post of Dejima, joined the quadrennial mission to the Japanese court in the capital of Edo. Part of his Japonica collection has been donated to the UBL.
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The Japanese Ambassador, Michii Rokuichiro, and the President of the Executive Board, Luc Sels. -
Michii Rokuichiro viewed special objects from the Japan collections
Strengthening ties
Luc Sels was pleased to strengthen the university’s academic ties with Japan. ‘Japan is extremely important to the university for several reasons. First, as a university, we place a strong emphasis on language and culture through the humanities. Second, in today’s geopolitical context, close ties with like-minded countries are essential, including within the academic sphere. And third, Japan has recently decided to join Horizon Europe, which enables them to participate in European research.’