Kobe University

Symposium Held to Mark the Anniversary of the Foundation of the Kobe University and BFSU “International Collaborative Research Base” (July 18th 2015)

July 21, 2015

On July 18th, an international symposium was held to commemorate the establishment of the International Collaborative Research Baseby Kobe University and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). The symposium was organised by the Kobe University Graduate School of Humanities, KobeUniversity Interfaculty Initiative in the Social Sciences, and the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) Beijing Center for Japanese Studies.

This research base was created to promote mutual exchange in education and research between Kobe University and BFSU, and to further develop and utilize the skills of young researchers. The symposium was held to deepen mutual understanding regarding research projects, and to clarify the future direction of collaborative research between the two universities.

The opening ceremony of the morning plenary session began with speeches from Mr. INOUE Noriyuki (Executive Vice President & Director of the Institute of Promoting International Exchange Programs), Mr. Yiping Xu (Dean of Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Ms. MASUMOTO Hiroko (Dean, Graduate School of Humanities,Kobe University) and Mr. YANAGAWA Takashi (Director of Kobe University Interfaculty Initiative in the Social Sciences). These speeches were followed by a discussion of the “Action Plan” for the International Collaborative Research Base, and a decision was reached regarding further development of joint research projects.

During the afternoon session, participants separated into two groups to attend the seminars: “The Structural Change of Industry and the Company Performance in East Asia” or “Studies of Japanese Popular Culture and Cultural Metaphor”. These seminars were led by Mr. HUANG Lin (Director of the China Office, Kobe University) and Mr. OGATA Yasushi (Director of the Centre for Asian Studies, Kobe University).

In each of these seminars, young researchers from both universities presented their research in the fields of politics, economics, and culture of Japan and China. The following researchers gave presentations: Mr. Dongsheng Ge (Lecturer, Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Mr. Chao Fan (Academic Researcher, Graduate Schools of Business Administration, Kobe University), Mr. MINAMIKohei (Academic Researcher, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University), Mr.Gang Qin (Associate Professor, Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, BeijingForeign Studies University), Mr. Marco Pellitteri (JSPS Foreign ResearchFellow, Kobe University), Mr. Longmei Zhang (Professor, Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University) and Mr. MASUKI Ryusuke (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Humanities, Kobe University).

The following panel members debated various issues raised within the young researchers’ reports: Ding Hongwei (Associate Professor, Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Mr. KAJITANI Kai (Professor, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University), Mr. GuanghuiChen (Professor, Graduate School of International Corporation Studies, KobeUniversity), Mr. Yiping Xu (Dean, Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Mr. Longmei Zhang (Professor, Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Mr. YUI Kiyomitsu (Director of the Centre for EU Studies, Kobe University) and Mr. FUKUNAGA Susumu (Professor of Graduate School of Humanities, Kobe University).

In addition, over 70 participants shared their opinions in these discussions.

This symposium has facilitated debates and information sharing on various challenges in the fields of politics, economics, and culture in Japan and China. It has also given us a new vision for the future direction of collaborative research between both universities.

(International Affairs Dep.)