April 30, 2020

On April 21, Kobe University received a donation of 25,000 masks from Chinese students and alumni. Upon hearing about Japan’s State of Emergency that was declared as a response to the widening spread of novel coronavirus, former student and Shanghai resident Mr. SONG Xiaohua (2002 alumnus of the Graduate School of Science and Technology) appealed to other alumni for donations of masks for Kobe University. They managed to raise a total of 25,000 masks.

Juneyao Airlines Co., Ltd employee Ms. ZHOU Li (2015 alumna of the Graduate School of Law) arranged the transportation with the airline’s cooperation; the donated masks arriving at Kansai International Airport on the same day. The president of the West Japan branch of Kobe University’s International Alumni Association, Mr. CHEN Lin (2005 alumnus of the Graduate School of Natural Sciences), drove the masks from the airport to Kobe University’s Centre for International Education. Executive Vice President YOSHII Masahiko (in Charge of International Exchange), Director KAWAI Naruo and Professor PARK Jong Woo (both of the Center for International Education) received the masks on behalf of the university’s staff.

The donated masks will be used resourcefully by university staff, beginning with those working at the University Hospital.

On behalf of all staff of Kobe University, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for this warm support when masks are in such short supply.

(International Affairs Planning Division)