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NAKATANI Yoshio Chairperson, Board of the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan Chancellor,The Ritsumeikan Trust President, The Ritsumeikan University |
Ritsumeikan is a comprehensive private academy with a rich international background, having some 50,000 students throughout its schools, colleges and graduate schools. Since its establishment in 1900, Ritsumeikan has been promoting the spirit of “freedom and innovation” and has been striving to create a school that is constantly innovating. As expectations of educational institutions rise and, in 2020, as Ritsumeikan reaches 150 years since its founding and 120 since the academy’s establishment, we will continue to pursue our academy’s mission and make steady and sincere efforts to carry out education and research reforms. At Ritsumeikan, positive interactions with Chinese universities and research institutions started even before the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972. Today, Ritsumeikan promotes academic, faculty and student exchanges under partnership agreements it has signed with more than 90 Chinese universities and research institutions. There are more than 800 international students from China studying in our colleges and graduate schools, and many colleges actively promote education and research in a variety of academic fields related to China. The Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan, founded in Kyoto in collaboration with Peking University in 2005, was the first Confucius Institute in Japan. This was followed by the Tokyo Confucius Classroom (Tokyo Gakudo) in 2006, the Osaka Confucius Classroom (Osaka Gakudo) in 2008, which was established in partnership with Tongji University, and the Biwako-Kusatsu Campus Confucius Classroom (BKC Gakudo) in 2014. Presently, the Institute is carrying out Chinese language programs and cultural exchange activities in six locations that include Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga. I believe that fostering mutual cooperation and correct understanding in areas such as culture, language and societal issues between China and Japan will most certainly contribute to the national interests and development of both countries. The Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan is determined to continue its efforts to develop language education and cultural programs in order to facilitate bilateral friendship between China and Japan through peace-oriented, cultural and academic activities and exchanges, in its continuing mission to become a bridge between the two countries. |
NAKAGAWA Ryoji Director, The Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan Specially Appointed Professor, College of International Relations |
The Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan was established in October 2005 as the first Confucius Institute in Japan, and will celebrate exactly its 20th anniversary in 2025. In many ways, Japan-China relations have changed considerably over the past 20 years. Japan's exports to China (based on imports from Japan according to Chinese customs statistics) increased 60.1% from $100,467.56 million in 2005 to $160,822.83 million in 2023, and Japan's imports from China (based on imports from China according to Japanese Ministry of Finance “Trade Statistics”) also increased 60.1% from $108,593.92 million in 2005 to $173,886.91 million in 2023. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan (Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) data) jumped from 822,033 in 2005 to 6,376,900 in 2023, despite a sharp decline due to the coronavirus pandemic. As an overseas travel destination for Japanese (Japan Transport Corporation, “Annual Report on Travel”), China ranked first by destination in 2005 with 3.39 million visitors, followed by 3.75 million in 2006 and another 3.73 million in 2010. The number has since declined, but still 2.68 million people visited China in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. The recovery was slow due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent visa policy, but is expected to revive in the future as the short-term travel visa waiver was restored again in 2024. The number of Chinese residents in Japan (Ministry of Justice, “Statistics on Foreign Residents”) was 519,561 in 2005, but by 2023 it will be 821,838, the largest number of foreign residents by country. The number of Japanese residing in China (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Statistics on Japanese Residents Abroad”) has not changed much from 114,899 in 2005 to 101,781 in 2023, the second largest number after the United States. The results of the 20th Japan-China Joint Public Opinion Poll, which probes public attitudes in Japan and China, have become a hot topic, raising the issue of Japan's poor image toward China and China's same image toward Japan. That is a major problem, and we need to make efforts toward mutual understanding, but more important than the image survey is what kind of relationship we actually have with each other. I believe that the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan must continue to contribute to improving the mutual image and actual relationship between Japan and China. |
GONG Qihuang President, Peking University |
The Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan is one of the first Confucius Institutes created in the world and is the first Confucius Institute established in Japan. Since it was established as a contact point and bridge for Japan-China cultural exchange, it has played an active role in various activities like the promotion of Chinese language education, the enhancement of Chinese culture, and the expansion of bilateral exchanges between Japan and China. It has also established a distinctive education and learning style producing a synergy effect with Chinese language education and cultural exchange activities. Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan has been awarded the “Advanced Confucius Institute” award three times in the past by the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language and the Confucius Institute Headquarters. In the future, we believe that the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan will, with the partnership and efforts of both universities, achieve further success and contribute to the expansion of the Chinese language education business in Japan and the promotion of youth exchange between Japan and China. And we sincerely hope that our universities’ tree of friendship will continue to flourish forever. |
FANG Shou’en President, Tongji University |
In 2008, Tongji University and the Ritsumeikan Trust collaborated to establish the Osaka Confucius Classroom (Osaka Gakudo) of Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan. Over the years, the Osaka Confucius Classroom has deeply engaged in international Chinese language education and promoting mutual understanding between Chinese and Japanese cultures, playing an active role in promoting friendly exchanges and cultural interactions between China and Japan. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Chinese and Japanese colleagues at the Osaka Confucius Classroom of Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan. Through their joint efforts, the Classroom has become a comprehensive platform for cultural exchange between the two countries and has achieved remarkable outcomes. As the saying goes, "A gentleman should be resolute and broad-minded, for he shoulders a heavy responsibility and has a long road ahead." In the face of an increasingly complex and volatile international landscape, Tongji University remains committed to working hand in hand with global partners to build bridges that promote international understanding and cooperation. We hope that the Osaka Confucius Classroom will continue to serve as a cultural ambassador, promoting the new era Tongji culture of "Serving the World, Upholding Science, Leading Innovation, and Pursuing Excellence." We also look forward to deeper cooperation between Tongji University and Ritsumeikan University in talent cultivation and scientific research, making greater contributions to enhancing intercultural exchanges, mutual learning among civilizations, and the prosperity and development of the global economy. |