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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. In 2025, we celebrated our 20th anniversary. Despite their busy schedules, many distinguished guests honored us with their presence, including Vice President Fang Fang of Peking University, related colleagues engaged in Confucius Institute initiatives, Professor NAGATA Toyo-omi—former Chancellor of the Ritsumeikan Trust and former Chairperson of the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan—Professor KAWAGUCHI Kiyofumi, the Honorary Dean of the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan, representatives from Confucius Institutes across Japan, Japan–China friendship organizations, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. We would like to express our sincere gratitude once again to everyone who gathered to celebrate this milestone. Over the past twenty years, relations between Japan and China have deepened in many respects. Japan’s exports to China (based on China’s customs statistics of imports from Japan) increased from USD 100.46756 billion in 2005 to USD 164.83459 billion in 2025, a 64.1% increase. Japan’s imports from China (based on the Ministry of Finance’s Trade Statistics of Japan) also rose from USD 109.10482 billion in 2005 to USD 178.23762 billion in 2025 (calculated at the December exchange rate of JPY 155.75 to USD 1), marking a 63.4% increase. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan (Japan National Tourism Organization, JNTO) increased from 652,820 in 2005 to 9,594,394 in 2019. Although the number declined sharply during the COVID 19 pandemic, it recovered to 6,981,342 in 2024. In 2025, despite a significant drop in December due to heightened tensions in Japan China relations after November, the estimated total still reached 9,096,300, approaching the 2019 peak. China was also a major destination for Japanese travelers. According to the Japan Travel Bureau Foundation, Annual Report on Travel, 3.39 million Japanese travelers visited China in 2005, 3.75 million in 2006, and 3.73 million in 2010. Although the number gradually declined afterward, 2.68 million Japanese travelers still visited China in 2019, before the pandemic. The number of Chinese residents in Japan (Ministry of Justice, Statistics on Foreign Residents) increased from 519,561 in 2005 to 900,738 in June 2025 (excluding Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other regions), making Chinese nationals the largest foreign resident population in Japan. Among Japanese nationals living overseas (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Survey of Japanese Nationals Overseas), the number residing in China rose from 114,899 in 2005 to a peak of 150,399 in 2012. Although this number declined steadily to 97,538 in 2024, China still remains the third-largest destination after the United States and Australia. Regrettably, following remarks made by Japan’s Prime Minister during Diet proceedings in November 2025, the Chinese government called not only for self restraint regarding travel to Japan but also for refraining from studying abroad in Japan and even for suspending cultural and academic exchange programs. Although the situation is deeply concerning, it is precisely at times like this that we must revisit the long history of economic, social, and cultural exchanges—developed through perseverance despite many twists and turns. Through sustained grassroots engagement, we remain committed to helping restore peaceful and friendly relations between our two countries as soon as possible. |
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. |
YANG Jinlong President, Tongji University |
Since its establishment in 2008, the Osaka Confucius Classroom (Osaka Gakudo)—jointly founded by Tongji University and the Ritsumeikan Trust—has devoted itself to advancing mutual understanding between China and Japan. Over more than a decade, it has grown into a trusted bridge for cultural exchange and a meaningful space where people of the two nations connect and learn. Rooted in high-quality Chinese-language education, the Classroom has developed distinctive initiatives, including the Tongji–Ritsumeikan Confucius Institute Joint Lecture Series. By bringing together digital innovation and traditional wisdom, it continues to foster deeper appreciation and enduring friendship between our communities. These achievements are the result of the dedication and collaborative efforts of colleagues and supporters in both countries. Your professionalism and passion have made the Osaka Confucius Classroom not only a valuable center for learning Chinese and experiencing Chinese culture, but also an important window into the innovative potential of international Chinese education and the richness of cross-cultural dialogue. “As one alone cannot rise, but with many, progress comes naturally.” At a time when global change and technological transformation are accelerating, the importance of cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations is greater than ever. Tongji University will continue to strengthen cooperation with its global partners. We look forward to the Osaka Confucius Classroom continuing to serve as a cultural ambassador, expanding collaboration in areas such as AI-enhanced education and sustainable development research, and contributing to the lasting friendship between the peoples of China and Japan as well as to the shared progress of human civilization. |