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 On Tuesday, September 23, the Ritsumeikan University Undergraduate and Graduate School Spring Graduation Ceremony 2014 was held at Suzaku Campus. There, 22 students from the College of International Relations and 17 students from the Graduate School of International Relations were awarded Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

 At the University-wide graduation ceremony, Ms. Kaori Kimura gave a speech as the student representative. Mr. PARK WONKWANG and Mr. SPROUL Spenser R. gave a speech as graduate/undergraduate student representative at the departmental ceremony. Many family members and friends of graduates, faculty and staff members were there to celebrate. Graduates will soon start their new careers here in Japan and around the world.

 On August 25, 2014, 15 graduate students dispatched by APSIA (Association of Professional School of International Affairs) and 5 Graduate School and College of International Relations Ritsumeikan University　(GS Major) students exchanged opinions on the present state of international relations over lunch in a convivial atmosphere at the restaurant, Kyoto Nagomikan. Professor Keiji Nakatsuji, Dean of Graduate School of International Relations, also joined and gave a welcome address.

  The visiting students, selected by leading American universities that are members of APSIA, were able to come to Japan thanks to assistance from The Japan Foundation. They underwent 10 days of training in Japan with the primary aim of studying East Asian international relations and security issues. During that time, the students visited a disaster area in Miyagi Prefecture, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and also Kyoto.

  Although only 5 students from Ritsumeikan participated due to the summer recess, as confirmable from the photo, the visiting students and College/Graduate School of IR students were not easy to differentiate as both groups included a variety of nationalities. At APSIA member universities, including Ritsumeikan, internationalization is progressing, and discussions, including ones on international relations, have advanced beyond being based on simple nationalism into ones predicated on diversity. It was precisely an event that foretells the start of a new generation.

 *APSIA (Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs: an association of universities and graduate schools around the world leading in international relations education and research. Members include top-level schools such as Harvard University and Yale University. The Graduate School of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, the only official member of APSIA in Japan, is a globally-recognized school leading Japan in international relations education and research.

 *The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP)

The Center for Global Partnership (CGP) was established within the Japan Foundation to promote collaboration between the people of Japan, the United States, and beyond in order to address issues of global concern. “Japan Expert Development in the US” is a program running since 2009 that, as part of efforts to address topics necessary for expansion and development, invites to Japan exceptional students studying international relations at American graduate schools.

The Third Research Seminar of the College of International Relations in 2014 was held on the 8th of June 2014, at Koshinkan Room 733. Associate Prof. Thomas W. FRENCH, a specialist of Japanese history, politics and relationships between Japan and the US, gave a report on his research to date, focusing on his recently released book National Police Reserve: The Origin of Japan's Self Defense Forces. Starting from a review of previous research on the NPR, he highlighted a general trend to classify the force as an army on the basis of very little evidence. In order to address these shortcomings, he presented a large amount of primary documentary sources, principally collected from the National Diet Library Tokyo. Subsequently, he examined the international origins of the NPR, arguing that Cold War concerns, the Constabulary model, and US debates about security, played a role in the creation of the force. Moreover, he took the domestic origins of the force into consideration, providing an analysis of the Japanese government's conceptions of security, the perceived threat to Japan's internal safety, and the catalysing role played by the Korean war. Furthermore, he took the character, organisation and operational aspects of the NPR into consideration, along with its interactions with former Imperial Army and Navy officers and the Japanese civil police. The presentation concluded with an examination of the evolution of the force into the National Safety Force (NSF) in 1952, highlighting the continuities between the NPR and the Self Defense Forces.

The Second Research Seminar of the College of International Relations in 2014 was held on the 17th of June 2014, at Koshinkan Room 733. Professor OHTA Hideaki, a specialist in International Finance, International Economics and International Development Finance, gave a presentation on “The Effects of Monetary Policy on the Real Economy and the Monetary Market in Japan”. In his presentation, Prof. OHTA provided a quantitative analysis of the Bank of Japan (BOJ)’s Monetary Easing Policy, demonstrating its inefficiency. In particular, he argued that it has become ineffective due to increasing foreign capital flows, and that it had no positive effects in terms of bank lending and monetary market, as well as real economy (GDP and production), while even having negative effects on production. He highlighted the larger influence that capital flows have on the domestic markets and the real economy, as well as the increasing interconnectedness between the BOJ account and the US share prices and money stocks. Finally, he proposed some suggestions in order to address the shortcomings of the current Japanese financial situation, such as the possibility of the constitution of a global coordination, the need for the Japanese authority to consider some exit strategies while minimizing the shocks, and the possibility that Japan introduces some capital management and regulation measures to regain its independence of monetary policy.

Report of 2014 Program

Students of Ritsumeikan University and American University go to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August every year since 1995. There are not only Japanese students but also international students from Ritsumeikan University who attend the peace trip. For example, there were students from China, Korea, Thailand, Bangladesh and Britain. First it is expected that students read a book called Hiroshima by John Hersey(1946) and learn what really happened on August 6 in 1945. Then they visit various places related to the book and also peace museums such as Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki, Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki Peace Museum and so forth.

Students learn much one another realizing that their historical perspectives are quite different. Students from the USA, China and Korea tend to be shocked to know the result of the atomic bombing because they were taught that World War II ended because of the atomic bombing. They had not learned that it was not necessary to use the atomic bombs and how much hibakusha(atomic bomb victims) suffered from the effects of the atomic bombing, especially radiation. They found that they would be the last generation who could listen to hibakusha directly because atomic bomb survivors are getting older and older.

On the other hand, Japanese students tend to be shocked to learn the result of Japan’s aggression of other nations and how much people in China, Korea and other countries had suffered during World War II when they visit Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki Peace Museum where Japan’s aggression is exhibited. This is because they had not studied Japan’s aggression at school and it was not reported much in the media.

Students tend to be impressed to attend Shiroyama elementary school where many children and teachers were killed by an atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9. They began to understand why hibakushas continue to make efforts to convey their atomic bombed experiences to future generations after seeing innocent children who wish for peace.It is indeed life changing experiences to go on the peace trip. It is a good chance to learn lessons from the past and think what students can do for the peaceful future, and also to make good friends after spending ten days together. Please join the peace trip !

Kazuyo Yamane: Vice Director of Kyoto Museum for World Peace

Detail of 2014 Program

Participants

Peace Studies Seminar class: 11 (including students from China, Korea and Bangladesh)

Schedules

１）Kyoto Program (Aug. 2-3: 2 nights)

Aug. 2 (Sat)

August Flower Pledge and form peace families

Kyoto Seminar 1:

Why was the atomic bomb dropped? (Koshinkan 721)

Untold History of the United States (DVD: 3)

Kyoto Seminar 2:

What were the atomic bombed experiences?

• Talk
• Listen to hibakusha(atomic bomb survivor)

Welcome Party at Ryouyukan Café

a meeting for reflection

August 3 (Sun)

Kyoto Museum for World Peace

Kyoto Seminar 3

at the meeting room of the peace museum to discuss exhibitions

Kyoto Seminar 4

at the meeting room.

• Japan’s war experiences and the way to peace and reconciliation
• Experiences in Fukushima
• Fukushima and Kyougamisaki in Kyoto: the new stage of the Nuclear Age – the Age of Space War and Nuclear Power Plans in Flames
• U.S. Military Bases in Okinawa

Going out with peace family and have dinner.

A meeting for reflection

２）Hiroshima Program (Aug. 4-7: three nights)

August 4 (Mon)

Aioi Bridge, Atomic Bombed Dome, Shima Surgery, Peace Park

Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Hiroshima Seminar 1

at Astehru Plaza Big Halｌ

731 Unit, Atomic Bombing, ABCC and Fukushima

August 5 (Tue)

Gokoku Shrine near Hiroshima Castle, remains of the headquarters of Chugoku Military District, etc.

Hiroshima City Hall

Visit Hiroshima Mayor and Mayors for Peace

Hiroshima Seminar 2

at Chugoku Shinbunsha

A meeting for reflection and discussion

Visit Schmoe House, Honkawa Elementary School, Aioi Bridge, Atomic Bombed Memorial at Fukuromachi Elementary School, Radiatin Effect Research foundation(RERF), ABCC, old Nagarekawa Church, Memorial Cathedral for World Peace, Nagarekawa Church, Noborimachi Junior High School.

August 6 (Wed)

Attend the memorial service for unidentified 70,000 people at Genbaku Kuyoutou(a monument erected for the repose of Atomic Bombed victims) which is in the northwestern part of the peace park. The memorial service is held for any religious sect.

Visit a cenotaph for Korean atomic bombed victims

Attend the peace ceremony held by Hiroshima City

Go to Genbaku Kuyoutou and offer flowers and folded paper cranes there and have a meeting.

Attend one from the following (each group consists of 7-13 students)

• World Friendship Center: listen to hibakusha in English
• Visti a training place of the Society of Jesus and visit to the grave of Father Wilhelm Kleinsorg.
• Attend the World Conference against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs held from 10:30 to 13:00 at Hiroshimakenritsu Taiikukan: Green Arena. (by Gensuikyo)
• Attend the conference held by Gensuikin
• Listen to hibakusha at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum(a meeting room in the basement?) and see exhibitions in the basement.
• Other activities

3) Nagasaki Program (Aug. 7-10: three nights)

Visit Atomic Bomb Museum and National Peace Memorial and stroll in the peace park

Nagasaki Seminar 1

Aug. 8 (Fri)

Visit kataashi Torii(one-legged archway of a Shinto shrine)

Second group visits.

Nagasaki Seminar 2

at Nagasaki University

Lecture by Associate Prof. Keiko Nakamura of RECNA(Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition)

• Lunch at the coop café at Nagasaki University
• Visit Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki Peace Museum.

August 9 (Sat)

Attend the ceremony at Shiroyama elementary school and offer 1000 paper cranes to the peace statue for children

Attend the peace ceremony organized by Nagasaki City

A meeting to discuss impression

• Have a discussion with students of Nagasaki University
• Visit St. Kolbe Memorial(who martyred in Auschwitz)

Aug. 10 (Sun)

Nagasaki Seminar 3

On Thursday, July 17 2014, the College & Graduate School of International Relations invited 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus to hold a talk titled, “~Creating a World Without Poverty~”, at Soshikan, Kinugasa Campus.

Professor Yunus, an economist born in Bangladesh, founded Grameen Bank in 1983, which provides microcredit to the poor. By raising awareness of impoverished people in the agricultural sector and providing microloans to low-income self-employed people, particularly impoverished women, Prof. Yunus has contributed greatly to alleviating poverty in Bangladesh. In praise of these achievements, Prof. Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Professor Yunus talked about when he realized how far removed the situation at the time in Bangladesh was from existing economic theory and that the existing banking system was one only for the wealthy, where affluent people could borrow money but the impoverished, one-third of the world’s population, could not. He also discussed how he established Grameen Bank, as relief for the poor, that would provide microloans to impoverished people and women.

Prof. Yunus stated (paraphrased), “No matter how big a problem, it is important to start small and stay constant to solve it. First, start thinking of a solution to a problem that affects 3 or 5 people. If you can solve a 5-person problem, you can surely solve a 1,000,000-person problem. You should keep repeating small successes. Young people can’t throw their dreams away. If there’s a problem, there’s a solution. I hope everyone works on solving the problems around them.”

In the second part, Seimu Yamashita, representing the Ritsumeikan team that placed 1st in the Yunus & Youth Social Business Design Contest 2014 held on Tuesday, July 15, moderated a question and answer session between Prof. Yunus and students. Students asked back-to-back questions regarding solutions to poverty and discrimination issues deeply rooted in Africa and Asia. In response, Prof. Yunus emphasized the importance of first offering solutions on your own.

On Wednesday, June 13, 2014 at Kinugasa Campus, Ritsumeikan University's College of International Relations held a special lecture of Mr. Christian Moser, Head of Strategic Planning, JAC Recruitment, the global recruitment company.

 

In the course “Professional workshop,” Global Studies major students listened enthusiastically to the lecture on international job market and global career development.

As a professional of recruitment, Mr. Moser discussed such issues as an outward, globalizing trend among Japanese companies, required "global skills" and their importance, and career opportunities for international students studying in Japan.

The English-based Global Studies Major was established in 2011 at the College of International Relations. The College runs various English-based programs and often invites business leaders.

 

Access the College of International Relations here.

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ir/eng/

GS Major special site 　https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/eng/ir/

The First Research Seminar of the College of International Relations in 2014 was held on 3rd June, 2014 at Koshinkan Room 733. The first presentation in this academic year was “The Politics of Evil” by Associate Professor Andrea De Antoni specialist of Cultural anthropology and Science of religion. He spoke about the concepts of “Discourse” and “Power” with reference to “幽霊ghosts” and “妖怪(monsters)” in Japan and in the catholic exorcism in Italy. He picked up some cases in Japanese and Italian folklore and explained that the “Discourse” on what is “natural” or “supernatural” is formed by specific politics and associations related to power in the process of modernization.