TOPICS
TOPICS
Guest Lecture : Prof. Ra Mason - US Politics and Foreign Policy-
The lecture examines Okinawa as a key site in regional relations, located at the intersection of current Sino-Western rivalries. It thereby adopts a multilayered, eclectic approach to Japan’s national security and regional relations more broadly from an Okinawan perspective. The session therein examines multiple layers of security on Okinawa from the perspectives of the state, market and society. This allows students to take part in a multifaceted reexamination of the US-Japan Alliance, Sino-Japanese and Sino-American dyads, and elucidates the key role that actors on Okinawa have to play in all these relationships.
The session is presented as a multi-part asynchronous lecture, followed by synchronous Q&A.
The content is research-led, feeding from research currently being undertaken for an ongoing collaborative project being conducted by the speaker and colleagues at Ritsumeikan University, led by Professor Keiji Nakatsuji, and forms part of a growing institutional research and teaching exchange relationship between Ritsumeikan University and the University of East Anglia.
The students were actively engaged and the time allotted for questions and answers was filled easily. Professor Mason answered many questions on a range of issues connected to Okinawa and its position within US and Japanese security, including on security, economic, cultural, linguistic and political issues. The students gained valuable insights from a specialist on this subject and professor Mason was very impressed with the quality of their questions and comments.
Commencement Ceremony held
On September 22nd, the commencement ceremony of the College and Graduate School of IR was held.
In total, 58 students graduated from the College of International Relations and 43 from the Graduate School of International Relations.
In the university-wide ceremony, JOE Tien Ce (GS Major) made a speech as the representative of all graduates. In the College/Graduate School of IR ceremony, LOO Shyue Tyng(GS major) and GINA Aghnia Virginianty (Graduate School of IR) made speeches.
JOE Tien Ce and YEO Yume were awarded by the Dean for their excellent work on their graduation theses.Graduates will work internationally and domestically, and continue their studies at graduate schools like Graduate School of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University and other international/Japanese institutions like Kyoto University, LSE and George Washington University. Mr. Yoshimaru from the Alumni Association, the Deans of the College and Graduate School of IR sent messages for graduates.
Graduates, Congratulations !
Message for Students : Ahead of the 2020 Spring Semester
Dear students,
https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/news/detail/?id=481
To support students' learning, College of IR is now opening online inquiry form in Manaba+R.
Please access to Manaba+R to find useful resources, FAQ and like to Inquiry Forms.
Congratulation(New students)
Dear New Enrolling Students. Congratulation and Welcome to Ritsumeikan!
Unfortunately, we do not have a ceremony and welcome events on campus. However, we would like to support your new start via online etc.
Please find our special site (in Japanese and English) include message from President Nakatani and Dean Kawamura .
Congratulation!
Notice on IR Office Hours during Spring breaks
Notice：Regarding cancellation of Ritsumeikan University Commencement Ceremonies, Academic Year 2019, and Ritsumeikan University Matriculation Ceremony, Academic Year 2020
“Enlarge the common ground” beyond borders: Ritsumeikan students had dialogue with the Israel and Palestine Young Professional Leaders
Both undergraduate and graduate students from Ritsumeikan University and high school students at Ritsumeikan-Uji High School, which is famous for international education participated in the meeting.
The conflicts in the area have continued for a long time. Japanese government invites the delegation to support the Middle East Peace process by promoting personal exchange and friendship between Israel and Palestine on its belief’s briefs that “the problem should be resolved only through negotiations, based on relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative, and that any violent acts must be firmly rejected.”*
Understand each truth and reality
Under the lead of Professor Mitoji Yabunaka, a former vice foreign minister of Japan who is engaged in various international cooperation projects and negotiations, the participants talked the reality of the Israel-Palestine region like Israel’s settlements, Palestine refugees and security checkpoints as well as high-tech innovation in the area. Nevertheless the difficult situation, all attendants were trying to understand their counterpart’s reality, which they described “enlarge the common ground” among them.
What Japan can do for the region?
In the end of the conversation, a Ritsumeikan-Uji High School students asked their expectation to Japan. Participants explained how Japan is an important country for the region’s future and asked them to visit their beautiful sites like Jericho, Ramallah and Jerusalem to understand the region. The participants explained how Japan is important to the future of the Israeli and Palestine region. It was also hoped that there will be opportunities for young Japanese to visit the region and learn more about its rich culture and history.
As a well experienced former vice ministerdiplomat, Professor Yabunaka facilitated the discussion constructively and concluded it with gratitude for participants’ sincere contributions to it.
Ritsumeikan hosted the visit and conversation for 4 times. Past events’ reports are available as follows:
2019 February visit
2017 November visit
Reference
MOFA Japan’s Position on the Peace in the Middle East