TOPICS
TOPICS
Special guests to Introductory Seminar from World Economic Forum (Geneva, Switzerland).
Mr. Masao Takahashi (Associate Director, Asia / Global Leadership Fellow)
Ms. Kiriko Honda (Associate Director, Japan)
We feel grateful and honored to welcome Mr. Takahashi and Ms. Honda to Introductory Seminar, freshmen’s colloquium at Global Studies Major of Faculty of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University. Students listened enthusiastically to the lecture on the mission and activities of World Economic Forum, which is committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation, and essence of its multi-stakeholder approach.
The discussion centered around students’ current concerns on global agenda and topics discussed at Davos earlier this year. Questions also extended to the guests’ career paths, in which students apparently took deep interests.
GSIR Admission Guidance Session will be held! (Nov 20, 2014)
The Admission Guidance Session of the Graduate School of International Relations will be held as described below:
Date:November 20, 2014
Time:12:15-12:55
Place:Koshinkan728, Kinugasa Campus
In this session, a faculty member of the graduate school will introduce the graduate school and a staff member of the Administrative Office will explain about admissions. They will answer any of your questions such as "what can we learn at the graduate school?"
If you are interested in going on to the Graduate School of International Relations, this session will be a great opportunity. Please come and join us!
[Report] A Peace Trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki
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
[Event]Participation in the Japan Education Fair 2014 in Vietnam
The College of International Relations and the Graduate School of International Relations will participate in the Japan Education Fair 2014 on Sat, November 15 in Hanoi and Sun, November 16 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Please come and visit our booth.
For more details, visit the following link at:
http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/info_fair_vietnam_2014_e.html
Hanoi: Melia Hanoi Hotel(44B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi, Vietnam)
Ho Chi Minh City: Hotel Equatorial
(242 Tran Binh Trong, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Announcement of the New Meditation Space
Students from a variety of cultural backgrounds are learning together at the School of International Relations.
Since 2013, the cafeterias at Kinugasa Campus started to offer a Haral food menu.
In respect for our student body, the Administrative Office of
College and Graduate School of International Relations has established a meditation
space on the 4th floor of the Koshinkan building since this summer. We
believe that this space will help make campus life more comfortable for
students.
In the future, we will continue working at building a better environment for students with students and faculty members.
September 2014
Administrative Office of College and Graduate School of International Relations
Spring 2014 Graduation Ceremony held
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.