To strengthen the exchange and academic cooperation between National Chiayi University and Japanese universities, President Han Chien Lin visited Okinawa, Japan, from April 22nd to 24th. During the trip, he exchanged views with top supervisors of the University of the Ryukyus on future cooperation. To bolster ties with Okinawa’s education and industry sectors, he also met with the current and former mayors of Urasoe City, and representatives from the Japan Bunmitu Industry Association and Shogaku Gakuen Educational Foundation.
Ryukyu has frequently interacted with Taiwan in the course of modern history. There has been considerable cooperation in agriculture such as pineapple and sugarcane farming since the end of the war. Currently, many outstanding Taiwanese talents pursue careers in Ryukyu. President Han Chien Lin paid a special visit to Urasoe City Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto and former Mayor Atsushi Sakima to learn about local industrial development and discuss cooperation potentials. He visited Kaneshiro Go, Chief Editor of Hands Companion (ハンズコンム) Magazine, and teacher Wang Qiong-Hui to delve into the current situation and prospects of Japanese students studying in Taiwan. He also met with Miyagi Kazuya and Shimabukuro Satoshi, respectively Vice President and Executive Director of the Japan Bunmitu Industry Association for an overview of the development plan for the sugarcane industry and the current production situation of the eight sugarcane factories in Ryukyu.
During the visit to the University of the Ryukyus, President Lin met with Vice President Ishihara Masahide and head of the International Collaboration Section to discuss future academic cooperation and student exchanges. In recent years, as one of the national universities in Japan, the University of the Ryukyus has developed unique research and talent cultivation with regional and local characteristics. Their main research areas include tropical islands, marine environments, culture, health, and longevity. Both universities have reached a consensus on further academic cooperation and student exchange, and will sign a cooperation agreement at a later date. In 2024, cooperation will be carried out through student and teacher visits, which will serve as the basis for further academic exchange and collaboration.
During this trip, President Lin also visited Seijiro Nashiro and Daijo Mihoko, respectively Founder and Director of the Shogaku Gakuen Educational Foundation. Seijiro Nashiro, an alumnus of Chiayi Senior High School’s junior high department, was awarded an honorary citizenship of Chiayi City. The baseball team from Okinawa Shogaku High School, who shares a similar history with NCYU’s Kano baseball team, is a regular winner at Japan’s Koshien tournament. In the future, they will promote mutual visits or off-site training between both baseball teams to bolster the friendship between Taiwan and Japan.Photo 1: President Han Chien Lin met with University of the Ryukyus Vice President Ishihara (left).
Photo 2: NCYU President
Han Chien Lin discussed exchange and cooperation opportunities with Vice
President and staff of the International Collaboration Section, University of
the Ryukyus.
Photo 3: President Han
Chien Lin visited Hands Companion (ハンズコンム) Magazine and posed with Chief Editor Gushiken
Takehito (right).
Photo 4: NCYU President Han Chien Lin visited Miyagi Kazuya, Vice President of the Japan Bunmitu Industry Association (left), to learn more about the current production situation of the eight sugarcane factories in Ryukyu.