November, 2017
In order to implement the “Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia)” smoothly, Prof. Kyoko Numano, the project leader, and Prof. Shigeru Arai, the project coordinator, visited five of the six partner institutions involved in the project in Russia in November 2017 and sought further understanding of and cooperation for the TUFS project. For the purpose of fulfilling the mission of the project to provide participating students with internship opportunities, the two professors also visited the offices of Japanese companies operating in Russia to discuss the specific contents and schedule of internships.
At the same time, a TUFS delegation led by Vice President Kayoko Hayashi visited National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, one of the partner institutions committed to the project, and held a ceremony to open the TUFS Global Japan Office (GJO) at HSE in accordance with the agreement. Details of the visit are reported below.
November 16 (Thursday) St. Petersburg
Prof. Numano attended as a panelist a round-table discussion titled “Two worlds, two words, one ocean: The literary senses of Russia and Japan” at Ⅵ St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum.
Prof. Arai visited the Japan Center in St. Petersburg and discussed details of the planned internship program with Director Hitoshi Matsubara (a TUFS Russian-language course graduate).
November 17 (Friday) St. Petersburg
Prof. Numano and Prof. Arai visited the office of JETRO St. PETERSBURG and discussed preparations for the internship program with General Director Takahiro Miyagawa (a TUFS Russian-language course graduate).
The two later visited the management consulting company MTC Japan and discussed specific ways of implementing the internship program with Sales Manager Hiroshi Makino (a TUFS Russian-language course graduate).
November 20 (Monday) St. Petersburg
Prof. Numano and Prof. Arai visited St. Petersburg State University. They talked with Aleksandr Filippov, Director, Department of Japanese Studies, and Liala Khronopulo, Assistant Professor, Department of Japanese Studies. Both sides agreed to build a closer relationship of cooperation for the Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia) initiative. Prof. Numano delivered a lecture titled “Japonism in the early 20th century of Russia”at St. Petersburg State University in the presence of students from Department of Japanese studies and TUFS students studying at the university, among others.
Together with TUFS students studying at St. Petersburg State University
November 21 (Tuesday) Moscow
Prof. Numano and Prof. Arai visited the office of Sony Russia. They had detailed talks about the contents of the internship program with local senior Sony officials, including Operation Director Roman Potapov, HR General Manager Svetlana Marinina, and Elena Erokhova, Chief of General Administration .
At office of Sony Russia
Prof. Numano and Prof. Arai visited the Japan Center in Moscow. Director Michihiro Hamano readily agreed to cooperate for the internship program and gave us precious advice.
Prof. Numano and Prof. Arai visited Institute of Asian & African Studies at Moscow State University. They briefed Dr. Stella Bykova, Chief of the Japanese Philology Department, Assistant Professor Nataliya Krneta and other officials on the Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia). The two sides confirmed that they would develop bilateral cooperative relations. Also present at the meeting was Valeriy Chastnykh, Deputy Director of the university’s Institute of Russian Language & Culture, who has given a lot of assistance and care for many years to TUFS students studying in Russia. The visitors also had practical talks with Coordinator Umida Alyakbarova.
November 22 (Wednesday) Moscow
A TUFS delegation visited the Embassy of Japan in Moscow. Its members comprised Vice President Kayoko Hayashi, Prof. Numano, Prof. Arai, Mai Nakagawa (Chief Officer, Office for International Affairs) and Keiko Kobayashi (Moscow Coordinator). The delegation briefed Minister Toshio Yamamoto and First Secretaries Koji Umehara and Hiroe Takahashi on the Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia).
The delegation later visited Yamaha Music (Russia) and discussed preparations for the internship program with General Manager Tetsuya Hatano (a TUFS Russian-language course graduate).
At the Yamaha Music (Russia) office
The delegation also visited National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow and met with Ms. Marina Batalina, Head of the Office for International Cooperation, Dr. Uliana Strizhak, Head of the Japan Studies Program and Associate Professor, and Lecturer Pasivkina Sofiia (TUFS Global Japan Office Coordinator). The two sides discussed the implementation of Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia) and confirmed the establishment of a system of cooperation and liaison in the future. They held a ceremony to open the Global Japan Office (GJO) in front of the Japan Studies Program office, with a GJO plate attached on the wall near the door of the office. TUFS Prof. Yoshikazu Suzuki also joined the ceremony who has been staying in Moscow on sabbatical.
In front of a the Japan Studies Program office with Global Japan Office plate
November 23 (Thursday) Moscow
The TUFS delegation (Vice President Hayashi, Prof. Numano, Prof. Arai and Chief Officer Nakagawa) visited Russian State University for the Humanities and briefed university officials on the Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia). The officials included Acting Rector; Prof. Dr. Aleksandr Bezborodov, Vice Rector; Prof. Dr. Vera Zabotkina, Prof. Dr. Vera Podlesskaya, Head of the Research Center for Linguistic Typology and Dr. Maria Rukodelnikova, Head of the Oriental languages Department. Both sides discussed future cooperation for the project and confirmed joint efforts to promote it in a multifaceted and proactive manner, including the introduction of a double degree program and a joint degree (cotutelle) program.
At Russian State University for the Humanities
Prof. Numano, Prof. Arai and Coordinator Kobayashi visited the office of Yokogawa Electric CIS and discussed preparations for the internship program with Deputy General Director/Chief Financial Officer Nobuyuki Iwai, Deputy Sales Director Yasuo Saito (a TUFS Russian-language course graduate) and Vitaly Sergeev, HR Director for Russia & CIS and General Manager.
Prof. Arai and Coordinator Kobayashi also visited General Manager Mr. Hiroshi Furuta (a TUFS graduate) at Mitsubishi Electric Russia to consult the company about internships.
November 24 (Friday) Moscow
The TUFS delegation (Secretary-General Katsuhisa Sagisaka, Prof. Suzuki, Prof. Numano, Prof. Arai, Chief Officer Nakagawa and Moscow Coordinator Kobayashi) visited the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) and briefed institute officials on the Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia). The officials included Dr. Egor Andreev, Head of the International Office, and Prof. Dmitry Streltsov, Head of the Afro-Asian Department. The two sides discussed closer cooperation in the future.
At Moscow State Institute of International Relations
The delegation visited Japanese Culture Department at Japan Foundation and discussed internships with its head, Counsellor Hiroshi Kozai of the Embassy of Japan, and its staff Yoko Sakanoue in charge of the Library for Foreign Literature.
Prof. Numano and Prof. Arai observed a exchange session “Romashka” conducted in Japanese and Russian at Japan center, which was also attended by a few TUFS students.