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JICA Chair Lecture was hosted in three cities in Türkiye

From Dec 6th to Dec 9th, Prof. Koichiro Matsuda from Rikkyo University gave the lecture "Intellectual and Social Aspects of Modernization in Japan" as a part of JICA Chair. This lecture was given as the third time JICA Chair program in Türkıye. On 6th Dec, the lecture was delivered in Middle East Technial University in Ankara in person, at the same it was braodcasted online with Turkish-English translation. In other days, the lecture also was delivered at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul and at Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, which has established department of Japanese language and literature.

Progress of JICA Chair in Türkıye

JICA launched the "JICA Development Studies Program (JICA-DSP)" in 2018, in cooperation with various universities in Japan, with an aim to develop future leaders of developing counties.

This program offers an opportunity to study the respective academic fields at Japanese graduate schools, and Japanese studies that explores Japan's modernization and development cooperation experiences in light of its historical and cultural background.

In order to expand the opportunities of such Japanese studies in partner countries as well, JICA now started the "JICA Chair (JICA Program for Japanese studies)" in collaboration with leading universities in partner countries.

In Türkiye, which is known as a friendly state to Japan, research activities about Japan have been conducted in universities and there are many people who are familiar to Japan. On January 11th, 2022, JICA Türkiye Office launched the JICA Program for JICA Chair in collaboration with Middle East Technical University, to provide an online lecture on "Japan after World War II and Japan-China relations in the Modern Era." On March 18th, 2022, JICA Türkiye Office hosted the online JICA Chair lecture in collaboration with Middle East Technical University again, "Educational Development in Modernization in Japan." Following the above lectures, this time is the third JICA chair program in Türkiye.

The State of the Lecture

700 people took part in the lecture in the three universities. In the lecture, Prof Matsuda explained Japanese political thought and social background from the end of 18th century to middle of 20th century as well as their change and continuity.

On 6th, 70 students participated the lecture in Middle East Technical University. H.E. Mr. Kazuhiro Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador delivered opening speech there.

On 8th, the Lecture was delivered at Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, in which department of Japanese literature has been established. The lecture was successfully conducted with more than 500 participants.

On 9th, Boğaziçi University in Istanbul hosted the seminar and 100 students took part in the lecture. There was a QA session and discussion about Kabuki and period dramas in connection with the political regimes at the period.