Meeting with Mr. Kiyoshi Kimura, Honorary Director of JAPOLAC

Dr. Ritter Diaz, the Representative Director of JAPOLAC, held a meeting with Mr. Kiyoshi Kimura, Honorary Director of the Association. The purpose of the meeting was to report on the activities carried out in 2023 and those planned for 2024.

Dr. Diaz, in his role as JAPOLAC’s Representative Director, conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Kimura for his unwavering support of the Association’s initiatives aimed at raising awareness of Latin America and the Caribbean in Japan.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Ajoy Shinha Roy, serving as Senior Director, Mr. Hirokazu Yamaguchi, holding the position of Managing Director, and Ms. Chizuko Mitsuhashi, who serves as the Business Research Advisor at JAPOLAC.

JAPOLAC Coordinates an Online Meeting between Chiba University and the University of Santiago, Chile

JAPOLAC coordinated an online meeting between Chiba University (CU) and the University of Santiago, Chile (USACH). The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss the schedule and content for a Short Online Program (SOP), which is to be delivered by USACH to CU students in Spring 2024.

This SOP is designed to encompass a variety of courses, such as a General Overview of Chile; Insights into the Production of Copper, Lithium, and Iodine; an Examination of Chile’s Thriving Winery Industry; an Introduction to Chile’s Salmon Industry, and a Review of Chile’s Forestry Industry.

JAPOLAC’s short online programs serve as a valuable conduit for imparting practical knowledge about Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC) to Japanese university students. The overarching aim is to inspire and encourage these students to consider visiting and pursuing further studies in the LAC region.

Among the core objectives of JAPOLAC is the active promotion of academic exchanges between Japanese universities and those in Latin America and the Caribbean. Simultaneously, the organization endeavors to expand the academic and research network between Japan and the LAC region.

JAPOLAC Hosts Seafood Workshop at Yaizu Fisheries High School in Shizuoka City

On October 10, JAPOLAC hosted a Seafood Workshop at Yaizu Fisheries High School in Shizuoka City. This collaborative effort involved the active participation of the Department of Food Science at the school.

The primary objective of this culinary workshop was to introduce students to the art of preparing selected seafood dishes from the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

Under the expert guidance of Mrs. Yudelka Salvador, from Judy’s Kitchen, students enthusiastically prepared a range of delicious dishes, including shrimp and avocado salad, seafood soup, and stewed fish with rice.

Yaizu Fisheries High School distinguishes itself as an educational institution with a unique curriculum that combines general education with specialized subjects deeply rooted in fisheries and marine science. Here, students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in hands-on experiences related to aquaculture, marine biology, and the intricacies of seafood processing.

This collaboration between JAPOLAC and Yaizu Fisheries High School serves as an invaluable opportunity to broaden Japanese students’ awareness of the rich and diverse seafood gastronomy originating from Latin America and the Caribbean. The workshop also served to foster cross-cultural understanding, aligning with JAPOLAC’s mission to promote various aspects of the countries of LAC region.

JAPOLAC Lecture on Japan Foreign Policy Towards Latin America and the Caribbean

On October 5, Dr. Ritter Diaz delivered a lecture on Japan’s Foreign Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to an audience of over 70 members of the Silver Daigaku Kai, an educational organization comprising senior Japanese citizens in the Meguro district of Tokyo.

Dr. Diaz provided an in-depth overview of the current situation in Latin American and Caribbean countries. He explained the guiding principles of Japan’s foreign policy in the region, known as “JUNTOS” (TOGETHER), which is aimed at working together to advance economic prosperity, joining efforts in international leadership to address global challenges, and fostering people-to-people exchanges.

During the lecture, Dr. Diaz cited specific examples of Japan’s international cooperation, including initiatives related to biodiversity management and conservation in countries belonging to the Central American Integration System (SICA in Spanish), as well as the financing and construction of a monorail using Japanese technology in Panama.

In the economic realm, Dr. Diaz highlighted various economic partnership agreements, tax treaties, and investment agreements that have been established between Japan and several countries in the region.

The presentation concluded with an examination of the various challenges faced by LAC countries. These challenges encompass issues such as inequality and poverty, the ongoing efforts to combat corruption and drug trafficking, and the immigration crisis, which has been exacerbated by the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

JAPOLAC Lecture Offers Practical Insights at Utsunomiya University’s Online International Career Seminar

From September 23 to October 1, 2023, Dr. Ritter Diaz, the Representative Director of JAPOLAC, took part as a guest lecturer at the renowned International Career Seminar (ICS) hosted by Utsunomiya University.

The core objective of the ICS is to equip students with a practical global perspective that is essential for the pursuit of international careers. The seminar places a strong emphasis on pivotal concepts such as “Globalization” and “Glocalization,” highlighting the ever-increasing relevance of global issues within local communities.

Dr. Diaz delivered a presentation titled “Advising Foreign Exporters into the Japanese Market” to an attentive audience composed of students from Utsunomiya University, the University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS, Malaysia). This carefully crafted lecture aimed to provide students with practical insights, ensuring their preparedness for a successful journey in the realm of international business.

One notable feature of the ICS is its use of English as the primary medium of instruction, offering students a unique opportunity to engage in international discussions with foreign professors, lecturers, and peers. At the end of the seminar, the group of students under the guidance of Dr. Diaz, carried out a presentation of two products for introduction into the Japanese market, thus gaining firsthand practical experience in the dynamics of international business.

Dr. Ritter Diaz’s contribution to the ICS exemplifies the commitment of JAPOLAC to fostering international communication and equipping future professionals with the skills necessary to excel in the global arena. The collaboration between JAPOLAC and Utsunomiya University serves to support international education, offering students a good opportunity to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.