Online Coordination Meeting for International Career Seminar at Utsunomiya University

Dr. Ritter Diaz, the representative director of JAPOLAC, participated in an online coordination meeting for the lecturers of the International Career Seminar (ICS) organized by Utsunomiya University.

The primary objective of the ICS is to provide students with a comprehensive global perspective to pursue international careers, focusing on essential concepts such as “Globalization” and “Glocalization.” These concepts highlight the increasing importance of global issues within local communities.

The ICS is a three-day seminar conducted in English, covering subjects such as International Business, International Cooperation, Multi-cultural Society, and Japan, as well as Cross-cultural Understanding/Communication.

The seminar features lectures by professors from Utsunomiya University and guest lecturers who possess extensive global experience in higher education, international business, and other related fields.

It is worth noting that this is the second year that the Director of JAPOLAC has been invited to deliver a lecture on International Business from the perspective of commercial diplomacy.

Promotion of High School Student Exchange

Dr. Ritter Diaz, representative director of JAPOLAC, organized a meeting with H.E. Robert Takata, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, with the purpose of informing about the scholarship program offered by Japan Aviation High School to outstanding high school students from various countries.

This program provides an excellent educational opportunity for foreign high school students who have demonstrated exceptional skills in sports and arts.

One of the main objectives of JAPOLAC is to promote international education between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, with the aim of fostering cultural understanding between both regions.

Academic Lecture on Semiconductors

On May 30th, Dr. Yoshihiro Ishitani, professor from the Faculty of Engineering at Chiba University, delivered an online lecture on semiconductors to 82 professors, researchers, and students at Panama Technological University (PTU) to share his research and experience in this field.

The lecture was conducted in collaboration with JAPOLAC, which supports PTU in establishing academic and research partnerships with Chiba University in various fields, including semiconductors.

JAPOLAC is committed to promoting international education between Japanese universities and those in Latin America and the Caribbean.

One of JAPOLAC’s key objectives is education in artificial intelligence, recognizing the significant changes brought about by the digitization of human activities and the recent emergence of large language models like ChatGPT, which have generated considerable global concern.

Semiconductors are crucial for the development of artificial intelligence, making it a matter of national security for several advanced countries. Japan holds an important position in the global semiconductor industry, particularly in the manufacturing of semiconducting materials and chipmaking equipment.

JAPOLAC Special Lecture on International Cooperation

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, delivered a compelling lecture on International Cooperation from a diplomatic perspective to students at Chiba University.

During the lecture, students learned about the remarkable evolution of international cooperation and were provided with concrete examples of collaboration between Japan and Panama, drawing upon Dr. Diaz’s extensive diplomatic experience.

Following the lecture, Dr. Diaz held a productive working meeting with Dr. Hiroaki Ozawa, the Vice President for Education of Chiba University. The purpose of the meeting was to explore prospective academic exchanges with universities in Latin America and the Caribbean, further fostering educational partnerships and enhancing cross-cultural understanding.

Los Van Van: Cuba’s musical bullet train brings non-stop dance energy to Japan

Los Van Van, giants of Cuban popular music for more than 50 years, bring their intoxicating Latin rhythms to Japan for the first time in 13 years this summer.

Loosely translated as The Go Gos, the Grammy-winning band continues to set the standard for infusing dance music from Havana with a fresh relevance and identity that stretches far beyond the labels of Cuban salsa or timba.

The 16-member group, known as El Tren (The Train) in Cuba, is a locomotive of irresistible dance grooves for the body and a source of social commentary for the mind that makes the music an essential part of everyday life on the Caribbean island, rather than a distraction from it.

The Los Van Van sound remains as distinctive as ever, even after generational changes in styles and personnel, offering an example for salsa bands across the globe of how to evolve a contemporary style while maintaining an identity that avoids cliches.

Since the last appearance in Japan, hard-hitting drummer Samuel Formell has become the full driving force of the band following the passing away of his father, founder Juan Formell. He’ s reinvigorated the Formell formula by bringing on board sister Vanessa as the feisty female voice in the band and brother Juan-Carlos, a Grammy-nominated guitarist in his own right, to fill the key role as bassist. The latest lineup brings in new blood to power the trombone and violin sections, and put a new twist on the band’ s mesmerizing keyboard riffs. Julio Noroña on guiro flies the flag for the original members that formed the group in 1969.

Recent releases forge a path of fresh compositions, new collaborations and reworkings of classic hits as Formell looks to stretch the possibilities of Los Van Van’ s sound while never forgetting the rich heritage of its back catalogue. While experimenting on one-off tracks with timba and urban pop outfits, the band’ s most impactful full-length releases in recent years are its heavy-hitting “Leyenda” tribute to the deceased Formell and its 50th year anniversary collection “Mi Songo,” featuring re-energized cuts of “Sandunguera,” “Anda, Ven Y Muevete” and “El Baile del Buey Cansao.”

After three years of pandemic-tinged self-restraint, the time has come to leave some sweat and stress on the dancefloor this summer.

MAIN DETAILS

■ EVENT: Juan Formelly LOS VAN VAN – ¡Vívela! Salsa Tour 2023
■ ARTIST: Juan Formell y LOS VAN VAN (From Cuba – Genre: Cuban Salsa, Songo Timba)
■ General Organizer: NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano

Tour Dates
Aug. 31 (Thu.) Zepp Shinjuku (TOKYO)
▶ Fukuoka: Aug. 27 (Sat.) ISLA DE SALSA 2023 / Nagoya: Sep. 1 (Fri.) / Osaka: Sep. 2 (Sat.)

Ticket outlets: Ticket Sales will start on May, 2023. (Play guide information will be announced soon.)

General Information

NPO TIEMPO Iberoamericano – Fukuoka

Press contact: Jun KONDO
Tel: 092-762-4100 / Fax: 092-762-4104
E-mail: vivela@tiempo.jp / https://vivela.jp/en
Dayton Bldg. 3F, 2-4-5 Chuo-ku, Tenjin, Fukuoka