Dr. Ritter Díaz, Director Representative, and Mr. Kiyoshi Kimura, Honorary Director of JAPOLAC and owner of the prestigious Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, took part in the commemoration of the 120 years of diplomatic relations between Panama and Japan.

During a commemorative event held at a local hotel, Dr. Díaz, who also served as Panama’s Ambassador to Japan (2014-2019), expressed his sincere congratulations to H.E. Carlos Pere, Ambassador of Panama. The event brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from the private sector, and distinguished figures from Japan’s social and cultural sphere.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the announcement made by Japan’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Yoshifumi Tsuge, regarding the signing of a visa waiver agreement for holders of Panamanian passports traveling to Japan starting from April 1st of this year. This significant agreement will not only facilitate the flow of Panamanian tourists to Japan but also pave the way for increased people-to-people exchanges in various areas.

The event received support from our Honorary Director, Mr. Kimura, who provided attendees with exquisite sushi dishes from the renowned Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain.

JAPOLAC organized an online meeting with professors from the University of Santiago, Chile (USACH) to facilitate a discussion on methodological and pedagogical aspects.

The primary goal of this meeting was to enhance the teaching and learning experience for the upcoming Short Online Program (SOP) intended for students at Chiba University in Spring 2024.

The SOP is designed to offer a diverse range of courses, including 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.

The meeting provided valuable insights into best practices to transmit knowledge in a bicultural context.

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 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.