The Kingdom of Spain Decorates Mr. Kiyoshi Kimura, Honorary Director of JAPOLAC

On November 24, 2022, the government of Spain, decorated Mr. Kiyoshi Kimura, Honorary Director of JAPOLAC, with the Order of the Civil Merit of Spain in the degree of Encomienda.
The ceremony was held at the official residence of the Spanish Ambassador to Japan, H. E. Fidel Sendagorta Gomez del Campillo, who highlighted the notable contributions of Mr. Kimura to the Kingdom of Spain.

Mr. Kimura is the President of Kiyomura Corporation and owner of the sushi restaurant chain known as Sushi Zanmai. Throughout the years, Mr. Kimura has contributed to Spain economy through the import of fishery products, including Spanish tuna served at various locations of Sushi Zanmai.

During the pandemic, Kiyomura Corporation supported the vaccination efforts of the Japanese government, helping with the vaccination of personnel from various embassies in Japan, including the personnel of the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo.

The decoration ceremony also counted on the participation of Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, member of the Lower House of Parliament and prominent member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, H.E. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, ambassadors and important personalities of Japanese society.

JAPOLAC members extend its deepest congratulations to Mr. Kimura for such a high distinction from the Kingdom of Spain and wish continued well-being for Kiyomura Corporation and his personnel.

JAPOLAC Organized the Cultural Event “Rhythms of the Caribbean”

On October 7, 2022, JAPOLAC held the cultural event “Rhythms of the Caribbean” at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in the heart of Tokyo.

H.E. Shorna-Kay Richards, Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan delivered greetings remarks at the event highlighting the invaluable cooperation of JAPOLAC, which has contributed to create linkages between Japan and the Caribbean region not only in the cultural area but also in the field of education.

This year, JAPOLAC started a series of cultural events called “Rhythms of the Caribbean” to promote music, dance, food and tourism of countries in the Caribbean region.

On this occasion, the event was designed to showcase music, dance, food and tourism of Jamaica.

Through these events, JAPOLAC aims at strengthening cultural identities of the region in the mind of Japanese people by highlighting iconic aspects of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Over 100 persons attended the event including ambassadors from Cuba, Haiti, Cote d’Ivoire, Azerbaijan, and the First Secretary of the embassy of Dominican Republic on behalf of the ambassador.

The event was supported by the companies Kiyomura Corporation (Sushi Zanmai), Japan Partnership Holdings, Saza Coffee, Unidos, Co. Ltd (KYODAI) and Sukoruni Wine, Co. Ltd.

Closing Ceremony of Online Courses Delivered by the University of Technology, Jamaica to Students of Chiba University

Under the program of university internationalization of JAPOLAC, the University of Technology, Jamaica and Chiba University held the closing ceremony of the first online program on September 29, 2022.

During the three-weeks program, Chiba University students took online courses about the Jamaica, Jamaica’s Environment and Climate Change as well as the Energy Sector of the country. The program also included a segment for cultural interaction between Jamaican and Japanese students.

The program of university internationalization seeks to offer short online courses to Japanese students in English language so that they learn about the different aspects of Latin American and Caribbean countries, such as history, language, government, culture, geography, society, economy, environment, among others.

Closing Ceremony of Online Courses Delivered by the Panama Technological University to Students of Chiba University

Under the program of university internationalization of JAPOLAC, the Panama Technological University and Chiba University held the closing ceremony of the third online program on September 27, 2022.

During the three-weeks program, Chiba University students took online courses about Panama, the Panama Canal, Panama Logistics Hub and the Central American Tropics. The program also included a cultural segment to introduce Panama culture to Japanese students.

Opening Ceremony of the first Short Online Program (SOP) Delivered by the University of Technology, Jamaica to Chiba University Students

On September 5, took place the first short online program delivered by the University of Technology, Jamaica to Chiba University students under the Program of University Internationalization by the Japan Association for Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC).

The three-week synchronous short online program includes an introduction to Jamaica’s history, geography and culture; a course on Jamaica’s energy sector; a course on Jamaica’s ecology and climate change; and a component for cultural exchange and interaction between Japanese and Jamaican university students.

The opening ceremony was honored by the presence of H.E. Masaya Fujiwara, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, H.E. Shorna-Kay Richards, Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan, Professor Makoto Watanabe, Vice President of Chiba University, and Professor Colin Gyles, President (Acting) of the University of Technology, Jamaica.

During the welcoming remarks, the Director Representative of JAPOLAC, Dr. Ritter Diaz, pointed out that this program will serve as the first step for a closer academic cooperation between Chiba University and the University of Technology, Jamaica.

JAPOLAC’s short online programs seek to introduce practical knowledge of Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC) to Japanese university students, encouraging them to visit and study in the LAC region.