News & Events

News

UCD Centre for Japanese Studies 2022/23 Annual Report

This is the third Annual Report. Together with the members of the Centre, we are immensely grateful to those who have been supporting our educational and research-led mission.

UCD Centre for Japanese Studies’ 1st All-Centre (hybrid) Meeting

Lively discussions as to future collaborations and plans.

IMPULS Lesson Study Immersion Programme at Tokyo Gakugei University

The programme has been highly evaluated not only by the participants but also by external evaluators.

Visiting Scholar Programme, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Dr Declan M. Downey (School of History), was a guest of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its Visiting Scholar Programme from 5th to 12th March 2023.

New interdisciplinary & international ‘care robot’ research project launch

In collaboration with engineers at Toyota Frontier Research Center and Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. and care professionals at Toyota Memorial Hospital.

Meeting at the Lafcadio Hearn Library at the University of Toyama

The Centre Director of JaSt, Assoc. Prof. Naonori Kodate visited the Lafcadio Hearn Library (est. 1924) at the University of Toyama.

Japanese Language and Culture Summer Camp for August 2023

The UCD Centre for Japanese Studies is delighted to offer a Japanese Language and Culture Summer Camp for Secondary School students this August.

Supporting the Japanese Samurai Wadaiko Experience concerts and workshops (Japanese Language, Culture and Society projects)

The EJ (Experience Japan) Taiko will perform on the main stage at the official St Patrick's Festival on 17th and 18th March in Collins Barracks.

Experience Japan Seminar @ Farmleigh ‘When Manga meets Science’ by Hayanon

Hayanon – science manga writer from Okinawa – will give a special talk for the Experience Japan fans (i.e. everyone!) on Saturday 25 March 2023.

Book Launch & Seminar ‘Systems Thinking for Global Health’ @ Museum of Literature Ireland

JaSt’s Assoc. Profs. Hasheem Mannan & Naonori Kodate will get together with Prof. Tony Holohan, their co-editor/co-authors and the community to mark the publication of the book.

UCD Smurfit School of Business and Showa Women’s University signs MOU

Prof. O’Riordan (VP for Global Engagement) attended the signing ceremony of the MOU between Showa Women’s University and UCD Smurfit School of Business

Special guest lecture ‘Japanese animation in the New Normal Era’ by Mr Masakazu Kubo (Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd.)

Mr Kubo, known as the “Father of Pokémon”, is giving UCD Discovery Module (DSCY10080 Gateways to Japan) students a special lecture.

Summer 2023 Tuition Scholarship for a UCD Student to ICU Tokyo

International Christian University in Tokyo is offering a UCD student a Full Tuition Scholarship to their Summer 2023 programme [4-28 July]

Professor Hitoshi Ebishima (Seijo University) visits UCD

Prof. Hitoshi Ebishima (Prof. in Sociology of Sport, Seijo University) visited UCD Centre for Japanese Studies.

Chiba University - University of Montreal – UCD joint project on ‘Caring Communities’ officially launched with Public Seminar in Canada

Research workshops & public seminar “Community engagement with seniors: a cross-section perspective on Japanese and Canadian models” were held in Montréal, Canada (31 October – 3 November, 2022).

$Welcoming a new UCD academic member: Dr Yasuhito Sekimoto\n$

Welcoming a new UCD academic member: Dr Yasuhito Sekimoto

Dr Sekimoto, a specialist in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), will be conducting research at the UCD Conway Institute.

$UCD Japan Fair 2022\n\n$

UCD Japan Fair 2022

Our annual events are back – face-to-face, online and hybrid! Three seminars are organised for our 6th UCD Japan Fair.

International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions in Matsue

Prof. Emma Sokell (Physics) presented at the 20th International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions, held at Kunibiki Messe, Matsue, Shimane, Japan between 29 August and 3 September 2022.

Welcoming Mr Naoki Furukawa MP (House of Representatives, Japan)

Together with this year’s Auditor of the UCD Japanese Society, UCD-JaSt members welcomed Mr Naoki Furukawa MP (House of Representatives) from Japan on Friday 2 September 2022 in the UCD Research (Impact Room).

Welcoming back Mr Hiroaki Imoto

Mr Hiroaki Imoto, PhD Student in Systems Biology at Osaka University, was a JSPS Scholar at Systems Biology Ireland at UCD from September 2021 to February 2022.

Annual Report 2022

The Centre connects UCD’s students, researchers and professional and academic staff with partners (universities, research institutes and government bodies) in Japan, and the Japanese communities in Ireland and abroad.

Welcoming Assoc. Prof. Iwao Osaka as Visiting Professor at the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies (April 2022 – March 2023)

Prof. Osaka will be joining us at the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies from April 2022 till March 2023.

Welcoming Mr Yusuke Suzuki (JAXA) as Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies (March 2022)

Director of the Chief Engineer Office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Mr Yusuke Suzuki has joined the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies.

$UCD MBA student (Manager, Japan Women\'s Sevens) featured in the Financial Times$

UCD MBA student (Manager, Japan Women's Sevens) featured in the Financial Times

Akane Kagawa (the Japan Rugby Football Union) discusses her time in Ireland and and why she decided to take on MBA in UCD

Prof. Miyamoto joining the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics (February-May 2022)

Prof. Toshiaki Miyamoto has joined Prof. Brian Caulfield’s team at the Insight Research Centre, continuing their research collaborations.

James Joyce scholars in Japan launching Project 22 Ulysses (February 2022)

James Joyce scholars including researchers with strong links with UCD and the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies organised Project 22 Ulysses.

“Experience Japan” – Hanami Festival is back (April 2022)

‘Experience Japan’ (est. 2010) will be back to the Farmleigh House and Estate in Phoenix Park on the 10th of April, 2022.

UCD-JaSt hosts a seminar ‘European Integration & its Economic Statecraft’ (March 2022)

The webinar will welcome Professor Kazuto Suzuki (Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo) as a speaker, and this event is funded by the Embassy of Japan in Ireland.

UCD-JaSt & SMBC Aviation Capital Seminar Series (February 2022)

The UCD Centre for Japanese Studies have organised a series of three webinars on Feb 10th, 17th and 24th 2022, 1pm (IST) in partnership with SMBC Aviation Capital.

“The Palgrave Handbook of Women and Science since 1600” published. (January 2022)

Dr Kodate’s book chapter ‘Career paths dependent and supported: The role of women’s universities in ensuring access to STEM education and research careers in Japan’ is included in this Handbook.

UCD Japan Fair 2021

UCD Japan, together with UCD Centre for Japanese Studies and our friends, is organising seminars this autumn.

Participation in the 16th International Conference of the European Association of Japanese Studies (EAJS) 2021

Dr Naonori Kodate and his research collaborators participated in the EAJS conference online.

UCD Center for Japanese Studies hosts “Matcha Café e Yōkoso! (Welcome to Japanese Matcha cafe)” with the Multicultural Employee Network of UCD (MENU)

Ms Nobuko Ijichi (UCD Centre for Japanese Studies) and Dr Naonori Kodate (School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice) gave an online session “Matcha Cafe e Yōkoso! (Welcome to Japanese Matcha Café)” as part of the Multicultural Employee Network of UCD (MENU) Cultural Café Series on Friday 20 August 2021.

Documentary Film “Circuits of Care: Ageing in Japan’s Robot Revolution”

Dr Naonori Kodate teamed up with Professor David Prendergast (Professor of Science, Technology and Society at Maynooth University), and produced a film entitled “Circuits of Care: Ageing in Japan’s Robot Revolution”, as part of his interdisciplinary and international project.

PODCAST Beyond Japan (Centre for Japanese Studies, University of East Anglia) Episode #36: Robotics in Elder Care

In May 2021 Dr Naonori Kodate, Associate Professor in Social Policy and Social Robotics & Director of UCD Centre for Japanese Studies at University College Dublin was interviewed for the Podcast.

Dr Downey awarded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Commendation

Congratulations to Dr Declan Downey, UCD School of History / UCD Centre for Japanese Studies who has been awarded a Commendation by the Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr Motegi Toshimitsu.

UCD Centre for Japanese Studies 2020/21 Annual Report

We are delighted to publish our very first Annual Report. Coming out of the unprecedented worldwide pandemic, a transformed landscape of Irish higher education is slowly emerging.

UCD Centre for Japanese Studies Spring Webinars

Two Webinars will be held in April and May. We are working on these events in collaboration with Portland State University’s Center for Japanese Studies, Hokkaido University’s Graduate School of Public Policy and la Fondation France-Japon de l'EHESS (The School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, France).

UCD Centre for Japanese Studies supports ‘ParaBeats’ online symposium and concert

A very unique and special collaboration brought Irish and Japanese artists and musicians, which shined the spotlight on inclusion through music & sport.

UCD Centre for Japanese Studies Launch Webinar Series

The UCD Centre for Japanese Studies was officially launched by two Webinars in February, with H.E. Mr Kitano (Ambassador of Japan to Ireland) and Prof. Bando (Chancellor of Showa Women’s University). We had a great turnout and lively discussions.

Meiji University x UCD Japanese Society Collaboration E-Meet-up & Local Quiz

Undergraduate students in Meiji University (School of Commerce) and UCD Japanese Society (various Schools ranging from Business, Politics, History, Chemistry, Archeology to Physiotherapy!) came together to host 3 E-meet-up (& quiz) sessions, giving presentations about their hometowns.

4th Future Technologies for Integrated Care in Japan (FTIC Japan) Webinar

The FTIC Japan, in collaboration with the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies and others, held its 4th Webinar, with two special guest keynote speakers: Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, St Vincent’s University Hospital/Royal College of Physicians in Ireland & Prof. Naohiko Jinno, President, Japan Social Work College/Emeritus Professor, University of Tokyo.

The UCD Centre for Japanese Studies (UCD-JaSt) Official Launch Webinar Series

We held 5 webinars (covering the themes of Japanese food, music, theatre, job opportunities, and politics) in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Ireland Japan Association, and the UCD Japanese Society (with 450 members).

UCD Japan Fair 2020

Despite these unprecedented and challenging times, the UCD Japan Group / the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies decided to hold five webinars, bringing speakers from Japan, Ireland and the UK!

Assoc. Prof. Kodate’s research team given the Best Digital Poster Award at the European Geriatric Society’s Annual Congress 2020

The research team led by Profs. Obayashi, Masuyama & Kodate in a residential nursing home has developed and tested a cuddly toy robot, which has monitoring and communication functions for older people.

Obituary: In memory of Dr Tom P. Hardiman (1929-2020)

On 2 May 2020, Dr Tom Hardiman passed away. Dr Hardiman studied at UCD and graduated in Engineering in 1951 and Mathematics in 1952. He became the third Director General of the state broadcasting service, broadcasting service RTÉ, and had an outstanding and distinguished career in so many areas including industrial development, business, broadcasting, higher education, arts & culture and international relations.

Edited book “Global Social Welfare”, Vol. 1 (UK/Ireland) published

Profs. Jim Campbell and Michelle Norris, Assoc. Prof. Naonori Kodate and Assist. Profs. Sarah Donnelly and Elaine Wilson wrote the entire section (8 chapters) on Ireland in Volume 1, while Dr Kodate edited the volume with Prof. Koichi Kaneko (Social Welfare, Toyo University).

Special Online Lectures, Spring/Summer 2020

During the Covid19 lockdown, the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies (UCD-JaSt) co-hosted two online special lectures.

Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Japan Book Break Talk by Assoc. Prof. Kodate

Assoc. Prof. Kodate (School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice) gave a talk about his book “Japanese Women in STEM: History and Policy Change” together with co-author Prof. Emerita Kashiko Kodate at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ) in Tokyo.

Co-organising three seminars in Japan this autumn

This autumn, UCD Japan co-organised three research and public seminars working with our partner institutions (Chiba University, Tsuda University and International Christian University).

Experience Japan received the European Language Label Award

Ms Nobuko Ijichi, on behalf of Experience Japan, received the award from the Irish Department of Educations and Skills for their contribution to Languages Connect.

UCD Japan Fair 2019

This year, we held four events featuring the themes: hot springs (onsen); umami & Japanese food; female leaders in Japanese society; and the JET programme.

UCD Japan (School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice) welcomes intern student from the University of Tokyo (Faculty of Engineering)

UCD Japan / School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice welcomed an intern from the University of Tokyo (Faculty of Engineering / Welfare Assistive Technologies Lab) for the month of September 2019. Mr Kohei turned out to be not only a very diligent researcher, but also a very talented accordion player who loves Irish music and dancing!

Study Tour: Japan College of Social Work

Three undergraduate students from the Japan College of Social Work (日本社会事業大学 / Nihon shakai jigyō daigaku), together with two academics visited UCD on their very first Study Tour abroad between 3-11 September 2019. The Social Work Unit in UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice & UCD Japan Group facilitated their visit.

Upcoming JSPS-funded UCD-Chiba Joint Seminar ‘Technology-supported Community Care in Japan and Ireland’

The JSPS-funded seminar ‘Technology-supported Community Care in Japan and Ireland’ (6th & 7th September 2019) aims to bring together academics, practitioners and early-career researchers to discuss the current policy, practice and research in this area where life sciences (nursing), architecture (urban development) and social sciences (social gerontology – social policy and social work) intersect.

Book Launch of Lafcadio Hearn’s stories (first translation in Irish)

To mark the publication of the first ever Irish Translation of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese Folklore 'Sayonara' (book in Irish and English), there was an official launch event held in the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Gardens in Tramore, Co. Waterford.

Toyota Foundation Project Launched

Assoc. Prof. Kodate has been awarded approx. €70,000 from the Toyota Foundation for leading a two-year international research project "Harmonisation towards the establishment of Person-centred, Robotics-aided Care System (HARP: RoCS)" (2019-2021).

Visitors to UCD & Japan this spring

This spring, there have been many interactions between UCD researchers & our Japanese partners. Some partnerships go back a long way (more than 20 years), and new partnerships have also emerged. Here are a few selected photos. Go raibh maith agaibh as do chuairt!

Two spring seminars and two concerts: celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Experience Japan Festival

This spring we are hosting two seminars and two special concerts to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Experience Japan Festival.

Brand new university-wide elective module ‘Gateways to Japan’ launched

We are very excited to announce that the UCD Japan Group’s first credit-bearing elective module, Gateways to Japan (DSCY10080), commences in January 2019 (Semester 2, 2018/19)!

UCD nominee won the MIRAI Program Scholarship 2019 (Science & Technology)

The UCD Japan Group is delighted to announce Mr Cillian O’Brien (3rd year Chemistry) will be taking part in this year’s short-term youth exchange program, supported by the Japanese Government.

UCD Women@STEM Launch Symposium

Professor Yuko Takahashi, President, Tsuda University gave a keynote lecture at The Diversity in STEM event in UCD, together with H.E. Ambassador Mrs Mari Miyoshi.

Meiji Restoration the 150th Anniversary Seminar Series

The Embassy of Japan in Ireland organised three-part Lecture Series Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Meiji Restoration between October and November 2018.

Foreign Minister of Japan Kōno honours Experience Japan Taiko Team

Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Tarō Kōno, at a ceremony in Tokyo (24th July 2018), presented the award to the Experience Japan Taiko Team.

UCD-Chiba-Seinäjoki joint seminar on care robots in Finland

Irish, Japanese and Finnish researchers gathered to launch an exciting tri-country comparative study looking at people’s perceptions towards care robots in Ireland, Japan and Finland.

$Exhibition & Seminar \'Beyond Duty - An Exhibition on the Diplomats recognized as Righteous Among the Nations\'$

Exhibition & Seminar 'Beyond Duty - An Exhibition on the Diplomats recognized as Righteous Among the Nations'

The exhibition (13 - 23 February 2018) is supported by the Embassies of Israel, of Japan, of Lithuania and of the Netherlands. The launch event was held in UCD on the 13th February, with more than 20 ambassadors attending and the Guest of Honour, Mr Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste.

$Tsuda-UCD Joint Seminar \'Women Leaders in Science and Society\'$

Tsuda-UCD Joint Seminar 'Women Leaders in Science and Society'

UCD Japan jointly organised a seminar entitled “Women leaders: taking on challenges and finding solutions” at Tsuda University in Tokyo on the 28th November 2017. H.E. Ambassador Barrington, Dr Aoibhínn Ni Shúilleabháin and Mr Murashige were the speakers.

School of Physics & Utsunomiya University Research Seminar

Together with the School of Physics, the UCD Japan welcomed the return of Prof. Higashiguchi’s research team from Utsunomiya University on 3rd & 4th November.

Two upcoming seminars in November

UCD School of Physics will host the 4th Ireland-Japan collaborative research workshop on extreme ultraviolet source development for lithography, surface morphology and water window imaging on the 3rd and 4th November.

The International Youth Exchange Program

The International Youth Exchange Program has come to Ireland this year, and former graduates of UCD, Mr Sean Carton, Mr Liam Keane and Alan O’Mahony, and a graduate from the TCD/UCD joint Master’s Programme in Sociology, Mr Niall Foster are four of the seven delegates.

$Keynote - Prof. Aaron Moore - ‘Crucible of East Asia: War Diaries and the Making of China and Japan, 1937-1945\'$

Keynote - Prof. Aaron Moore - ‘Crucible of East Asia: War Diaries and the Making of China and Japan, 1937-1945'

The Keynote Lecture 'The Crucible of East Asia: War Diaries and the Making of China and Japan, 1937-1945' was delivered by Prof. Aaron Moore (Handa Chair of Japanese-Chinese Relations, University of Edinburgh) on Thursday the 12th October.

UCD Japan Fair kick-off seminar ‘Supporting Ageing with Communication Robots – Talk & Demonstration’

The UCD Japan Fair began with the kick-off (and UCD Japan’s 8th academic) seminar ‘Supporting Ageing with Communication Robots – Talk & Demonstration’ on 28th September 2017 in the Bank of Ireland’s Community Space (Montrose University Branch).

UCD Representative announced for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs-funded MIRAI program

The UCD Japan is delighted to announce that Mr Anthony O'Shea (3rd year student in Law & Business) has been selected as the UCD representative for the Japanese Government-funded MIRAI Program.

Visit of Hokkaido University’s First Step Program delegation in UCD

18 undergraduate students on the First Step Program (Hokkaido University’s Nitobe College) visited the Belfield Campus, University College Dublin on the 18th September.

Appointment of Mr John Neary as Adjunct Professor

Mr John Neary, recently retired Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has been appointed as Adjunct Professor , UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice

Eight students awarded JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme placements

UCD has been the largest contributor to the Japanese Government 30-year highly sought-after, year-long placements on JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme for which they are prepared by the Applied Language Centre Japanese language modules (led by Ms Nobuko Ijichi)

UCD Rugby meets Waseda Rugby in June 2017

UCD Rugby met Waseda Rugby on 23 June 2017. Waseda and UCD have been partners for more than 60 years. The partnership goes back to the early 1950s when Waseda established the study of Anglo-Irish literature in Japan. UCD and Waseda are both members of the international university consortium called Universitas21 (U21).

UCD Japan participated in UCD Festival 2017

UCD Japan offered a variety of activities and performances including martial arts, kimono dressing, Japanese taiko drumming, tea ceremony and talks on pop culture diplomacy.

UCD Japan Seminars in March 2017

In March, four academic seminars were organised by the UCD Japan Group. The themes include teaching and learning in mathematics and language, technology (robots & artificial intelligence), global health, and contemporary literature.

Patrick Lafcadio Hearn Seminars in 2017

UCD Japan, in conjunction with UCD Humanities Institute, organised two academic seminars this year, inviting Prof. Mary Gallagher and Prof. Hideki Kuwajima (Hiroshima University, Japan). UCD Japan also hosted another event, as part of our UCD Japan Fair in October, with Prof. Gallagher, Mr Paul Murray and Mr Simon O'Connor.

Japanese Women in Leadership in Science and Society

UCD Women in Science (WiTS) and UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice hosted an event ‘Japanese Women in Leadership in Science and Society’, inviting two distinguished speakers: Professor Reiko Kuroda and The Ambassador of Japan Mrs Mari Miyoshi. Professor Kuroda is a Professor in Chemistry/Biology, at Tokyo University of Science, and a Science Advisor for the United Nations Secretary General.

Japan Foundation-sponsored Ireland-Japan Social Science Symposia: UCD and the University of Tokyo project

The project Ireland-Japan Social Science Symposia: Sharing knowledge, shaping the future of the welfare society in Europe and Japan was organised through competitive funding from the Japan Foundation, and a joint project between University College Dublin (Public Policy Group – College of Social Sciences and Law) and the University of Tokyo (Graduate School of Public Policy & Graduate Schools of Law and Politics).

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