On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mozambique, Mr. Hamada Keiji, paid a courtesy visit to President Nishina Hiroshige.
During the meeting with President Nishina, Vice President and Executive Director of the Institute for International Relations (IIR) Mitsunobu Kazuhiro, Special Aide to the President Kobayashi Osamu, and Associate Professor Kurita Hideyuki were also present. A commemorative gift exchange and a group photo session were held. President Nishina introduced the achievements of the long-standing academic exchange with Mozambique and outlined prospects, while Ambassador Hamada highly praised the university’s initiatives.
In the subsequent working-level meeting, in addition to Professor Kobayashi and Associate Professor Kurita, discussions took place between Dean Moriwaki Ryo of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Director Kinoshita Naoki of the Center for Disaster Management Informatics Research, and Ambassador Hamada. They exchanged views on the possibilities of cooperation in malaria countermeasures and disaster prevention in Mozambique. From a professional perspective, concrete discussions were held on how the university can contribute to addressing local challenges.
Subsequently, a special lecture—the main purpose of this visit—was held. At the Media Hall of the Johoku Campus, the venue for the event, 85 participants, mainly high school students from both inside and outside the city, gathered, creating a lively atmosphere as the lecture began. Following the opening remarks by President Nishina, Ambassador Hamada took the podium and delivered a lecture on the theme of “Experiences as a Diplomat and the Significance of Mozambique.”
In his lecture, drawing on nearly 40 years of experience as a diplomat, Ambassador Hamada spoke about the insights gained in the field of diplomacy and the significance of engaging with different cultures. He also introduced Mozambique’s rich nature and culture, as well as efforts to deepen relations with Japan, which captivated the audience’s interest. The lecture emphasized that the work of a diplomat is not only on the grand scale of building relationships between nations, but also an engaging profession that allows for deep involvement in the lives and cultures of local people.
In the latter half of the lecture, Associate Professor Kurita introduced the academic exchange initiatives that the university has long pursued with Mozambique. He presented specific efforts such as the visit of then-President Guebuza, the ongoing collaboration with Lúrio University since 2008, the acceptance of young faculty members from the university, and the dispatch of Japanese students, reaffirming the significance of international collaboration for the university. Furthermore, it was noted that in 2014, in the capital city of Maputo, former President Yanagisawa Yasunobu of Ehime University, together with Lúrio University, the Ministry of Education and Culture of Mozambique, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on academic exchange in the presence of the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and former President Guebuza.
During the Q&A session, many high school students eagerly raised their hands, and Ambassador Hamada responded thoughtfully to each question. Even after the lecture concluded, questions continued, reflecting the strong interest in Mozambique. One of the participating high school students expressed a heightened interest in Mozambique and a desire to visit the country in the future. It was evident that the lecture served as an opportunity for the younger generation to broaden their international perspectives.
This visit not only further deepened the university’s academic exchange with Mozambique but also provided a valuable opportunity to inspire the younger generation to engage with the international community.
＜Institute for International Relations＞