NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

Centre for Japanese Studies

NewsletterCentre for Japanese StudiesMarch 2017 (Volume 1)

NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

Being the only Centre of its kind in Africa, the Centre for Japanese Studies (CJS) is proud to introduce its first newsletter. CJS positions itself as a Centre for business and academic interactions that contributes to the promotion of mutual understanding and co-operation between South Africa and Japan. In this newsletter, we recognise the importance of presenting and reflecting on the purpose of CJS as well as on academic, socio-economic and cultural events of Japan. Through the Centre, the University of Pretoria (UP) hosts several events annually aimed at strengthening ties with Japanese businesses and educational institutions. It is also the only Centre offering a Japanese language course we thought it necessary to provide information on the language course and its lecturer.

I trust that UP’s collaboration and partnerships with Japanese universities, businesses and government institutions, such as the Embassy of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and JETRO, will develop CJS into an effective interdisciplinary centre that will provide interesting and enriching news in our newsletters. Through its academic activities with Japan, CJS aims to position itself in line with UP’s 2025 Plan as a leading research-intensive Centre in Africa. In this regard news that is recognised nationally and internationally for its quality, relevance and impact will be published, and we hope to continue sharing this exciting news with our readers.

Prof Cycil G. HartellDirector, Centre for Japanese Studies

Message from the Director

NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

The Centre for Japanese Studies (CJS) is the first and only centre of its kind to be established in South Africa, and in Africa. It was established at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in 2011 as a legacy project of the 2010 Japan – South Africa Centenary Celebrations, where it focused on various business-related activities in Johannesburg, the economic centre of South Africa. In 2015, it was relocated to the Hatfield Main Campus in Pretoria, where a renewed focus was placed on research and other academic interactions, as well as promotion of mutual understanding and co-operation between South Africa and Japan.

The Centre aims to create an intellectual home for a wide community of academics, students and business leaders in South Africa and Japan as the only interdisciplinary hub of its kind in Africa. Its goals are aligned with the University of Pretoria’s (UP) goals, by encouraging dialogue and collaboration through networking between UP scholars and their Japanese counterparts.

Its activities, spanning over academic and business disciplines, departments and faculties across UP and other South African institutions, includes research collaboration and partnership, staff and student exchanges and training programmes related to Japan. It also aims to raise awareness of Japanese culture and society in South Africa, as well as its contributions to African development. Through the Centre, UP hosts several events and activities aimed at strengthening ties with Japanese universities and institutions, businesses and other organisations.

About the Centre

The objectives of CJS are summarised as follows:

• To be an interdisciplinary education and research institute that facilitates and carries out research, education, exchange and training focused on Japan and South Africa.

• To be an education and research institute that acts as an intellectual hub to facilitate academic partnership between South Africa and Japan, catering for a wide community of academics, students, and members of the private and public sectors.

• To promote the profile of Japan within the South African community in the areas of business, economic, cultural and other areas by initiating programmes and events related to Japan, such as seminars and workshops.

We have ample information on partner universities in Japan, as well as a small library filled with books related to Japan

Our Centre is located at the University of Pretoria Hatfield Main Campus

NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

Wednesday 1 February 2017

Joint Seminar with JETRO Johannesburg: “Behind Japan’s Resilience - How we have established the ‘Made in Japan’ Brand”

CJS in collaboration with JETRO Johannesburg co-hosted a seminar entitled “Behind Japan’s Resilience - How we have established the ‘Made in Japan’ Brand” at the University of Pretoria. The keynote speaker was Mr Saburo Yuzawa, who is the Executive Managing Director and Chief Editor of the bi-monthly magazine, World Economic Review, of the Institute for International Trade and Investment in Japan. Mr Yuzawa gave insight into how Japan built the ‘Made in Japan’ brand post World War 2, and what examples South Africa could follow from Japan’s experiences.

Past Events(Jan - March)

Friday 3 February 2017

Visit by Dr Naohiro Kitano, Director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Research Institute

In early February, Dr Naohiro Kitano, Director of the JICA Research Institute visited the University of Pretoria. Dr Kitano made a presentation at the Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation, where he also met with Director Professor Lorenzo Fioramonti. The topic of his lecture was “Japan’s development experience and its development cooperation in Asia and Africa” and focused on Japan’s approach to development in Africa. The lecture drew on Japan’s past experiences of development funding in Asia and particularly South East Asia to inform the nation’s approach to strategies for funding development projects on the African continent. He later visited the Centre for Japanese Studies, and met with Prof Cycil Hartell, Director of CJS.

Monday 13 - Wednesday 15 February 2017

Public Private Partnership (PPP) Seminar: Thinking Future PPP in South Africa with Experiences from Japan - In collaboration with Research Centre for PPP, Toyo University, National Treasury and JICA

Between the 13th and 15th of February, CJS in collaboration with Toyo University’s Research Centre for PPP, National Treasury and JICA, hosted a 3-day seminar and workshop on the topic of Public Private Partnership in South Africa. PPP is a growing trend to facilitate infrastructure and local development in both developed and developing countries. The 3-day seminar and workshop provided an excellent opportunity to examine the future of PPP in South Africa based on Japanese expertise and experiences. Professor Sam Tabuchi, Director of Asia PPP Institute at Toyo University and his team of 3 other lecturers provided in-depth insight into PPP case studies from Japan and opportunities in South Africa. Avid group discussions were also hosted under the guidance of the Toyo University team, as groups concluded the 3-day seminar and workshop with presentations of solutions given on provided case studies.

NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

Thursday 2 and Friday 3 March 2017

Seminar and Workshop: Agrarian Reform and Sustainable Development of Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa - Learning from Japan’s Experiences -

CJS in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, hosted Professor Koichi Ikegami from Kindai University, for a Seminar and Workshop on the topic of “Agrarian Reform and Sustainable Development of Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa - Learning from Japan’s Experiences”. Professor Idowu Oladele from North-West University was also hosted as Prof Ikegami’s counterpart in South Africa. The two professors gave lectures surrounding the topic of agrarian reform and the empowerment of small-scale farmers, as well as the importance of fair trade in achieving sustainable development. Case studies were given from post-World War 2 Japan and its experiences in agrarian reform. This lecture was followed by a World Café style workshop, where group discussions were held surrounding the said topic. Participants from various fields, including from organisations such as the National Treasury, the Agricultural Research Council, and those who are small-scale farmers attended and contributed to fruitful discussions.

Tuesday 7 March 2017

Piano Recital by Motoki Hirai

CJS in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Department of Music at the University of Pretoria hosted Mr Motoki Hirai for a piano recital at the University of Pretoria. Mr Hirai is a world-renowned pianist and composer, praised worldwide for his imagination and sensitivity. The programme included the reading of well-known Japanese and South African storybooks, accompanied by live piano music by Mr Hirai. This was followed by performances from UP’s Camerata and OVUWA. The programme ended with a recital by Mr Hirai, including the South Africa premiere of one of his original pieces, as well as pieces from Schubert, Albeniz, Chopin and Grieg.

Movie Screening: “Children Who Chase Lost Voices”Saturday 22 April 2017, 13.00 | Venue to be confirmed

Presentations by ABE (African Business Education for Youth) Initiative Scholarship Recipient Returnees

Thursday 25 May 2017, 17.00 | Venue to be confirmed

Atomic Bomb ExhibitionOpening event: Thursday 10 August 2017 (Time to be confirmed)

An exhibition will be held following the opening event.Venue: Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre

Save the Date (Upcoming Events)All details will be confirmed on the website, and via an email to the CJS mailing list.

NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

Shifting knowledge to insight

From the delicacies of eating sushi and drinking tea, to the legends of brave samurais and beautiful geishas – whether you are looking to learn Japanese for the purpose of business, travel or personal use – the Japanese Language Course will provide you with the practical knowledge and skills you need to communicate efficiently in this exotic language. Presented throughout structured modules, you can either gain a basic understanding of the language or continue to broaden your understanding of the language and culture with more advanced training.

With the focus on the practical use of the language and cultural awareness, you will learn the Japanese characters – the hiragana and katakana – for writing and reading, with the addition of approximately 30 Chinese characters (kanjis). You will also go on to develop basic communication skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing in Japanese through various material and activities such as origami and wearing yukata that will expose you to both traditional and contemporary Japanese cultures and societies.

Course content

Topics• Greetings and introductions• Asking and giving personal information• The time• Shopping (basic concepts)• Ordering at a restaurant• Describing daily routines• Making plans for the weekend• Inviting somebody to do something

Grammar• Introduction to the Japanese writing system• Hiragana/katakana• 30 kanjis• Japanese pronunciation• Word order• Ko/so/a/do system• Time expressions• Particle ni/de/to• Verbs with particle o/ni

Culture• Understanding some practical culture differences• Introducing traditional and contemporary cultures

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to• execute hiragana and katakana in reading and writing• demonstrate the use of approximately 30 kanji-characters• develop basic communication skills in listening, speaking, reading and

writing in Japanese, and

• get to know both traditional and contemporary Japanese cultures and societies through various materials (videos, quizzes, etc.) and activities (origami, wearing yukata, etc.).

This course requires disciplined study habits and compulsory class participation.

Who should enrol?

This course is ideal for you if you are keen to learn Japanese as a foreign language whether you are a participant in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, have prospective business dealings with Japanese companies/organisations or if you are a student participating or interested in an exchange programme to Japan.

Course fees

Student fee: R2 500.00 (VAT incl.) (Proof of 2017 registration required.)Professional/public fee: R6 000.00 (VAT incl.)Course fees include all course material for use during contact sessions.

Course fees must be paid in full 14 days prior to course start dates. Proof of payment can be submitted to enrolments@enterprises.up.ac.za.

Admission requirements

Prospective delegates should at least have a National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) and/or relevant work experience. Delegates who do not adhere to the minimum requirements will be considered upon submission of a motivation for enrolment.

Accreditation and certification

Enterprises University of Pretoria (Pty) Ltd is wholly owned by the University of Pretoria. The University is registered as a multipurpose, public training provider in the higher education and training band. Delegates who successfully complete a course and comply with the related assessment criteria are awarded certificates by the University in recognition of their professional skills development.

Registration and enrolments

Course coordinatorSamedah DavisTel: +27 (0)12 434 2562Cell: +27 (0)83 302 4278Email: samedah.davis@enterprises.up.ac.za

Course leaderProf Cycil Hartell, Director: Centre for Japanese Studies

www.enterprises.up.ac.za

For quotations on in-house training, email quote@enterprises.up.ac.za

+27 (0)12 434 2500 +27 (0)12 434 2505 info@enterprises.up.ac.za Private Bag X41, Hatfield, 0028

Japanese Language CoursePresented by the Centre for Japanese Studies, University of Pretoria

The course is presented by Hiromi Spinola, Japanese Language Instructor since 1999 in Japan and Taiwan, and from 2005 in South Africa. Ms Spinola holds a Bachelor of Arts from Meikai University, Chiba, Japan.

NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

Did you know?

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2016), Japan is host to a total of 775 universities, compared to 26 universities in South Africa! This includes 86 National universities, 88 Public universities and 601 Private universities.

The Tradition of ‘Hanami’Late March to Early May in Japan is “Hanami” or cherry-blossom viewing season.

The tradition of Hanami is said to have begun during the Nara period (710-794) amongst the aristocrats of the time. It later also became an occasion for farmers to pray for a bountiful harvest, by celebrating the god of harvest, who supposedly descended from the mountains into the cherry blossom trees each spring.

The cherry blossoms bloom all at once, and rarely remain blooming for more than one week. The falling petals also create a mystical and splendid image, and the cherry blossom has often been compared to the evanescence of human life. Perhaps for that reason, it has traditionally been said that cherry blossoms drive admirers insane.

Modern Hanami traditions include gathering in areas with many cherry-blossoms to view them and to celebrate the arrival of spring, and enjoying picnic food and sake (Japanese wine) while doing so. Numerous food stalls also appear under the cherry blossom trees during this time and people flock to buy festival foods and play games.

Hanami is such a big part of Japanese culture, there is even a “sakura zensen” of a cherry blossom forecast in Japan which is reported by the weather bureau every year. They predict the times at which the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom across the country.

NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2017 (VOLUME 1)

If you would like to be added to the CJS mailing list, please email our Administrator Mrs Anita Devchand at

Anita.Devchand@up.ac.za with your:

Full name Email address

Contact number Organisation

Position

Through the mailing list you will receive our event notifications, newsletters and any other information related to CJS!

Alternatively, if you would like to share any of your suggestions, comments or ideas with us, you can again email Mrs Anita Devchand.

We look forward to your email!

Get in touch!

Centre for Japanese StudiesRoom 2-73/4, Graduate Centre

Hatfield (Main) CampusUniversity of Pretoria

Lynnwood RoadHatfield, Pretoria

0002South Africa

Tel: 012 420 6488Email: Anita.Devchand@up.ac.za

Website: www.up.ac.za/centre-for-japanese-studies