The UP Asian Center successfully hosted the recent visit of Dr. Shun Ohno and his students from the Department of Global Citizenship Studies, Seisen University from Tokyo, Japan, on 23 August 2023, 2:00 pm, at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, University of the Philippines Diliman.
The brief visit saw an enthusiastic participation of Japan Studies Majors from Asian Center and members of the UP Center for International Studies (UP CIS) Noh and Bunraku Ensemble and Short-Stay Visit participants from Ferris University and Yokohama National University.
Filipino and Japanese students came together in a cross-cultural dialogue to gain better appreciation of Japan and Philippine-Japan relations. Students eagerly participated in small group discussions, reflecting on the presented topics and sharing personal experiences related to Filipino and Japanese cultures. The discussions allowed the students to get acquainted with each other and fostered an exchange of ideas and appreciation of the similarities and differences between the two cultures.
To enrich the experience, Dr. Maria Dulce F. Natividad, College Secretary and Associate Professor at the UP Asian Center, delivered a presentation on gender equality among Filipinos, shedding light on the enduring challenges faced by Filipino women and the evolving landscape of gender dynamics in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Dr. Amparo Adelina C. Umali III, Professor and Coordinator of Asia and Southeast Asian Studies at UP CIS, delved into the influence of Japanese culture on students of Japan studies. She encapsulated the experience of students as they immersed themselves in the study of Japanese art and culture and how it enabled them to reflect on the essence of human identity and personality.
As part of the visit, the students also went on a tour of the Asian Center Museum led by Dr. Matthew M. Santamaria, Professor and Assistant to the Dean for Cultural Affairs at UP Asian Center. Dr. Santamaria also presented an introduction to the Asian Center and its range of programs and activities.
The success of this event was made possible by Dr. Shun Ohno, an esteemed alumnus of UP Asian Center and current Director of the Research Institute for Cultural Science at Seisen University. Dr. Ohno's insights bridged academic and cultural realms, enriching the discourse on Philippines-Japan relations.
Through this initiative, the UP Asian Center remains dedicated to providing unique educational experiences that transcend borders, and looks forward to hosting more of these enriching exchanges in the future.
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The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. It also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. As an area studies institution, the Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.