Stellenbosch University Japan Centre (SUJC) is pleased to host Prof. Sadaharu Kataoka, professor in the School of International Liberal Studies at Waseda University in Tokyo. He is spending a period of six months as visiting professor at Stellenbosch University and as guest of the Centre. Prof. Kataoka has been teaching African Politics and European Affairs…
Crowd cheering at the opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup Author: Gerhard van Niekerk On Friday, the 8th of September, the Rugby World Cup 2023 kicked off in Paris, France, four years on from arguably one of the most successful rugby world cups ever hosted – in Japan. When discussing international test match…
Author: Inge Odendaal Stellenbosch University (SU) is a member of the International Network of Universities (INU), a global consortium dedicated to promoting international collaboration and innovation in higher education. In August, this network hosted two events: the International Student Seminar for Global Citizenship and Peace and the INU Leaders’ Summit. These events took place in…
Author: Cüneyt Aksoy Japan and Türkiye, seemingly very distant countries geographically, share a deeply rooted history of cultural, economic, and diplomatic relations that have advanced over the years. Although Turkish-Japanese relations have been through many phases throughout different periods and both nations’ various political iterations, it carries a friendly sentimentality reinforced with historic rescues, solidarity,…
Author: Gerhard van Niekerk On the 14th of August 2023, Stellenbosch University Japan Centre (SUJC) co-hosted with SU’s Division for Research Development (DRD), an information session on research collaboration and funding opportunities with Japan. The event hosted experts and officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and…
Author: Inge Odendaal The launch of ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, has been a watershed moment.[1] In just two months after its release in November 2022, it attracted over 100 million users, propelling generative AI into the mainstream and expanding accessibility.[2] This impact extends to Japan, where its influence on society has been…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos South African and Japanese cities are hardly comparable unless we want to play a game of “spot-the-difference.” Firstly, its populations are vastly different: urban South Africa is comprised of a plethora of races and cultures – each one proportionally significant – as opposed to the generally homogenous population of Japan.…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos New Bank of Japan (BoJ) governor, Kazuo Ueda, might have his hands full after accepting what may be the most difficult task in contemporary central banking. Being the first academic instated as BoJ governor since the post-war era, it has been said that Ueda could lack necessary support from constituencies…
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Japan’s New Security Policy
Author: Cüneyt Aksoy In December 2022, Japan unveiled a new National Security Strategy (NSS) [1] together with three additional defence-related documents, namely the National Defence Strategy, Defence Buildup Programme, and the new Guidelines on Maritime Security, that lays out its security strategy and defence priorities for forthcoming years.[2] The new National Security Strategy is only…
In this interview, Scarlett Cornelissen, SUJC director, engages in a discussion with ‘Japan Up Close,’ the online magazine of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The discussion focuses on the longstanding diplomatic ties between Japan and African states, and Japan’s development cooperation with Africa. There is also discussion of the implications of these relations and the…