2023 Activity Report
March Activity Report
31 March 2024
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
This month, we had the pleasure of inaugurating the “Japanese Studies Room at UERJ” 「リオデジャネイロ州立大学日本研究室」, a significant milestone in cooperation between UERJ and the Government of Japan. The event took place on March 13th at the Law School.
The room in question is the result of an agreement between UERJ and the Government of Japan, established through the "Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects", a program of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the mediation of the Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro. The grant provided resources for the renovation and modernization of room 7148 in Block F, turning it into a model room equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia resources, video conferencing, and simultaneous interpretation booth.
The project also received generous support from TUFS for the installation of multimedia systems in the room, without which its implementation at UERJ would not have been possible. The project coordinators are deeply grateful to TUFS for its invaluable support.
The initiative, coordinated by the Japanese Department of the Institute of Letters and the Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Program in Law (PPGD), with institutional support from the Global Japan Office (GJO-TUFS), aims to promote the internationalization of UERJ, foster interdisciplinarity, offer a multi-purpose perspective for different academic departments of the University, and strengthen UERJ's ties with the world. This includes the ability to host various events with participants who are not only in Japan but also in different states and countries.
It is important to note that this room houses the JICA Chair at UERJ. JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), which formalized an agreement with the University about two years ago, is the Japanese Government agency responsible for implementing Official Development Assistance (ODA), which supports the growth and socioeconomic stability of developing countries with the aim of contributing to peacebuilding and the development of the international society.
It is worth remembering that the installation of this room at UERJ is the result of the long-standing history of Japanese Studies at the University. Initially, the “Brazil-Japan Program” was established in 1999 at the UERJ Law School, which now hosts the new room and houses the JICA Chair. Over the following two decades, new initiatives related to the teaching of Japanese Studies were developed, including agreements with various Japanese universities and the creation of the Japanese Language extension course, followed by the Portuguese-Japanese undergraduate course at the Institute of Letters in 2003. In 2016, the Global Japan Office (GJO) was established at UERJ, an office of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS), with which UERJ has maintained an agreement for almost 25 years. More recently, in March 2022, UERJ signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), resulting in the creation of the JICA-UERJ Chair, as mentioned above.
As for the inauguration ceremony, it was attended by the UERJ Rector, Prof. Gulnar Azevedo e Silva, Ph.D.; the Consul General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, Mr. Takashi Manabe; Mrs. Reiko Kawamura, Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Brazil; Prof. Carlos Edison do Rêgo Monteiro Filho, Ph.D., Director of the Law School of UERJ, among other university representatives.
Initially, the audience was invited to attend the opening ceremony at the main hall of the Law School, where the Japanese National Anthem was performed by UERJ Japanese student Raquel da Silva Almeida on the violin, followed by the Brazilian National Anthem which was performed by Organist and Ph.D. in Music, Domitila Ballesteros, on the piano. Then, the attending authorities made brief speeches.
Next, a video message from the President of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Prof. Kayoko Hayashi, Ph.D., who kindly recorded a message for the event, was shown. A brief lecture on the importance of internationalization programs was then given by Prof. Flaviane Bolzan de Morais, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Law Area of CAPES — Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel.
The audience was then invited to move to the Japanese Studies Room for the unveiling of the plaque and for a demonstration of the operation of the equipment and resources available. Finally, in another room, a reception with sushi and sashimi tasting was offered to celebrate the achievement.
Below are some images of the room and of the event:
February Activity Report
29 February 2024
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
1) CAp-UERJ Students' Achievement: Admission to TUFS with Japanese Government Scholarship
Three students from the Instituto de Aplica??o Fernando Rodrigues da Silveira, known as “CAp-UERJ”, have recently completed their High School education and achieved a remarkable milestone by securing admission to the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) with a full scholarship provided by the Japanese Government (MEXT). The selected students, Jo?o Pedro Ribeiro Deolindo, Maria Manuela Monteiro Matos, and Sarah Sprogis Brito Batista, all 18 years old, are set to embark on their journey to Japan at the end of March.
The Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) proudly announced this achievement through an article on its official website. The release includes a brief interview with the Coordinator of the selection process, Professor Elisa Figueira, Ph.D., from the UERJ Institute of Letters. Professor Figueira explained that the collaboration between the Universities dates back to the 2000s, and, since 2015, 24 students from CAp-UERJ have earned spots at TUFS. She emphasized that for these CAp-UERJ students, the opportunity to spend four years abroad in a distant country occurs during a transformative period, making this TUFS undergraduate course a significant and impactful experience.
The article also features statements from the selected students:
Maria Manuela expressed that her primary goal was to secure a long-awaited spot in Tokyo. She emphasized her desire to study at TUFS, citing the alignment of her desired career with the internationally focused and globalized nature of the University.
Jo?o Pedro shared that his childhood exposure to Japanese culture through video games, anime, and manga fueled his passion for Japan. Now, he aims to make the most of this opportunity to meet people, travel across Asia, and intensively dedicate himself to studies.
Like her classmate, Sarah is an avid admirer of the oriental country. She admitted that while she always dreamed of studying abroad, the news of her acceptance was both incredible and surprising. She emphasized the significant achievement of realizing her dream to study overseas.
To better prepare the students for their upcoming journey, a last meeting took place on February 7th. Attendees included the future TUFS students, their parents, family members, teachers, educators, the CAp Director, the selection process Coordinator Prof. Elisa Figueira, the GJO Coordinator, and former TUFS students who underwent a similar process in previous years. The productive meeting primarily focused on practical aspects related to their arrival at the University.
Below are images of the report in Portuguese published on the UERJ website and the meeting on the 7th at CAp-UERJ. These visuals capture the joy and anticipation of the students and their support network as they embark on this exciting academic journey to TUFS in Tokyo, Japan.
2) UERJ institutional video with Japanese subtitles
Recently, UERJ published an institutional video on its website that shows some images of UERJ campuses spread across the State of Rio de Janeiro, as well as data and numbers from the University. The video is narrated in Portuguese but has subtitles in some languages, including Japanese. The translation was done by Professor Satomi Kitahara from the UERJ Japanese Department and, with the help of interns from the Department, the subtitles were inserted into the video. Here is the link to watch it:https://vimeo.com/893747288
January Activity Report
31 January 2024
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
1) Visit of the Consul General of Japan to UERJ
On the afternoon of January 11th, the newly installed Rector Prof. Gulnar Azevedo e Silva, Ph.D. and Vice-Rector Prof. Bruno Rêgo Deusdará Rodrigues, Ph.D. received the delegation from the Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, on an official visit to the University. The delegation was composed of the Consul-General Mr. Takashi Manabe, the Cultural Consul Mrs. Rina Ishikawa, the Consul Mr. Usui Takaaki and the Consulate Advisor Mrs. Gabriela Yussa. From UERJ, those present at the reception included Prof. Naira de Almeida Velozo, Ph.D., Vice-Director of the Institute of Letters; Prof. Nely Palermo, Ph.D., from the International Cooperation Office; Prof. Poliana Coeli Costa Arantes, Ph.D., from the Institute of Letters; Prof. Mari Fujiwara, collaborating professor from the Japanese Department and Leonardo Brescia from GJO.
After visiting the Rectory, the delegation went to the Faculty of Law to check the progress of the installation of the Laboratory donated to Uerj through the Japanese government program called Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects. The mentioned room will house the JICA Chair, which was established through an agreement between the Japan International Cooperation Agency and UERJ in 2022. The inauguration of the new room is scheduled for March 7th.
Here are some pictures of the visit:
2) Visit to the official residence of Consul-General Manabe
The professors of the Department of Japanese at UERJ, Satomi Kitahara, Elisa Figueira, Mari Fujiwara and the coordinator of the Global Japan Office, Leonardo Brescia, were invited to a dinner at the official residence of Consul-General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro Mr. Manabe on January 5, 2024. At dinner, current and future projects related to Japan at UERJ were discussed, such as the resumption of the Consulate lecture cycle at UERJ, the prospect of opening a Kyudo class at undergraduate level at UERJ, the implementation of the interactive laboratory in the JICA chair room, in the Graduate Program of the Faculty of Law (PPGD), among other topics.
Below is a picture of the visit:
Prof. Satomi Kitahara, Prof. Elisa Figueira and Cultural Consul Rina Ishikawa
December Activity Report
31 December 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
1) New Year Takoyaki Party
In December, as is customary in various parts of the world, including Brazil, there are several celebrations for the ending year. As a way to celebrate the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, UERJ collaborating Professor Mari Fujiwara, along with UERJ Japanese language students and Japanese exchange students, hosted a takoyaki party on December 19th in the Flamengo neighborhood.
On the day before the event, some UERJ students and exchange students visited the traditional fish and seafood market called "Mercado de Peixe S?o Pedro" (S?o Pedro Fish Market) in Niteroi city, to procure the main ingredient for takoyaki: octopus.
On the day of the event, everyone pitched in to prepare the takoyaki, as well as bring non-alcoholic beverages and treats, such as onigiri. In addition to the food, participants also engaged in the tradition of "amigo oculto" (Secret Gift Exchange), which is very popular in Brazil during end-of-year festivities. Below are some images from the takoyaki party:
Japanese and Brazilian students at the S?o Pedro fish market
The octopus
Students preparing takoyaki
The takoyaki party
The Secret Gift Exchange
2) Donated Books Storage
Recently, UERJ had the honor of receiving book donations from TUFS alumna Michiko Kameyama, the Nagaoka couple, as well as from the JICA Chair of S?o Paulo. In total, more than 20 boxes of books in Japanese or related to Japanese themes, in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences, were donated.
For the proper storage of the books, Mrs. Kameyama's husband, Mr. Leo Kameyama, kindly donated bookshelves, which were installed in the Minato Multimedia Laboratory, used by the University's Japanese Department.
Students from the Japanese language course, as well as TUFS exchange students, volunteered to help organize the books on the shelves, under the guidance of Prof. Elisa Massae Sasaki and Prof. Mari Fujiwara. Below are some images of the book organization process which will enrich the collection of the Japanese Department at UERJ:
November Activity Report
30 November 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
1) Visit of the new Consul General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, Takashi Manabe, to UERJ
The new Consul General of Japan, Mr. Takashi Manabe, accompanied by the Cultural Consul of Japan, Mrs. Rina Ishikawa, and the Consulate Advisor Mrs. Gabriela Yussa, paid a courtesy visit to UERJ on November 29. They were welcomed by the Acting Rector Prof. Claudia de Lima; the Pro-Rector for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Prof. Luis Antonio Mota, and the International Cooperation Advisor, Prof. Nely Palermo, to discuss new possibilities for academic cooperation.
Subsequently, accompanied by the Japanese Department Professors, Satomi Kitahara, Elisa Massae Sasaki, Janete Oliveira, and collaborating Professor Mari Fujiwara, the Consulate delegation visited the “Minato Laboratory” at the Institute of Letters, where the group met with students who were organizing the recently donated books on the laboratory shelves.
Finally, the delegation visited the JICA Chair Room, currently under construction, which is located in the Graduate Program of the Faculty of Law, where the interactive laboratory will be installed.
Below are some images from the visit.
Photo: Dircint/UERJ
Consul Mabane in the center, with Consul Ishikawa on the right and
Advisor Gabriela Yussa on the left, at the UERJ Rectory
Visit to Minato Laboratory with Professors and Japanese undergraduate course students
Visit to the JICA Chair room, currently under construction
2) Elections at UERJ
Every four years, elections take place at UERJ for the academic community to choose the new Rector and Directors of the University's Faculties and Institutes. Professors, staff, and undergraduate and postgraduate students are eligible to vote, with proportionally weighted voting by category. In the month of November, the elections occurred in two rounds, the first in the second week of November and the second round in the last week of the month.
For the position of Rector, three slates competed: slate 10 titled "Uerj is more"; slate 20 "Renew Uerj"; and slate 30 "Uerj that changes lives". Slate 10 emerged as the winner after the second round against slate 30. Thus, UERJ will have Professor Gulnar Azevedo from the Faculty of Medicine as the Rector from 2024 onwards, and Professor Bruno Deusdará from the Institute of Letters as the Vice-Rector. It is the second time in its history that UERJ will have a female Rector leading the University.
The second-place candidate in the elections, slate 30, was composed of the current Rector seeking re-election, Professor Mario Carneiro from the Faculty of Dentistry, and Professor Lincoln Tavares from the Institute of Geography, running for Vice-Rector.
Below are some images of the candidates.
The new Rector and Vice-Rector elected: Prof. Gulnar on the left and Prof. Bruno on the right
Slate 30: Prof. Mario Carneiro on the left and Prof. Lincoln Tavares on the right
October Activity Report
31 October 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
This month we had two important events related to Japan at UERJ. The first one was the lecture entitled Enforcement of International Law given by the Honorable Yuji Iwasawa, Judge of the International Court of Justice, on October 20th. The event was organized by JICA-UERJ Chair, the TUFS Global Japan Office, UERJ Law School and Department of Japanese. The event took place at the UERJ Law School and featured consecutive interpretation by Prof. Masato Ninomiya, Ph.D, from the S?o Paulo University Law School.
In his speech, Judge Iwasawa dealt with topics such as sanctions as a feature of law, means of enforcement in International Law within the scope of domestic implementation and application, enforcement actions of the Security Council, self-help, law of state responsibility, international dispute settlement and compliance control and enforcement of international criminal law.
After the event, Judge Iwasawa, accompanied by professors from UERJ and representatives of the Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro and JICA, visited the Regional Labor Court of the First Region (Rio de Janeiro), the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro and the Museum of Justice. Below are some images of the event and visit:
The poster of the event
The audience
Plenary hall of the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro visited by the group
The second important event of the month, called Study and Career Fair in Japan, held on the 25th from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, featured speakers who studied or worked in Japan and whose personal and professional trajectories were impacted by the experience in Japan, in the different areas such as: Law, Communication, Photography, Cooking, Japanese animation and Technology.
Among the speakers we can mention the former exchange student at TUFS, Jo?o Leal, current Labor Judge in Rio de Janeiro; the famous journalist Carlos Gil, who lived in Japan for three years as an international correspondent, the Japanese culinary businesswoman Mayumi Muto and representatives from NEC and JRC. There was also a joint session by the representative of Study in Japan South America, Rodrigo Fernandes, and the Coordinator of the Global Japan Office Leonardo Brescia on programs and scholarships in Japan and at TUFS specifically.
In addition to the lectures, there was a photography exhibition and karate and baseball demonstrations, as well as booths from Japanese institutions such as TUFS, other Japanese universities, the Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, the JRC and the UERJ International Cooperation Office. For lunch, Japanese food tasting was offered by Hinata Food Services.
The karate demonstration was performed by the TUFS student who is currently studying at UERJ, Julia Kikuchi, and by UERJ Japanese student Paula Guerra. Both of them black belts.
Below are some images of the event:
Event opening table, with representatives from UERJ, Consulate and Study in Japan
The audience
Paula Guerra on the left and Julia Kikuchi after the Karate performance
Athlete and physical education teacher Yukihiro Shimura with baseball bat, during his demonstration
University of Tsukuba table where explanations about programs and scholarships in Japan were given
September Activity Report
30 September 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
1) This month, we had the honor of welcoming to UERJ Prof. Kaoru Iokibe, Ph.D., Professor of Japanese Political and Diplomatic History at the University of Tokyo. At UERJ, he delivered a lecture titled “What is Japan's Political Tradition? An Analysis from the Two Synthetic Constitutions”. The event, organized by the UERJ JICA Chair, Law School, the Global Japan Office and the Japanese Department of the Institute of Letters at UERJ, took place on September 4th at the UERJ Law School. In his speech, Prof. Iokibe discussed the two constitutions that Japan has experienced to date: the Constitution of the Empire of Great Japan (Meiji Constitution) and the Post-War Constitution of Japan (Post-War Constitution). Through the contrast between the explicit text of the constitution and its implementation, he addressed Japan's political tradition.
In addition to the lecture, during his five-day stay in Rio de Janeiro, Prof. Iokibe visited the Imperial city of Petrópolis, tourist attractions such as Sugarloaf Mountain and the Copacabana neighborhood, the Itamaraty Archive, and the S?o Bento Monastery, accompanied by professors from the UERJ Japanese Department, the GJO Coordinator and some Brazilian and Japanese students. On September 5th, his last day in the city, Prof. Iokibe participated in an informal chat with students at the Institute of Letters, organized by the Japanese Department at UERJ and the TUFS Global Japan Office.
Here are some photos from the events on September 4th and 5th at UERJ:
Prof. Iokibe on the left and the interpreter Mrs. Arai during the lecture on September 4th
The audience of the event
The poster of the event
Prof. Iokibe (standing) during the informal chat with students at the Institute of Letters on September 5th
The audience of the “informal chat with students”
2) On the 20th of this month, another relevant event organized by the UERJ Japanese Department and the TUFS Global Japan Office took place: the "UERJ Japanese Freshmen Reception 2023". The event, which aims to introduce the University and the Japanese course to new students, was divided into three parts. The first part involved the presentation of the Japanese course and Japanese Department projects by the professors. The second part, given by the GJO Coordinator Leonardo Brescia, featured presentations on partner Japanese universities, exchange programs to Japan, and scholarship opportunities. Finally, some former Brazilian exchange students shared their experiences while studying in Japan, and the four Japanese exchange students from TUFS, who are currently studying at UERJ, gave presentations in Portuguese about their impressions and life in Brazil.
Here are some images from the event:
Prof. Elisa Sasaki, master of ceremonies for the event, on the right and Prof. Satomi Kitahara on the left
Prof. Mari Fujiwara, Collaborating Professor at UERJ, during her presentation
The audience of the event and the UERJ student Carolina Soares Costa (standing, in the background), former TUFS exchanging student, during her presentation
August Activity Report
31 August 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
This month, on the 31st, still in celebration of the 115th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Brazil, a group composed of professors and students from UERJ, exchange students from TUFS, as well as representatives from the Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, made a formal visit to the Itamaraty Palace in Rio de Janeiro, specifically to the Historical Archive, which houses documents primarily related to Brazil's diplomatic history until the mid-1960s.
The historic Itamaraty Palace is located in the center of Rio de Janeiro, which was constructed in the mid-19th century by the Count of Itamaraty, a successful gemstone and coffee merchant. In 1889, it was sold to the republican government, and it served as the presidential residence until 1897, when it became the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters until 1970. Today, the Palace houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representation office in Rio de Janeiro. Part of the Palace is dedicated to preserving the extensive collection of the Historical and Diplomatic Museum, the Historical Archive, and the Map Library. It also houses the History and Diplomatic Documentation Center of the Alexandre de Gusm?o Foundation.
The Palace overlooks a large garden with a central lake, which is surrounded by four buildings. The main building of the Palace is in a neoclassical style, rigorously symmetrical and of noble proportions, with Art Deco decorative elements.
The group was received by a Brazilian Ambassador working in the Museum, the Chief Archivist, and the Chief of the Library. Currently, the entire complex housing the Museum and Archive, as well as the entire collection, is undergoing significant renovation, resulting in restricted and controlled access.
The historical documents made available to visitors by the Archive pertain to the relations between Japan and Brazil, such as the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between the Republic of Brazil and the Empire of Japan of 1895 and its ratification. They also cover significant historical events Brazil, such as the Luso-Brazilian Treaty also known as the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Alliance, a bilateral agreement signed on August 29, 1825, between the Empire of Brazil and the Kingdom of Portugal, which recognized Brazil's independence and formally ended the War of Independence.
For researchers interested in the relations between Brazil and Japan, the Itamaraty Palace collection offers many other documents to explore. We look forward to making new visits to the palace after the restoration and modernization of the buildings, garden, and collection.
Below are some images from the visit:
July Activity Report
31 July 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
This month, from the 8th to the 11th, the “Study in Japan” — Brazil Fair, organized by Tsukuba University, took place. This event was an opportunity to introduce Japanese universities and their undergraduate and graduate exchange programs to Brazilian students.
The Fair occurred in the cities of S?o Paulo and Curitiba, and, among the exhibiting universities was TUFS, which actively participated in the event's activities.
On the 8th and 9th, the Fair was part of a larger event: the 24th Japan Festival, held at the S?o Paulo Expo Convention Center in S?o Paulo city and organized by KENREN, the Federation of Japanese Prefectural Associations in Brazil. Booths promoting Japanese universities were set up at this Festival, which attracted an audience of over 185,000 visitors.
The Japan Festival offered musical shows, traditional dances, ikebana workshops, regional cuisine from Japanese prefectures, cultural exhibitions and free activities for people of all ages, attracting a diverse audience. Regarding the Japanese Universities, in addition to distributing promotional materials about the Institutions and their programs, as well as providing face-to-face explanations to interested individuals at the booths, there were also presentations in the event's mini-auditorium to reach a larger number of people at the Festival.
On July 11th, the Fair continued at the Federal University of Paraná, in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná. Similar to S?o Paulo, many university students attended the event seeking information about scholarships and programs to study at Japanese universities. Besides providing individual information at booths with printed informative materials, the exhibitors made presentations in a large auditorium that gathered hundreds of students throughout the day.
In addition to the Fair itself, there were other activities interspersed with the event, such as meetings at the Higher School of Advertising and Marketing (ESPM) in S?o Paulo, as well as a reception at the Consulate General of Japan in Curitiba. These meetings provided an opportunity to converse and exchange information about exchange programs, scholarships and projects from public and private universities in Brazil, in addition to getting to know representatives of the international cooperation offices of these universities and Brazilian businessmen.
Both in S?o Paulo and Curitiba, a considerable part of the audience consisted of descendants of Japanese immigrants, as there was a significant influx of Japanese immigrants to the states of S?o Paulo and Paraná in the 20th century. It's worth noting that this year marks the 115th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Brazil, so this event is also a way of celebrating the date.
Below are some pictures of the event.
Entrance to the S?o Paulo Expo Convention Center
Entrance to the 24th Japan Festival in S?o Paulo
Booths at the 24th Japan Festival in S?o Paulo
The Higher School of Advertising and Marketing (ESPM) in S?o Paulo
Wall in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Federal University of Paraná in 2012
Opening of the event at the Federal University of Paraná
Organizing the room to receive students at Federal University of Paraná
Meeting at the Consulate General of Japan in Curitiba
June Activity Report
30 June 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
1. On June 13, UERJ welcomed the General Director Mr. Daigo Tamura and the Associate Director Mr. Koji Ogami from the Japan Foundation in S?o Paulo. They were received by the UERJ Rector, Prof. Mario Sergio Carneiro, by the Director of the International Cooperation Office, Prof. Cristina Russi, in addition to Pro-rectors, professors from the Institute of Letters, the GJO Coordinator, among others. After the meeting at the Rectory, the Directors visited some facilities at UERJ such as the Teatro Odylo Costa Filho, the Acoustic Shell, the Minato Laboratory at the Institute of Letters and the fa?ade of the Cultural Center.
Below are some pictures of the visit:
Mr. Daigo Tamura from The Japan Foundation on the left and Prof. Mario Sergio Carneiro, Uerj Rector
UERJ staff and the Japan Foundation Directors in the acoustic shell
Visit of the Japan Foundation Directors from S?o Paulo to the Rectory of UERJ
2. On June 14, a technical visit to José Maria de Brito Intercultural Brazil – Japan State High School, located in the city of Itaguaí, was held, since recently the school opened a vacancy for a Japanese teacher. This year, the institution became a full time school in order to include subjects related to the Japanese language and culture in its curriculum.
The Director of the UERJ Institute of Letters, Prof. Janaína da Silva Cardoso; Prof. Satomi Takano Kitahara; the collaborating professor at UERJ Mari Fujiwara; Mr. Roberto Kamino from Renmei; Prof. Yukihiro Shimura, senior baseball coach hired by JICA; two representatives from the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Education and the GJO-TUFS Coordinator participated in the visit. During the visit, it was possible to talk with students of the school, with the newly hired Japanese teacher Mr. Jefferson, in addition to having a meeting with representatives of the Secretary of Education and representatives of the school.
Prof. Yukihiro Shimura had the opportunity to hold some softball activities with high school students, in addition to other physical education activities, which were visibly pleasurable to the students.
Here are some images of the visit:
School fa?ade
Brief conversation between the visitors, the students and the Japanese teacher
Prof. Yukihiro Shimura playing with the students
3. On 27 June, UERJ had the pleasure to welcome the Japanese Master of the art of shodō Kamari Maeda who made a gorgeous performance at the UERJ ecumenical chapel. The event was organized by the Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro as one of the celebrations for the 115 years of Japanese immigration in Brazil. The artist performed themes specially thought out for the presentation, expressing through ink and paper the union between Japanese and Brazilian cultures, demonstrating the feeling of friendship that overcomes any distance — whether geographic or cultural.
Here are some images of the event:
Poster of the event
Mr. Maeda with an interpreter in the center explaining to the audience the work just done
「自走」
May Activity Report
31 May 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
This month, from May 22 to 25, the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages, which includes the Japanese Studies, held the 7th International Congress of Classical and Oriental Literature named "Between Classical and Oriental Plots: Out of Patchwork Existence is Made" / 11th Congress of Classical and Oriental Literature - Homage to Carlinda Pate Nu?ez.
This congress takes place every two years, and the chosen title for this 2023 edition refers to the event's program, which focuses on the interweaving of cultures, languages, and other elements to build knowledge. Over the course of the four-day event, there were conferences, roundtables, communication sessions, book launches, musical performances, and workshops.
The opening of the event was attended by the Consul General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, Ken Hashiba, the Rector of UERJ, Mario Sergio A. Carneiro, and other university authorities. The Japanese national anthem was performed by Raquel da Silva Almeida, a Japanese student at UERJ, on the violin. Following that, the organist and Music Ph.D, Domitila Ballesteros, performed the Brazilian national anthem, as well as "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" by Ryuichi Sakamoto who passed away in March of this year. An explanation of Sakamoto's life and work, including his collaborations with Brazilian musicians, was given, demonstrating the musical connection between Japan and Brazil.
After the opening ceremony, Consul General Ken Hashiba was invited to deliver the inaugural conference entitled "International Conjuncture and Japanese Diplomacy."
From the extensive program of the event, I highlight here the activities related to Japanese studies.
On days 23 and 25, Prof. Mari Fujiwara, a collaborative professor of Japanese Language at UERJ, offered the workshop "How to Wear Kimono" in which Brazilians had the opportunity to experience and learn about Japanese traditional clothing. The workshop counted on the Japanese to Portuguese consecutive interpreting by ?sis Togue, a former exchange student at TUFS.
Also on the 23rd, a communication session took place with the following presentations:
(1) “The Siren Song of Yūrei: Figurations of the Monstrous Feminine in Western and Eastern Cultures” by Gabriel Costa R. P. B. dos Santos; (2) “Murasaki Shikibu, Sei Shonagon, and Japanese Women's Literature of the Heian Period” by Daniel Bonfim Leal; (3) “Rescuing Memories: Researching and Translating Early Japanese Immigrants Haiku” by Samuel Porfírio Goulart Ramos; (4) "‘Petals on a Damp, Dark Branch’: The Presence of Haiku in Modern American Poetry” by Marcelo de Carvalho G. Júnior; and (5) “The Acquisition of Japanese Onomatopoeia Among Brazilian Students of Japanese Language” by Izabela de Oliveira Silva.
This was followed by an institutional roundtable whose theme was "Japanese Studies, Culture, and Language in Contemporary Brazil", with the following presentations: (1) “Brazil-Japan Relationship and Current Activities” by Ryunosuke Kataoka from JICA; (2) “MEXT Scholarships” by Gabriela Yussa Amaral Moraes from the Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro; (3) “A Brief Overview of Exchange Programs of Japanese Partner Institutions of UERJ” by Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques from the Global Japan Office — TUFS; and (4) “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Current Situation of Japanese Language Education in Brazil” by Mayumi Ena Iko Yoshikawa from The Japan Foundation in S?o Paulo.
The third day of the congress began with the conference "The Yellow Peril Today: Editorial Challenges for Thinking the Brazilian Yellow Identity" by Edylene Severiano and Hugo Katsuo Othuki Okabayashi, both from the Federal Fluminense University.
Following that, a roundtable took place with the theme "Between Brazil and Japan: Interdisciplinary Perspectives”, featuring the following presentations: (1) “The Ethos of the G4: Analysis of Statements on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council” by Raphael dos Santos Miguelez Perez; (2) “Haiku by Female Authors” by Nívea Oura Martins; (3) “Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Japanese Studies: The Contribution of Historical Writing to the Teaching of Japanese History” by Mateus Martins do Nascimento; (4) “An Interpretation of the Film ‘Tropa de Elite’" by Erika Miyashita Kelecom, a former student of TUFS; and (5) “Japan Did Not Lose the War” by Antoine de Mena, former exchange students at TUFS.
On the last day of the event, the Japanese Language Professor Elisa Figueira de Souza Corrêa gave the conference "Beauty as one of the Ultimate Goals of Kyudo". Before that, the audience could also attend the following presentations: (1) “New Yamamoto Craniopuncture: An Approach to Japanese Acupuncture” by Cassia Regina Alves Pereira; (2) “Anime: Gender Change and the Collective Unconscious” by Caio Marcio Bessa Lima; and (3) “Difficulties of Brazilian Voice Actors in the Studio: Japanese and Korean Productions” by Nívea Guimar?es Doria.
The event concluded with a beautiful tribute to Professor Carlinda Fragale Pate Nu?ez, recently retired from UERJ, who also participated in the early editions of online courses on Literature in the Portuguese Language for TUFS students. Among the tributes there were the publication of a book of articles written by Prof. Carlinda, speeches from work colleagues and a short film, in which there were testimonials, including that from Prof. Chika Takeda from TUFS.
Below are some images from the event:
April Activity Report
30 April 2023
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Leonardo Brescia de Sousa Henriques
On April 19, Brazil celebrates the Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a date created in the 1940s to celebrate the diversity of the histories and cultures of Brazilian indigenous peoples, combat prejudice against them, and remember the need to establish public policies that guarantee the rights of these peoples.
Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of the Brazilian territory who were there before the arrival of Europeans at the end of the 15th century. There is a great diversity of indigenous peoples in Brazil even today. The population of Indians, according to the 2010 census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), is approximately 817 thousand, which represents about 0.47% of the current Brazilian population and is spread across cities and rural areas along the country. Due to the variety of native peoples, 274 indigenous languages are spoken in Brazil nowadays, according to the census cited above.
In the State of Rio de Janeiro, there are six indigenous villages, in which there are about a thousand inhabitants in Rio countryside cities. Another 15 thousand people, who live in the Metropolitan Region, declare themselves as indigenous, according to the preview of the last IBGE census carried out in 2022.
In 2003, UERJ created specific vacancies for people of indigenous descent so that they would have more access to undergraduate courses. It was an expansion of its affirmative action policy program which had begun in 2000. Such action was necessary due to the obstacles to entering higher education for this group of people. Among them, the linguistic issue, since many of them do not have Portuguese as their first language, which makes it difficult to understand the university entrance exams, compared to the other candidates.
After twenty years since the beginning of affirmative action at UERJ, a survey carried out by the University, through the Office for Studies on Indigenous Peoples, Interculturality and Education (Nepiie), outlined the panorama of the indigenous presence at UERJ. It ended up stimulating integration among students of indigenous origin which resulted in the creation of the group called Yandé Iwí Mimbira (“We, children of the Earth” in the Nheengatu language — an indigenous language belonging to the Tupi-Guarani family, also known as Modern Tupi).
The survey revealed that the profile of indigenous students at Uerj is varied. About two dozen students were contacted. Among them, there are those who have a family history very close to the experience in the villages, and others who are still experiencing a process of “identity insurgency”, seeking to better understand their family's ancestry.
Below are some images related to the Indigenous Peoples culture:
April 19: commemorative date for fight for the rights and appreciation of the culture and knowledge of Brazilian indigenous peoples
The indigenous villages today in the Rio de Janeiro State
Text sample of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art.1) in the Nheengatu language