To deepen mutual understanding and cultural exchanges between the people of China and Japan, as well as to promote grassroots friendship and social trust, a delegation of nine student representatives from the Department of Japanese of School of Foreign Studies, Tongji University recently visited Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, for a week-long series of friendly exchange and study activities. The delegation was led by faculty members Sun Meng and Wang Yuchen. The program aimed to explore models for regional and country-specific teaching research and talent development in foreign language disciplines, enabling students to closely observe Japan—an important subject country—in terms of its political, economic, social, and cultural developments, thereby enhancing their understanding and research capabilities regarding Japan’s national conditions.
During the visit, Ikeda City Mayor Takizawa Tomoko met with the delegation. Mayor Takizawa remarked that the development of China-Japan relations requires not only governmental efforts but also broad participation and support from the people. She expressed hope that the exchange activities between Tongji’s faculty and students and Ikeda citizens would serve as an opportunity to deepen friendship and strengthen cooperation.
The delegation visited various locations in Osaka and Ikeda, participating in a diverse range of activities, including observing political study sessions, touring local elderly care facilities, watching traditional theatrical performances, and visiting regional museums. Throughout the program, they engaged in in-depth and friendly exchanges with Ikeda citizens and conducted fieldwork in regional and country-specific studies.
The Homestay program between Tongji University’s Department of Japanese and Ikeda City, Japan, began in 2000 and has since been held 21 times. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Department of Japanese of Tongji, the Osaka Sino-Japanese Friendship Association, the Ikeda City Sino-Japanese Friendship Association, and the Ikeda City International Exchange Association, this year’s Homestay program was successfully resumed. The host families accommodating the faculty and students are members of the Ikeda City Sino-Japanese Friendship Association and the Ikeda City International Exchange Association. They are distinguished figures from local political, business, and cultural circles, as well as highly educated individuals who have long been committed to promoting political and economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan. In terms of student selection, in addition to Japanese major students, the Homestay program also includes representatives from other departments with foundational language skills, helping to broaden the international perspectives of students across the university and supporting the institution’s efforts in cultivating globally competent talent.
A representative from the School of Foreign Studies stated that this program represents an important step in the disciplinary transformation toward regional and country-specific studies of the Department of Japanese. By organizing on-site visits, thematic research, and cultural tours, the program encourages students to develop an initial research awareness of regional and country-specific studies, broadly identify and grasp the research subjects and methodologies of the field, laying a solid foundation for future academic pursuits. At the same time, it provides valuable insights for the further transformation and development of the university’s foreign language disciplines.