Topics of Okayama UniversityOkayama University Portal Site
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2015-08-05Guests from Myanmar Pay a Courtesy Visit to President Morita
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On June 18, Dr. Nyunt Phay, Rector of Pathein University, Myanmar, and his party visited Okayama University and paid a courtesy call on President Kiyoshi Morita and Executive Director Masaru Araki.
During the discussions, Dr. Phay said, “Myanmar is one of the countries expected to develop enormously in the future. Pathein University also hopes to push forward very positively with internationalization through exchanges with Okayama University.”
The party also held talks with representatives of the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, the Faculty of Science, and the Center for Global Partnerships and Education. Views were exchanged on the possibilities for academic and student exchanges, joint research, and other topics.2015-07-27Support for sports festivals In Cambodia by Okayama University faculty members
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On December 26 and 27, 2014, PE festivals were held at both the Petonu and Pureashinuku elementary schools in Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia. Thirteen people from Okayama, including Professor Yuichi Hara of the Graduate School of Education Master’s Program, members of the Okayama-shi Board of Education, and students from the university, worked together to support the festival.
At both schools, around six hundred children and their parents participated in the festival. Work to put on the festivals was mainly done by Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), government authorities, and the elementary schools. In addition to relay races and mock cavalry battles, the festivals included activities used during physical education classes at each elementary school, providing a local flavor. Having never experienced a PE festival before, participants passionately took part in the competitions, cheered wildly, and got caught up in the excitement.
In September of the same year, in cooperation with the non-profit organization Hearts of Gold, Professor Hara actively prepared for the holding of the festivals which included holding local workshops, mainly for the teaching staff at each school and MoEYS members. As one part of service learning (learning that combines college education and social services), Okayama University students took part in various activities, including working with Cambodian university students and cooperating with MoEYS members to resolve issues.
These PE festivals drew attention from within Cambodia for various reasons, including the fact that they were picked up by the local news. Starting next year, there are plans to hold PE festivals using MoEYS funds, and support will continue to be provided, mainly by Professor Hara and others.2015-01-19Mr. Yoshito Nishimura coming in second place at the World Powerlifting Championships
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24 year old Yoshito Nishimura, a 6th year student at Okayama University’s Medical School participated in the “44th Men"s World Powerlifting Championships” held in the US from November 3rd to the 8th and came in second place in the 66 kg weight class.
Powerlifting is a sport that involves competing for the total weight in successful lifts in 3 categories: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Mr. Nishimura was successful in lifting the weights of 290 kg, 195kg, and 270kg, and with a total weight of 755 kg, he attained the highest score on record in Japan. He is the 4th person in Japanese history to come in second place in this competition, and also the youngest among the four. Last year, he claimed victory in the junior competition and had this to say: “I want to continue taking on challenges and also become number one in the world in the senor competition.”
2014-11-13The 2014 Homecoming Day
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Our university held the “Homecoming Day 2014” event on October 18th upon inviting graduates and people from the community to familiarize them with the university. We were able to deepen exchanges with the approximate 1500 people who attended.
The entire cheer group welcomed the visitors with a powerful dance performance and the singing of the university song. The event got into swing with various projects such as the “Omoide Jaya (Japanese Tea House)” where current students and graduates talked about memories, the art exhibition where pieces of work by students and alumni from the Art Education Course were on display, and the “Music Festival” in which multiple music groups performed. Around the 50th Anniversary Hall at the main venue were carnival booths conducted by students, a place where visitors were able to experience the sport of “Mölkky” in which players throw a stick and hit pins that have scores written on them and the player with the highest total score wins, the “WAWA’ S Duty Free” where exchange students sold general merchandise and sweets from the countries of their origin, and more. There were diverse festivities and the visitors walked around the venue curiously. 2014-10-22The Opening Ceremony at the Junko Fukutake Terrace (commonly known as J Terrace)
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The café, “Junko Fukutake Terrace” (J Terrace) built on the west side of the main gate at the Tsushima Campus with a donation by Junko Fukutake, Deputy Director of the Fukutake Education and Culture Foundation, has been completed. The Opening Ceremony was held on October 17th at the J Terrace.
Approximately 70 people attended the ceremony including Deputy Director Junko Fukutake, President Kiyoshi Morita of our university, Kazuyo Sejima from the architect unit “SANAA”* that designed the J Terrace, and Ryue Nishizawa. President Morita greeted everyone by stating, “People from all over the world will surely gather here at the J Terrace. I would like this university to become even more open.” and Deputy Director Junko Fukutake stated, “By using the J Terrace in a variety of ways like the Junko Fukutake Hall (J Hall), I would like everyone to meet many people and create miracles.” The 5 representatives then cut the ribbon and celebrated its completion.
The J Terrace is an architectural structure with a beautiful concrete and glass curve and was designed with the theme, “A place where people gather and dialogue is generated.” The glassed-in space projects an image of mutual connection. Established together with the “J Terrace Café” run by the Sakai Panning Corporation (Minami Ward, Okayama City), it is a citizen’s open-type terrace that everyone can freely use.
“SANAA”*
SANAA (Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates) is an architect unit (specifically, an architectural firm) founded by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. In 2010, SANAA was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize described as the Nobel Prize in the architectural world. Their work includes the Louvre-Lens Museum (annex of the Louvre) in France and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa.
The unit designed the J Hall of the Shikata campus and the pergola of the Tsushima campus for our university.2014-10-17The conclusion of the Community Partnership Agreement with Okayama City in relation to Community Development
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Our university and Okayama City concluded the “Community Partnership Agreement in relation to Community Development” on October 8th to advance civic collaboration community development. The objective is to advance community development centered on the Nishigawa Ryokudo Park Neighborhood by creating opportunities for casual participation in community development by university students and community residents through the working together of the university and the city.
The signing ceremony was held at the University Library Learning Commons and approximately 30 people including President Kiyoshi Morita, Mayor Masao Omori, university faculty, and students attended. President Morita greeted everyone by saying, “I want to create a dynamic community by utilizing the power of the students and the knowledge of the faculty,” and Mayor Omori greeted everyone with, “Community development requires the contribution of wisdom from all generations. I want to develop Okayama by working together with the university.”
Our university established the “Nishigawa Agora” on the 2nd floor of the Date Bldg. (1 Tamachi, Kita-ku Okayams-shi) along the Nishigawa Ryokudo Park as the base of operations for community development on October 20th. By working in cooperation with Okayama City’s Nishigawa Performer Project, we will conduct a community development history and circumstances investigation, interview investigation, etc. Moreover, we will utilize the place for study meetings relevant to community development and for workshops.2014-10-09Cherish the memories and take a new step forward-FY 2014 Autumn Okayama University Diploma Awarding Ceremony
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The “FY 2014 Autumn Okayama University Diploma Awarding Ceremony” was held at the 50th Anniversary Hall on September 30th, and a total of 88 students—undergraduate graduates and graduate school graduates—took a new step forward cherishing their memories at the campus.
President Kiyoshi Morita awarded diplomas to the total of 4 representatives of the undergraduate school, master"s course, doctor’s course, and professional degree course. In his speech, upon stating, “I wish for all of you students to make significant contributions for the good of society as responsible members of society,” he extended the following words of farewell: “It is necessary for all you students who studied at this university to utilize your knowledge and the education you garnered in trying to solve the global issues that the world is facing. I want you to be proud of having studied at this university.”
Click here for the number of undergraduate graduates and graduate school graduates
Click here for the President’s speech2014-09-30Miki Memorial Award to Professor Kumon (Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences) for Contributions to the Development of Local Communities
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Professor Hiromi Kumon of the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences has received the Miki Memorial Award commemorating individuals who have contributed to the development of local communities. The awards ceremony was held at the Miki Memorial Hall in Okayama Eisei Kaikan (Furugyo, Naka Ward, Okayama City) on September 1.
Professor Kumon has devoted his research to finding new ways to treat prostate cancer. He is also involved in the development of new anti-cancer medicines using REIC (Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells) gene. The professor also heads several research centers aiming at patient support and the promotion of advanced medical technology, such as our own Innovation Center Okayama for Nanobio-targeted Therapy (ICONT). Under the Medical Techno-valley Scheme of Okayama Prefecture, aiming at launching medical venture companies and concentrating medical-related enterprises here, he has taken a central role in the fields of medicine and technology, contributing to the development of the local community.
At the ceremony, he received a certificate from the Prefectural Governor, Ryuta Ibaragi. He stated that he appreciated the support of everyone who had helped him and that the award was thanks to them, and that he hoped to continue to work for the creation of new medicine from Okayama.
2014-09-01Okayama Study Tour to Discover the Charms of Okayama from the Perspective of Foreign Students
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The Academic and General Okayama University Regional Research Association (AGORA) held an Okayama Study Tour on July 12, in which foreign and Japanese students visited Koraku-en and Okayama Castle, and discussed their charms or ways they could be improved.
A total of 49 foreign students, Japanese students, volunteers and staff participated. They were split into five teams and enthusiastically observed the sites, carefully checking the guidance and displays given as well as the convenience of the facilities. During their workshop they discussed the charms of the facilities and points for improvement. The foreign students made comments such as: ""I was fascinated by the bamboo varieties which we don"t have in the West,"" ""There"s a lot of difficult Japanese explanations for foreigners,"" and ""There aren"t many explanations in foreign languages,"" while expressing their appreciation in being able to find new discoveries in both Koraku-en and Okayama Castle. Lastly, Vice-president Masaru Araki gave each participant a completion certificate.
The tour is part of the Foreign Student Exchange Center Initiative (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) and was held with the cooperation of the local government and the Okayama Convention Center. Further events are planned for the future to improve the charms of Okayama as an international city.2014-08-05A successful completion of a contralateral lung transplant using the lung of a brain-dead donor—first in Japan
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Okayama University Hospital has successfully completed a contralateral lung transplant in which a left lung from a donor was transplanted in the right lung cavity of a man in his 60’s with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia on July 3rd. (Donor: woman in her 50’s; providing facility: Osaka General Medical Center.)
A contralateral lung transplant was conducted at Kyoto University Hospital this March between living subjects; however, this was the first time in Japan the same transplant was conducted, using a lung from a brain-dead donor.
The transplant operation was conducted between 9:32 am to 4:32 pm on the same day with approximately 30 surgical staff including Associate professor Takahiro Oto from the Department of Respiratory Medicine , Okayama University Hospital. The recipient man was diagnosed with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, registered with the organ transplant network in October 2012, and was waiting for a donor.
At the interview after the transplant, Associate professor Oto and the others explained, “From among the 2 lungs, the right needed the transplant; however, what was provided was a left lung. There was the option of abandoning the plan due to medical reasons, but the possibility of this being the last chance for a transplant for this patient was high. We expect the patient to be able to leave the hospital in 3 months if he makes a smooth recovery.”
With the success of this transplant, an expansion of opportunities for providing organs to more patients suffering from severe lung diseases is anticipated.2014-07-04