Networking and Collaboration between Sasakawa Japanese Studies Scholars and Universities ~ Japanese Studies Online Conference ~

Video Message

Mrs. Elizabeth Nilsson, chairperson of the Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation, active Board members, and Japanese Studies lecturers and fellows in the Nordic countries of ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted at this opportunity to be connected online even while we are in the COVID-19 pandemic environment.

I thought I would take sometime today to introduce the Beautiful Country, Japan to help you deepen and enhance your understanding of the country.

A famous political scientist, Samuel Huntington states in his “Clash of Civilization” that there are eight civilizations in the world today and introduces Japan, an island nation of the East as distinctive civilization. It is extraordinary that, unlike other civilizations, Japan has maintained its unique civilization of its own for over 2000 years.

The Japanese civilization is nurtured on the close and harmonious relationship between man and nature, and all things in the universe. Since ancient times, Japan has been enriched with clearly separated four seasons each with distinct weather, flora, and customs. Nature, and its colorful beauty and contrast of all four seasons have been admired, exalted and expressed in Japanese literature such as waka, the unique classical poetry.

The Manyoshu is the oldest surviving anthology of Japanese waka written by people from across diverse social classes and gender from emperors, nobility, front guards, peasants, and many others. These poems reflect the beauty of nature they saw and the emotion they felt which have not faded for over 1200 years to this day.

The 126th emperor of Japan ascended the throne last year. “Reiwa,” a word taken from this Manyoshu, is the name of the era of the new emperor. The meaning of the word “Reiwa” is “beautiful harmony.”

This is Japan. A country mystic and with distinct civilization, entwined with a long history, beautiful nature and rich culture.

I would like to express my respects to all of you fellows for having taken an interest in Japan and chosen the Japanese Studies program. I am sure the Beautiful Country, Japan will thoroughly satisfy your intellectual curiosity. I am looking forward to being able to enjoy a further “beautiful harmony” between the Nordic countries and Japan through your studies.

Thank you very much.

*This video message is available at The Nippon Foundation YouTube.