Tokyo: Symposium on 140 years of bilateral relations between Serbia and Japan at Djosai International University

07. Dec 2022.
In cooperation with the Djosai International University and the Japan-Serbia Friendship Society, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Tokyo organised a symposium in a hybrid format, dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the friendship between the two countries, at which representatives of institutions and the academic community spoke about the origins and history of bilateral relations.

In her introductory speech, the ambassador of Serbia in Tokyo, Aleksandra Kovač, assessed that the long friendship between two very distant countries and peoples, without previously recorded contact or special ties, as is the case with Serbia and Japan, represented a rare example of mutual recognition and persistence of relations of such different identities. She pointed out that today, looking back on 140 years since the establishment of relations, we could say that the spirit of solidarity had marked the friendship of the two peoples, and that the courage and vision of individuals had deepened bilateral ties in all spheres.

Speaking about the early contacts, Ambassador Kovač acquainted the audience with the visit of the Japanese prince to Serbia in 1894 and the recorded impressions. She pointed out the sympathy for the suffering of the people of Serbia and the respect for the courage of its army shown by the Japanese as allies in the First World War. She also gave an example of an emotional appeal for help to the population of Serbia, which, in 1915, was sent to its inhabitants by the head of the village of Mizutani, the forerunner of Fujimi, the twin city of Šabac, with which they celebrated 40 years of relationship this year. She expressed her belief that friendship would remain a feature of future relations between the two countries.

The facilitator of the symposium was Toshio Tsunozaki, former ambassador of Japan to Serbia and vice president of the Japan-Serbia Society, and the rector of the International University of Gyosai Kenji Sugiyabashi, former ambassador of Japan to Serbia and president of the Japan-Serbia Friendship Society Tadashi Nagai, professor Riko Shiba with Djosai International University, while Kayoko Yamasaki, a professor at the Faculty of Philology at the University of Belgrade, participated via video link.

During the meeting, video messages from the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Osaka Naohid Ueyama, translator Hiroshi Yamasaki Vukelić, and former director of the Balkans Office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Satoru Kurosawa were presented.

Masaki Shindo, an expert on Nikola Tesla, presented an exhibition dedicated to the Serbian scientist, which was set up for this occasion in the hall of the University building.

In addition to the Tesla exhibition, copies of the letters exchanged between King Milan I Obrenović and the Japanese Emperor Meiji in 1882 and Serbian folk costumes from the Embassy's collection were exhibited in the hall.

The Japan-Serbia Friendship Society organised a stand displaying Serbian products, handicrafts and souvenirs.

The symposium, which was successfully organised and very well attended, both at the University itself and via video link, was attended by the mayor of Fujimi, the leadership and members of the Friendship Society, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, members of the academic community, students and citizens.