Between January 10 and 12, various activities such as workshops, exhibitions and concerts will be held, focused on transmitting Japanese culture to the local community.

With an important audience and with the presence of the ULS Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas, the Ambassador of Japan in Chile, Ito Takako, the President of the Honorable Board of Directors, Ernesto Velasco, the Seremi of Cultures, Arts and Heritage , Cedric Steinlen and university authorities, the inauguration of the Japanese cultural days “Japan ULS” took place, a traditional activity of the university, organized in this version by the Directorate of Links with the Environment and Extension (Diveuls) with the collaboration of the Embassy of Japan in Chile and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and which takes place from January 10 to 12.

The day began with the talk “The country of the rising sun: “A journey through different experiences””, which was given by the JICA volunteer in Chile, Daisuke Yoshida, and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and former Rector , Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, who lived for 7 years in Japan. Both related and shared experiences about the culture and way of life in the Japanese country from their different perspectives.

Subsequently, the opening ceremony of this new version of “Japan ULS” was held, which considered different artistic samples from Chile and Japan, being able to combine cultural expressions from both countries. This ceremony ended with the exhibition “A look at the country of Japan through calendars”, which consists of different Japanese calendars that seek to represent the history and culture of the Japanese country.

Regarding the holding of these new conferences and the presence of the Ambassador at the inauguration of the event, the ULS Rector, Luperfina Rojas indicated that “it is truly an honor to have the visit of the Ambassador in our institution, this is her first visit to regions and a university, and that makes us very grateful, especially when we hold Japanese culture week again. We have carried out this activity for 15 years and we are very happy because this bond that unites us with Japan, with its embassy and with its government, has allowed us as a regional university to spread its art, its culture and its language."

Along with this, the Rector referred to the relationship that the university currently maintains with Japan. “I am certain that the ties that are being generated with relevant research projects that we have with Japan through Hokkaido University and JICA will continue to increase. We have received researchers in various areas of knowledge and we are very happy to strengthen the ties we maintain with the country of the rising sun,” said Dr. Rojas.

Regarding her visit to the university and the carrying out of this activity that seeks to strengthen ties between Chile and Japan, the Ambassador of Japan in Chile, Ito Takako, indicated that “when I arrived at the University of La Serena I could feel the affection and the connection that students and officials have with our Japanese culture, and that makes us very happy. We also had the opportunity to share with the Rector and the Dean of Engineering, which allowed us to start a conversation entirely in Japanese, since they studied in Japan and were able to learn from our country. Japan is on the other side of the planet and, however, in La Serena, there are many people who enjoy Japanese culture, and during the week they will be able to learn even more about different activities. "We want to continue increasing the level of relationship we have with the ULS and Chile."

Finally, the Director of Liaison with the Environment and Extension, Mg. Carlos Varas highlighted the importance of continuing to carry out this important cultural activity. “We have had the possibility of maintaining this tradition of more than 15 years, where what we want is to convey to the regional and national community the importance of Japan and its culture and how we can take advantage of working together,” highlighted the Director.

The cultural days of Japan “Japan ULS” correspond to an activity that the University has carried out over 15 years and seeks to bring Japanese culture closer to the regional community through various activities such as workshops, contests and artistic activities specific to the culture. Japanese.

To learn about the activities carried out in this version of “Japan ULS”, enter here

Protocol greeting

The Ambassador of Japan in Chile, ITO Takako, who visited the state university within the framework of the beginning of the Japanese Cultural Days, also delivered a protocol greeting to the Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas.

On the occasion, both authorities expressed their willingness to continue strengthening ties and carrying out this type of joint activities in which Japanese culture is made known in our Coquimbo Region.

Also present at the meeting were the husband of Ambassador ITO Takako and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and former Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, who in 2019 received the distinction of the Order of the Rising Sun, Golden Rays with Hanging Ribbon, conferred to those who promote Japanese identity.