Ambassador Suzuki's visit to the University of Oxford

From 28 February to 1 March, Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki visited the University of Oxford. During his stay, he attended an event organised by a major research institute and exchanged views with the presidents and other prominent people at three colleges and other institutions related to the University.

Attendance at seminar organised by Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies

Ambassador Suzuki attended a reception after a seminar on healthcare organised by the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies at the University of Oxford, where he delivered a speech. He declared how reassured he was by the various Japan-related events which had been held at Oxford over the past few years and expressed his hope for concrete and wide-ranging progress in UK-Japan collaboration and cooperation in the field of healthcare in the future.
 

Meeting with Presidents of Merton and Balliol Colleges

Next, Ambassador Suzuki visited Merton and Balliol Colleges, where he met Professor Jennifer Payne, Warden of Merton, and Dame Helen Ghosh, Master of Balliol, respectively. He voiced his expectation that Japanese Studies and academic exchange with Japan would continue to develop at these colleges, which are among the oldest in Oxford.
 

Meeting with Sir Tim Hitchens, former British Ambassador to Japan, President of Wolfson College

Ambassador Suzuki also visited Wolfson College, where he met Sir Tim Hitchens, former British Ambassador to Japan, to exchange views on the future of our bilateral relations as well as on the development of academic exchange between the College and Japan.
 

Tour of Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum

In addition, Ambassador Suzuki visited the Bodleian Library, where he was showed round the library collections, including Japan-related publications. He also visited the Ashmolean Museum, where he was briefed by Dr Claire Pollard on the museum's collections as well as on a special exhibition on the costumes of Tamasaburo Bando, a Japanese kabuki actor.
 

Visit to Vincent’s Club and attendance at ‘Oxbridge’ rugby match

Finally, Ambassador Suzuki visited Vincent’s Club with Mr Reg Clark, where he talked with people involved with the club, members of the OURFC and recipients of the Oxford Kobe Scholarship. He then visited Christ Church College before proceeding to the Iffley Road ground, where he watched a rugby match between Oxford’s Greyhounds and Cambridge’s LX Club and presented a trophy to the winners, the Greyhounds.