Basque Studies in Tokyo from Spring onwards!

Following the agreement signed yesterday by the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and the Etxepare Basque Institute, this Japanese university will offer Basque language, culture, society and history lessons, beginning next Spring. It will therefore become the first Japanese university to offer a readership in Basque Studies.

The Rector of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tateishi Hiroku, travelled to Bilbao in order to sign the agreement, accompanied by the Professor of Hispanic Studies Junko Kume. Mari Jose Olaziregi, Director for Promotion and Dissemination of the Basque Language at the Etxepare Basque Institute, represented that institution. The document was signed at the Bizkaia Aretoa hall in the University of the Basque Country, where they were greeted by the Rector of the university himself, Iñaki Goirizelaia.

Through the agreement, the University is committed to introduce the Basque Studies in the School of International and Area Studies and the School of Language and Culture Studies. The studies will be included in graduate and graduate programs and will provide the same number of credits to courses of similar duration and level. The university will also carry out promotion and research activities related to these studies, such as seminars, talks, conferences, symposia, etc..

The mission of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is to conductresearch and instruction, both theoretical and practical, on the world´s languages and the cultures rooted in them, to provide the cultural refinement necessary to engage in international activities, and to deepen the understanding of the world through the study of their languages. The university teaches about 50 languages and researchs on many others.

Thanks to the international network of  readerships, the Basque Institute Etxepare allows international students to attended Basque language and culture classes at universities around the world; with this purpose, the Institute concludes agreements with these universities. During the 2014-2015 year the network will be composed of 27 readers, that will teach at 34 universities in 17 countries.

Following the agreement signed yesterday by the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and the Etxepare Basque Institute, this Japanese university will offer Basque language, culture, society and history lessons, beginning next Spring. It will therefore become the first Japanese university to offer a readership in Basque Studies.

The Rector of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tateishi Hiroku, travelled to Bilbao in order to sign the agreement, accompanied by the Professor of Hispanic Studies Junko Kume. Mari Jose Olaziregi, Director for Promotion and Dissemination of the Basque Language at the Etxepare Basque Institute, represented that institution. The document was signed at the Bizkaia Aretoa hall in the University of the Basque Country, where they were greeted by the Rector of the university himself, Iñaki Goirizelaia.

Through the agreement, the University is committed to introduce the Basque Studies in the School of International and Area Studies and the School of Language and Culture Studies. The studies will be included in graduate and graduate programs and will provide the same number of credits to courses of similar duration and level. The university will also carry out promotion and research activities related to these studies, such as seminars, talks, conferences, symposia, etc..

The mission of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is to conductresearch and instruction, both theoretical and practical, on the world´s languages and the cultures rooted in them, to provide the cultural refinement necessary to engage in international activities, and to deepen the understanding of the world through the study of their languages. The university teaches about 50 languages and researchs on many others.

Thanks to the international network of  readerships, the Basque Institute Etxepare allows international students to attended Basque language and culture classes at universities around the world; with this purpose, the Institute concludes agreements with these universities. During the 2014-2015 year the network will be composed of 27 readers, that will teach at 34 universities in 17 countries.

Photo 1: Mari Jose Olaziregi, Hirotaka Tateishi and Junko Kume
Photo 2: Hirotaka Tateishi and Iñaki Goirizelaia