Reception on May 15th - Inauguration of Dr. Seiko Oyama as our new Executive Director

As of April 1st, this year, Dr. Seiko Oyama of Tokai University’s School of Global Studies was appointed as the new Executive Director here at Tokai University European Center. Dr. Oyama succeeded Dr. Manami Hori, our former Executive Director for three years. On May 15th we had the great honor of hosting a reception, officially inaugurating her as our new Executive Director.

We received Dr. Seiko Oyama at our Center for this event, together with the rest of a delegation from Japan including Prof. Kajii, Mr. Nakazawa and Mr. Haraguchi. Around 50 guests joined the reception, which consisted of important and esteemed friends within our network.

For the reception, our Director Jakob Skyt Jensen took the role of MC. We had five speakers lined up to say a few words about the inauguration. The first speaker, Prof. Ryutaro Kajii, Assistant Chancellor of Tokai University, held the first speech in Japanese, whilst our Director Jakob translated it for our guests. The second speaker was H.E. Ambassador Hideki Uyama from the Embassy of Japan in Denmark. The third speaker was Mr. Bertel Haarder, former member of the Danish Parliament and Minister. The fourth speaker was our new Executive Director herself, Dr. Seiko Oyama. The fifth speaker of the evening was Dr. Sam Kondo Steffensen, Chairman of Tokai University’s Alumni Association here in Denmark. All five speeches were very thoughtful, inspiring and moving. After the formal part of the program our guests were able to write messages in our guest book, talk and connect with each other, and enjoy a buffet of sushi and drinks, as well as coffee and chocolate for dessert.

We would like to thank Dr. Oyama and the delegation from Japan, as well as our special guest speakers, and all our dear guests, for making this such a wonderful reception. We hope that this marks a new chapter of even more cultural and academic exchange between Japan and Denmark, to strengthen our bond of friendship and collaboration.