関西大学英語版

Graduation Ceremony for Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:43:27 +0900

On January 21, a graduation ceremony for the Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships（ELTF）was held at the Smile Hotel, Osaka Minami-Senri.

The Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships (ELTF) is part of the Australian Government's broader Endeavour Awards which provides opportunities for Japanese language teachers in Australia to improve their language and cultural skills through intensive short-term study programs.

Kansai University, which has been selected to conduct the program, hosted the fifty participants for three weeks while they took part in various programs including Japanese language and culture classes, visiting our elementary, junior and high schools, as well as practicing meditation.

At the graduation ceremony, each participant received a certificate of completion from Harushige Kusumi, President of Kansai University, and was congratulated by the Australian Consulate-General, Christopher Rees.

KU International Students Served Imamiya Ebisu Shrine as Fukumusume for Toka Ebisu

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:20:26 +0900

From January 9 to 11, five international students from Kansai University served as "fukumusume" (lucky maiden) for Toka Ebisu, an annual festival at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka, the home of the god for business prosperity. During the three-day festival, lucky maidens were dressed up in "chihaya" (shrine maiden's robe), a green kimono and "eboshi" (ancient ceremonial headwear). Putting "koban" (oval-shaped coin formerly used in Japan) or "ema" (votive tablet) on the "fukusasa" (lucky dwarf bamboo) that visitors bought, the lucky maidens prayed for luck and business prosperity for the visitors.

Fifth Lecture on Internationalization of Education

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:47:08 +0900

On December 9, the fifth lecture on the internationalization of education was held on Senriyama Campus, to which Mr. Satoshi Nakagawa, (Director, Education Solution Group, Public Sector, Microsoft Japan), was invited. The theme of his lecture was "A KU alumnus discusses the importance of career development and international business communication through his work experience at Microsoft."

Speaking to an attentive audience, he shared with them his experiences after graduating from Kansai University, and talked about the communication skills that are required for successful international business transactions.

Satoko Miyahara Won Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:05:33 +0900

Satoko Miyahara, a second year student of Kansai University Junior High School who is a member of Kansai University Ice Skating Club, won the overall Championship with a total score of 172.17 points after winning both SP and free skating at the Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships which was held in Aomori, Japan on November 26-27.

On December 6, Satoko, accompanied by Shunji Yonezu, Principal of Kansai University Junior High School, and Mie Hamada, figure skating coach, reported her first victory to Harushige Kusumi, President of Kansai University, and Yoin Uehara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. She was congratulated by President Kusumi and Chairman Uehara.

Satoko Miyahara performed at the 4th "Koori no Koshien" in July 2011.

Third International Education Special Lecture for 2011

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:13:02 +0900

The third International Education Special Lecture for 2011 was held on Wednesday, November 2. This time, we invited Mr. Alex Ramirez, a famous professional baseball player from the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. The venue for the lecture accommodates up to 540 people, but due to the fact that Mr. Ramirez is one of the most popular baseball players in Japan, the hall proved to be far too small. The theme of his lecture was 'The Way to Survive and Succeed in Cross-Cultural Environment.' His precious advice to Kansai students who aspire to succeed globally was "continue to make efforts, never forget to show respect for people around you, and keep your head high and picture yourself succeeding even during a slump."

Foliage Turning Red at Senriyama Campus

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:02:56 +0900

The leaves are turning red at Senriyama Campus. Please come by the Campus filled with fall colors.

KU Business Plan Competition KUBIC 2011

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:24:27 +0900

On October 1, the final round of the Sixth KUBIC 2011, Kansai University Business Plan Competition, was held on Senriyama Campus. Nine groups, four in the high school category and the others in the university category, selected from 986 applications gave an enthusiastic presentation.

In the high school category, "Lively Agri-Home," the plan of Mr. Yuki Kawaguchi, a third-year high school student from Konan Boys' High School, won first place; while "LIVE・FARM - Visible! Eat! Japan Vegetables!" of Team prof Kawakami the second-year seminar Farm from the Faculty of Commerce, Kansai University won the university category.

KUBIC Website(Japanese Only)

Kansai University and Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Press Launch

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:01:48 +0900

On September 21, Kansai University and Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. announced the development of a sensor device using high-transparency organic piezoelectric film at a press conference on Senriyama Campus.

Professor Yoshiro Tajitsu, Faculty of Engineering Science, explained the mechanism of occurrence of piezoelectric phenomenon in the high-transparency organic piezoelectric film, and described its development method, following an explanation of the sensor device by Mr. Masamichi Ando, chief researcher at Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

The device will be exhibited at the CEATEC JAPAN 2011, cutting-edge IT & Electronics comprehensive exhibition, held in Makuhari Messe, Chiba, from October 4 to 8.

Kansai University Press Release(Japanese Only)

For details, please see Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Website.

Professor Yoshiro Tajitsu, Faculty of Engineering Science

Entrance Ceremony for Fall Semester 2011

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:45:09 +0900

On September 16, the entrance ceremony for the Fall Semester 2011 was held on Senriyama Campus. Beginning their study at Kansai University are four in the Faculty of Informatics, three in the Graduate School of Letters, two in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, and six in the Graduate School of East Asian Cultures, including international and returned students.

Nagisa Sakurauchi Reported 26th Summer Universiade Win

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:20:47 +0900

Nagisa Sakurauchi, Faculty of Policy Studies, a Kansai University Soccer Club member who participated in the 26th Summer Universiade as a Japanese national team member, reported their victory to Harushige Kusumi, President of Kansai University, and Yoin Uehara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

President Kusumi extended his congratulations to Nagisa, "It was really great that you could participate in a world-level competition," he said. "We hope this experience will motivate you to continue playing an active role in this sport."

Nagisa has informally agreed to join Jubilo Iwata in the 2012 season.

*Photo courtesy of Reiko Iijima

Fourth KU "Koori no Koshien"

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:48:02 +0900

From July 9-10, the 4th "Koori no Koshien," a performance by junior figure skaters, along with an exhibition by our top figure skaters, was held in the Ice Arena on Takatsuki Campus.

At the junior skaters' performance, approximately 80 students, ranging from elementary through high school, exhibited the fruits of their daily practice, and the higher-ranking students were then awarded a certificate of commendation and a medal.

This year, the special awards were also given by Nobuo Sato, our alumnus as well as a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Furthermore, Nobunari Oda (Graduate School of Letters) appeared as a surprise guest. He praised the skaters and said that he was impressed that everyone has a high level of skating technique.

In the exhibition, Tatsuki Machida (Faculty of Letters) unveiled his new SP, which was just completed the previous day, while Yamato Tamura, a　professional figure skater and also a coach at the Kansai University Ice Skating Club, gave an excellent performance. The audience of five hundred enthusiastically cheered the "Koori no Koshien."

Tatsuki Machida gave a great performance at the exhibition.

Chizuko Higashino, KU Dai-Ichi Junior High School Teacher, Set for Polar Research Expedition

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:05:11 +0900

Chizuko Higashino, Kansai University Dai-ichi junior high school teacher, was selected to accompany the summer party of the 53rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, which will leave Japan this November, by the National Institute of Polar Research on June 16.

Ms. Higashino will be dispatched from the end of November 2011 until the middle of March 2012. During this period, she will give lectures on the Antarctic Pole via a satellite TV system from Showa Station.

"Through the reports based on my observations," she said, "I would like to show the current situation and possible future of the global environment. Also, I would like to give lectures which will raise people's interest in the Antarctic Pole by reporting on daily life and days with 24 hours of sunlight, which is difficult to imagine in Japan."

*Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Polar Research.

Chizuko Higashino, Kansai University Dai-Ichi Junior High School Teacher.

Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) Workshop by KU Bridge

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:51:21 +0900

KU Bridge, one of the Kansai University peer community groups, provides international students with opportunities to mingle with Japanese students. They organized a Japanese calligraphy workshop on May 26 to introduce international students to Japanese culture and Kanji (Chinese characters).

Members of the Japanese calligraphy club came as special instructors, and taught students from China and America about how to hold the brush and how to write Kanji. While they were talking about how difficult it was their work was actually pretty good. Some of them were so good that we wondered if it was really their first try.

After some practice, it was time to make their own Uchiwa (Japanese fan). Some international students chose to write their favorite Waka (Japanese poem), while some Japanese students wrote Chinese poem they learned from the students from China.

Japanese Culture Observation Tour

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:57:27 +0900

On May 8, a Japanese culture observation tour was held for the international students in Kansai University, with the aim of understanding Japanese society, economy and culture. In the morning, the students gathered in front of the University Library and boarded two buses for the tour.

First, the students visited Enryakuji Temple and observed its spacious premises. Enryakuji Temple, the head temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism which occupies a huge site in Hieizan, Kyoto, was registered on the World Heritage List in 1994. Blessed with the good weather, the students strolled amidst the solemn atmosphere of the temple.

At lunch, the students ate vegetarian food, which has been passed down by Buddhist monks since the Nara Period. Everybody could use chopsticks well. After that, they practiced meditation. The students quietly contemplated their existence.

After visiting the temple, the students went to Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and observed the collection of traditional brewing tools. Everyone was curious about the brewing process and the history of Japanese Sake. In the evening, they arrived back at the University. Everything went off without a hitch.

2011 Sakai City Marathon

Fri, 20 May 2011 15:20:02 +0900

On April 29, the 2011 Sakai City Marathon, in which Kansai University cooperated, was held in Daisen Park, Sakai city. Approximately 6700 citizen runners participated in the four races ranging from a 2.5-kilometer to a 10-kilometer course.
Mr. Harushige Kusumi, the President of Kansai University, entered the 2.5 -kilometer family marathon and completed the race.
A number of students from the Faculty of Health and Well-being also participated as volunteers to support the event.

2011 Sakai City Marathon's Website (Japanese Only)