On May 31, the Ambassadors of Angola and Mozambique visited the School of Foreign Studies at Osaka University, Japan, as part of an event to commemorate the “50th Anniversary of the Independence of Portuguese-Speaking African Countries.” The two ambassadors were received by the Dean of the faculty, Professor Sayo Tsutsui. Angola’s Ambassador to Japan, Teodolinda Coelho, emphasized the importance of accelerating university exchanges between the two countries to stimulate interest in and motivation to learn about African nations. In turn, Mozambique’s Ambassador-Designate to the Land of the Rising Sun, Alberto Paulo, invited students from the university’s Portuguese language program to the National Day ceremony at EXPO2025, which is being held in Osaka until October 13. Dean Tsutsui, as a researcher of Japanese language education worldwide, asked the two diplomats about their interest in the multi- and plurilingualism of these two African countries. After an hour-long reception, the two ambassadors participated in the event and delivered lectures to students and the general public.
Japanese University Holds Event to Commemorate 50th Anniversary of PALOPs’ Independence
On May 31, Osaka University in Japan organized an event titled “50th Anniversary of the Independence of Portuguese-Speaking African Countries.” Three diplomats were invited to give keynote speeches at this event: Angola’s Ambassador to Japan, Teodolinda Coelho; Mozambique’s Ambassador-Designate, Alberto Paulo; and former Honorary Consul, Kentaro Takano.
Also invited were three Japanese university professors whose research focuses on the Portuguese language. Professor Atsushi Ichinose from Sophia University (Tokyo), Professor Kei Aoki from Kansai University (Osaka), and Professor Hideyuki Kurita from Ehime University presented on their encounters with their target countries and their research topics, which are the Kriol language of Guinea-Bissau, the “morna” music of Cape Verde, and economic and agricultural cooperation in northern Mozambique, respectively.
Between the lectures by the diplomats and academics, students from the Portuguese Language Program at Osaka University’s School of Foreign Studies presented general information about the five countries to the public in both Japanese and Portuguese. Additionally, YéréYa Africandance Company, an African music and dance group, gave a vibrant performance that had the audience dancing along.
According to Shintaro Torigoe, an Associate Professor in the Portuguese Language Program and the event organizer, the objective is to “provide more general information and stimulate the interest of Japanese students and the public in these five countries.” He emphasized, “Japan and the African continent are physically and psychologically distant, and many Japanese only know Africa through uncertain and stereotypical information available on television. Furthermore, many are unaware of the existence of African countries whose official language is Portuguese. In this country [Japan], the Portuguese language is known as the ‘language of Brazil,’ and even students in Portuguese language courses at nine universities in Japan may not have the opportunity to study or even know the names of these countries. Therefore, I hope this event can cultivate more interest in African countries in Japan and help strengthen friendly ties with the five countries.”
*Unofficial translation
