On February 3, 2017, President Sawa welcomed delegates from the Korean National University of the Arts (K-Arts), headed by its president, Dr. KIM Bong Ryol. The delegates were accompanied by two Korean parliament members, Ms. KIM Hyun Mee and Ms. YOO Eun Hae, who were looking to find good practices of campus planning. Through translations provided by the Vice Presidents of K-Arts, Mr. MIN Kyung Chan and Mr. KIM Kyoung Kyun, who received their master’s degree from Tokyo University of the Arts and Tama Art University, respectively, as well as TUA’s Prof. Uemura of the musicology department, Korean guests and TUA members engaged in a lively discussion on cultural exchanges among Korea, Japan, and China, as well as campus development, in a friendly atmosphere created by the two universities that had been partnered for years.

After the introductions by the two p residents, Prof. Okamoto of the Graduate School of Film and New Media, who also serves as Executive Assistant to the President, delivered a presentation on international collaboration in the field of animation among Korean, Japanese, and Chinese universities. In her presentation, she talked about the Japan-China-Korea Student Animation Festival, which is an annual event originally started by K-Arts and TUA in 2010, as well as the “co-work” program that aims to build upon the collaborations from the past animation festivals, where partner universities in the three countries work together as part of their curricula.

Noting that the next three winter and summer Olympics will be held in the Asian cities of Pyeongchang, Tokyo, and Beijing, in 2018, 2020, and 2022, respectively, K-Arts proposed to take advantage of these occasions to promote further collaborations among the three countries through cultural Olympics events such as exhibition tours and joint concerts.

When asked about advantages and disadvantages of having separate campus buildings, President Sawa responded by saying that it is good that each campus has established a cooperative relationship with its local community, while the distance from the Ueno main campus could cause frustration for some faculty members and students, especially those in the Film and New Media program in Yokohama, who often work with students of Musical Creativity and the Environment in Senju to produce soundtrack.

To conclude the discussion, the parliament members, Ms. Kim and Ms. Yoo pointed out that while there may be political issues faced by our countries, it is a good thing that young students are overcoming such challenges through cultural interactions, which can promote peace in Asia, and that it is important that Korea, Japan, and China are linked up for sustainable relationships in the form of cultural exchanges such as culture Olympics. On a final note, they added encouragingly that they are willing to back up such intercultural activities among the three countries as members of the parliament.

Through this meeting, the two universities renewed their mutual friendship and their commitment as art universities to playing a leading role in promoting cultural exchanges between Korea and Japan, as well as with China.

Following the meeting with President Sawa, the representatives from Korea departed for Yokohama, where they were going to meet with Prof. Kiriyama, Dean of the Graduate School of Film and New Media and tour its campus.