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Japan consul general to describe Michigan-Japan connections |
Japan consul general to speak on benefits of
learning Japanese in Michigan Kuninori Matsuda, consul general of the Japanese consulate in Detroit, will visit Western Michigan University Tuesday, Nov. 27 to present a talk, “The Importance of Studying Japanese in Michigan.”
The presentation is set for 4 p.m. in Room 3025 of Brown Hall Room. Sponsored by the Michitoshi Soga Japan Center, the event is free and open to the public.
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The Soga Center planned Matsuda’s visit as a special event marking the launch of WMU’s new Japanese major in fall 2012. Matsuda, who has served as consul general since 2010, will speak about important economic and cultural ties between Michigan and Japan and how the study of Japanese can help students benefit from and contribute to expansion of these ties.
Japan is the third largest international contributor to the Michigan economy, and currently has the third largest economy in the world overall. There are 484 businesses in Michigan that are wholly or partially Japanese owned, and there are more than 17,000 Japanese inhabitants in Michigan and Ohio combined.
After graduating from Tokyo University in 1982, Matsuda joined Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he has held positions in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the Defense Policy Division at the Ministry of Defense, and the Division of General Management of the Foreign Minister’s office. He served as deputy director of the Russian Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as first secretary to the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. He has held several positions with the Embassy of Japan including his previous position of minister at the Embassy of Japan in Israel.
For more information contact Dr. Jeffrey Angles, director of the Soga Japan Center, at jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu |
