2025/4/30

On Wednesday, April 9, a ceremony was held to present a scholarship certificate and scholarship list for the 13th Kyoto-Mexico Friendship Program to Hiroki Jan Dias Kobayashi. Kunio Nanbu, Representative Director of NBL Co., Ltd. and Executive Committee Chairperson for the Friendship Program, presented the scholarship certificate, and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Governors Tetsushi Horikawa presented the scholarship list.

The Kyoto-Mexico Friendship Program is a human resources cultivation program in which KUFS invites to Kyoto descendants of Japanese immigrants in Mexico, who train to serve as liaisons between Japan and Mexico. KUFS provides support for students who enroll at the University's Japanese Studies Center for International Students for one year.

Mr. Kobayashi, a bit nervous behind the podium, expressed his feelings in Japanese: "I am proud to be honored this year, which marks the 45th anniversary of the sister city partnership between Kyoto and Guadalajara. Thank you very much for this opportunity."

Mr. Nanbu provided some reassuring words of encouragement, stating, "We hope you will enjoy yourself each and every day as you achieve personal growth as someone with roots in both Mexico and Japan."

Mr. Horikawa also delivered a few words, saying, "Just as with the exchanges involving cherry blossoms and jacaranda between Japan and Mexico, I wish you all the best of luck here in Japan."
 

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