2025/11/17

On Thursday, November 13, Republic of Guatemala Minister-Counselor Billy Toshiko Lam Padilla from the Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in Japan visited Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) to deepen mutual understanding between Guatemala and Japan regarding culture and education, and to explore the possibility of future academic exchanges.

Mr. Lam made a courtesy visit to the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Guatemala in Kyoto, which is located at KUFS. He sat down for a friendly talk with Honorary Consul Takuya Morita, who also serves in the capacity of KUFS assistant chancellor. The minister-counselor discussed the Guatemala Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which concluded earlier this year, while expressing his hopes that awareness and knowledge regarding Guatemala would grow in Japan. The heritage of the Mayan civilization is one of the more famous aspects of Guatemala known around the world, and because archaeological research on the Mayans and Central and South America is ongoing at KUFS, as a representative of Guatemala’s embassy in Japan Mr. Lam expressed high hopes for wider-reaching academic and cultural exchanges moving forward.

Following these talks, Mr. Lam viewed the rare-books exhibition being held jointly by KUFS and the Kyoto Prefectural Library, which included a letter signed by Napoleon and various other rare documents and tomes from France. He expressed great interest in the wide array of cultural materials on display, and through the exhibition he was able to witness for himself the diverse range of cultural research being pursued at KUFS.

He also observed a class session for Department of Hispanic Studies Professor Takashi Ushihima’s “Reading in Spanish” course, during which students read out loud in smooth and naturally flowing Spanish. The students actively posed questions for the visiting dignitary, showing their passionate interest in increased intercultural understanding. Mr. Lam listened carefully to every one of the students’ questions and gave thoughtful responses, impressing students with his sincere interest.

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