2019/10/3

On Wednesday, September 18th, Professor Reiko Tateiwa (Department of Hispanic Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies) gave a lecture titled “‘Cultures that drink chocolate’ spread by the Spanish: from the Maya, Mexico City, Manila, to Valencia” at the Ashiya Civic Center in Hyogo prefecture. The lecture was held as part of the “Explore the World” course offered by Ashiyagawa College at the civic center and was attended by more people than the 50 seats provided.
Professor Tateiwa explained how nobilities of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations drank chocolate during ceremonies, and how the Spaniards spread them around Asia and Europe. Evidences have been found that Spanish high-ranking officials have made cups for drinking chocolate out of silver in Mexico, one of the top silver-producing country in the world, and have also ordered the Japanese to make ceramic cups. Many questions followed the lecture, as the audience included people in the chocolate and sweets industry.

During the summer break, Professor Tateiwa also gave a lecture on Tuesday, August 6th, about the capitol of Mexico, titled “Festivals as the city’s fortification: the conquest of Mexico and Sant’ Ippolito Festival” at University of Monterrey, located in the state of Nuevo León in northeastern Mexico. On Saturday, August 22nd, she also gave a lecture on the history behind a brooch made of blue diamond and pearls that has been handed down in the Spanish royal family, titled “Jewelries of the Spanish Empire” at Asociación Cultural Española, where Professor Tateiwa is an executive board member.

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