Aki Tanaka, Reflections
Learning Diplomacy Under the Cherry Trees
Every spring, wherever I am in any corner of the world, I recall the beauty and serenity of the two hundred plus Cherry trees that are lined up along the Hocking River at Ohio University, my alma mater. I was privileged to have spent more than a decade on the gorgeous campus, pursuing my undergraduate to doctorate degrees. The Cherry trees had been donated by Chubu University in 1979 as a proof of the bond between Japanese and American universities. This well-respected partnership has always formed a sense of pride and grounding in my heart. Although I had no prior association with Chubu University like many other Japanese students or faculty, I was equally a representative of Japan on the campus of Ohio University, and I was fortunate to have experienced the glory of the partnership to the fullest. Fifty years of joint efforts between the two universities have influenced me and my education immensely, and thus I wish to express my most enthusiastic congratulations on the celebratory anniversary. I convey my sincere appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the realization of such an incredible friendship.
In addition to the breathtakingly beautiful Cherry blossoms along the bike path, traces of the partnership were everywhere on campus. I was educated by many of the faculty members who were in one way or the other involved in the partnership and I believe that the excellent qualities of the education I was provided at Ohio University stem from a fusion of ethics and educational philosophies from two institutions that have a profound appreciation for collaborative international education.
During my internship at the Center for International Studies at Ohio University in 2011, I was assigned to research and record the history of this partnership. I learned of the different levels of projects that have occurred since 1973, when the presidents of the two universities signed a partnership agreement. The exchange of librarians and library materials between the two institutions started in the same year. Chubu University, which was previously called Chubu Institute of Technology, had initial concentrations predominantly in engineering. An interesting aspect of this partnership was that students from Chubu University received assistantships/scholarships to pursue studies in these fields at Ohio University. The partnership has touched the lives of many people and has inspired people from all walks of life not only within the partner institutions, but also in associated communities.
My past academic undertakings range from a Bachelor of Specialized Studies (B.S.S.) in Performing Arts, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in African Studies, through a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership with concentration in Comparative and International Leadership, all of which were pursued at Ohio University in view of the quest to understand the beauty and challenges of human interactions on a global level.
On my return to my home country Japan, after working as Head of Administration for a Montessori school in Blacksburg, Virginia, I took up an appointment as a Bilingual Secretary (Social Secretary and Translator) to the Ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Tokyo, Japan. I served as a cultural bridge between the Embassy and Japan. Being at the center of fostering Ghana-Japan bilateral relations, I had the honor of facilitating Ghana’s state visits to Japan and interpreting for high-powered Ghanaian government delegations and their Japanese counterparts, including the President of Ghana, the First Lady of Ghana, and ministers, during occasions such as: Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Enthronement Ceremony of His Majesty The Emperor of Japan, The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), to mention but a few.
Witnessing the successful partnership between Ohio University and Chubu University and experiencing the spirit and significance of the intercultural experiences made an enormous impact in my life and career. With delightful memories of Cherry Blossom “Sakura” Festivals at Ohio University, I wish to extend my congratulations once again on this occasion of the 50th anniversary of the OU-Chubu partnership! Blooming cherry blossoms that I have seen elsewhere, including those in Japan, always evoke in me fond memories of the ever-blooming OU-Chubu partnership.