October 16, 2023
My visit as a Miura visiting professor to Chubu University at Kasugai, Japan, in 2002, was indeed an unforgettable memory. Unfortunately, when I visited, Dr. Yamada was not alive, and Dr. Ishihara was the president. Nevertheless the “red carpet welcome” is still in my memories. The whole team of professors, especially professor Miyazima and Ms. Yuko Yamada, took care of me. They received me at the Nagoya airport, and took me to the beautiful, fully furnished apartment situated at Kasugai city, gave me directions on driving to the University. They made sure that I was comfortable in every respect.
I gave three public lectures and mingled with the students by visiting the classes, interacted with faculty and visited many women organizations where I learnt about the role of women in Japanese families. The outcome was a few joint publications on “women in Leadership roles”. I never felt that I was alone in a foreign country.
In one of the photos that we attached, both I and my husband are wearing Japanese outfits which was a gift by the Yamada family at a tea ceremony at Dr. Yamada’s house. In exchange, we gave an Indian silk saree to Yuko that she is wearing. We are still in contact with some of the Chubu University faculty-especially Ms. Yuko.
In conclusion, my memories of Chubu will stay with me until I live.