Dean of Osaka University's School of Foreign Languages visits Nanophoton
Keiko Takemura, Dean of Osaka University’s Department of Foreign Languages visited Nanophoton.


Keiko Takemura, Dean of Osaka University’s School of Foreign Languages, visited Nanophoton’s Osaka office, located a five-minute walk from Osaka University’s Minoh Campus in the Semba East district of Minoh. This was the first time that Dean Takemura, who is the first female dean of a faculty and is active in Osaka University, including the relocation of the campus to Semba, and Chairman Kawata, who is the CEO of a start-up company originating from Osaka University, also located in Semba, had the opportunity to interact. The exchange between Dean Takemura, who is in the humanities and in the Faculty of Foreign Languages, and Professor Emeritus Kawata, who is in the sciences and in the Faculty of Engineering, was very interesting. (Newsletter editor / Ryo Harada)

Chairman Kawata and Dean Takemura. She loved the Nanopoton eco-bag.

Two people active in Semba meet for the first time.

Nanophoton is pleased to have the pleasure of welcoming Keiko Takemura, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Osaka University, to our Osaka Showroom.
Dean Takemura specializes in Swahili languages, literature, and culture, and as the first female dean of the School of Foreign Languages, the largest of Osaka University’s liberal arts departments, she has been active in many areas, including the relocation of the campus to the Semba area and deepening exchange between Osaka University and the community.
(Furthermore, Osaka University is the only national university in Japan to have a foreign language department, making it one of the university’s major strengths.)

Dean Takemura’s desire is to build good relationships with nearby businesses and residents, and this time she came to Nanophoton, a local company and startup originating from Osaka University. The Minoh Campus is the core of Osaka University as a place that embodies the university’s vision of “Live Locally, Grow Globally”, and Dean Takemura, as the very head of the Minoh Campus, visits various places as if she were a  saleswoman.

While having lunch together, Chairman Kawata explained about Nanophoton to Dean Takemura.

In fact, Nanophoton has students from Osaka University’s School of Foreign Languages coming to work part-time, there are exchanges between Chairman Kawata and professors from the School of Foreign Languages, and the relationship is connected in many other ways.

Osaka University’s Faculty of Foreign Languages was originally founded in Uehonmachi 8-chome as the government-run Osaka School of Foreign Languages, which evolved into the Osaka College of Foreign Affairs and then into the National Osaka University of Foreign Languages. Then, in 1979, it was relocated from Osaka City to Aomadani, Minoh City to expand its organization, and in October 2007, it was merged with Osaka University and founded.
(In 2021, Osaka University celebrates its 90th anniversary and Osaka University of Foreign Studies its 100th anniversary, which means that Osaka University of Foreign Studies is 10 years older in history.)

The topic of Ryotaro Shiba, a writer who graduated from Osaka University of Foreign Studies with such a long history, was a lively one, and the discussion covered a wide range of topics, including the characteristics of students in each language, language skills, and employment opportunities.

There was also a discussion about the fact that the ratio of applicants for the Indonesian major in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Osaka University was 1.0 times, which was a major topic of conversation during the first half of the second round of public university examinations last year, and that this would no longer happen in the future as the student capacity will be changed in the future. Also, since this year’s presidential election at Osaka University was to be held, there was a discussion on the nomination and selection process for president and chancellor at universities and research institutes, with a variety of opinions flying around. (I will not reveal the details here…!).

It was also very interesting to hear about the languages and cultures of various countries, something that only two people with long overseas experience can talk about.

After lunch together, and after a break in the conversation, Chairman Kawata took Dean Takemura on a tour of Nanophoton’s showroom and offices.

Dean Takemura receives explanation of Nanophoton’s products from Chairman Kawata
Nanophoton’s free office. Chairman Kawata explains, “It’s like Starbucks, isn’t it?”

In fact, Chairman Kawata and other Nanophoton employees often go to the Minoh Campus for lunch, and we were excited to learn that there are “all-gender toilets” on the Minoh Campus.
Based on the “Osaka University Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Promotion Declaration,” Osaka University has established gender-neutral “all-gender toilets” as part of its efforts to create an environment where diversity is truly accepted and respected. (When I actually went there, I was surprised at how private and stylish it was. If you are interested, please visit the toilets on the third floor of the Foreign Studies Research and Lecture Building and other locations.)
Dean Takemura’s specialty is not only Swahili language, literature, and culture, but also gender issues, so she also has a passion for all-gender toilets.

One of the strengths of Nanophoton’s location near Osaka University’s Minoh Campus is that the university’s knowledge, academic information, and human resources are nearby. “I would like Osaka University students to come to Nanophoton where they can put their knowledge to use. The hourly wage is better than a regular part-time job, and they can acquire a variety of knowledge.” He said, and at the end of the session, Chairman Kawata firmly asked Dean Takemura for her cooperation in recruiting.

Dean Takemura also said, “We need to solve the garbage problem in developing countries, and I would like to ask for the help of everyone in the engineering department. “

Chairman Kawata responded, “Please take environmental and energy engineering students there. To solve problems, it is not enough to divide them into science and humanities; we must transcend the boundaries between the different faculties.”

In fact, as CTO Watanabe, who is also a specially-appointed professor at Osaka University, mentioned in a previous newsletter, Osaka University is said to be facing a problem of not being able to match the needs and seeds of each faculty. Once again, listening to their dialogue, I felt that it is necessary to transcend the boundaries between faculties and work together to tackle social issues.

Thank you, Dean Takemura.
Nanophoton will continue to deepen its collaboration with Osaka University.

(Translated by DeepL)