From October 30 to November 3, 2024, twenty-three students and faculty members from the School of Philosophy at Nanjing University visited Japan for a study tour "The Theory and Practice of Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations and Cultural Diversity." The study tour is co-organized by NJU School of Philosophy, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo.

During the tour, the team visited Komaba Campus and Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo, and joined a series of academic activities with the teachers and students of the University of Tokyo.

At Komaba Campus, students from two universities exchanged ideas on topics such as academic course structures, the integration of modern technology with traditional cultural arts, language education in China and Japan, and sports culture. In the course "NJU × UTokyo Philosophy Dialogue," Professor Kajitani Shinji from Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo gave a lecture titled "Philosophy as Dialogue: Practice of Philosophizing in a Diverse Society." He discussed the practical value of philosophical dialogue in a pluralistic society and the importance of bringing philosophy from academic circles into public life. Professor Hara Kazuyuki, Professor Kajitani Shinji, and Associate Professor Shao Jiade participated in the philosophical dialogue with students from both universities.

At Hongo Campus, Professor Watanabe Masao led the team to visit the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo. He introduced the institution's collection of historical documents about Japan and East Asia, and its exploration and practice of using science and technology to promote the development of humanities. The team also learnt about the application of digital technology in history research, and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in the digital age.

The team was led by Associate Professor Shao Jiade, Deputy dean of the School of Philosophy at Nanjing University. Through this activity, the team students gained a deeper understanding about the East Asian culture, and appreciated the charm of traditional Chinese culture from the perspective of cultural diversity.

Source: School of Philosophy