Apr 17 2020

Four thousand facemasks arrived at Niigata University on April 7 with a message: "We hope that these masks will be of some help to the teachers and students of Niigata University." The masks were from 29 students and graduates of Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai who used to be enrolled as exchange students at Niigata University. A poem by Wang Changling was affixed to the package:

Although we live apart, the road that leads to a mountain covered with green trees that we are heading for is just one. So are the clouds in front of us and the rain that we share. Has there ever been a moment that a bright moon existed respectively in each other's place? The bright moon we see is always the same whatever circumstances we are in.?(Translated by Associate Professor Satoshi Kakutani, Faculty of Education)

The poem conveys their warm encouragement to us; "Let us overcome this hardship together."

Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai and Faculty of Education, Niigata University signed an exchange agreement in 2003. Since then, both of our schools have exchanged many of our students and deepened our partnership. Our multi-faceted international exchange programs have continued, involving many faculty members and students from both schools, including our annual visit to China.

Faculty members and Professor Mamoru Miyazono of the Professional School of Teacher Education, the exchange hub, visited the President's Office for the presentation ceremony and explained the background of the exchange. President USHIKI Tatsuo said, "We are very grateful for the support when we are facing a severe mask shortage. We will use them for our students."