USC forges ties with Japan museum, university

A TEAM from the University of San Carlos has successfully completed a 14-day visit to Japan.

Led by Fr. Generoso Rebayla Jr., SVD, vice president for Finance, the team visited various ceramic museums, workshops, factories and ancient production centers in the towns and cities of Arita, Imari, Yoshida and Hasami on the island of Kyushu, southern Japan.

The team, composed of Fr. Rebayla, Cebuano Studies Center director Dr. Hope Yu, USC Kabilin Heritage Center coordinator Prof. Jojo Bersales and USC Museum curator Malou Samson later proceeded to Nagasaki and Hiroshima to view the two cities’ famous atomic bomb memorial museums and parks before going to Kyoto.

Bersales, who is on a Sumitomo Foundation grant to study Japanese ceramics found in Boljoon, had earlier established links with Dr. Takenori Nogami, Japanese tradeware ceramics expert based in Arita Folk and History Museum and Prof. Yoko Ozaki, director of the museum. Dr. Nogami played host to the team from Oct. 19 to 22.

An exhibit of Japanese ceramics will soon be carried out by USC Museum as a result of the visit.

Meanwhile in Hiroshima, the team conferred with Dr. Lawrence Liao, associate professor at Hiroshima University and former editor of The Philippine Scientist, to establish linkages between Hiroshima University and USC.

In Kyoto, Dr. Hope Yu had earlier established communications with Dr. Caroline Hau, associate professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) of Kyoto University. Dr. Hau arranged for a meeting with CSEAS director Dr. Hiromu Shimizo at his office at the Inamori Center to explore avenues for future linkages between the Center and USC.

In a subsequent meeting last Oct. 28, Dr. Shimizo, an anthropologist who has done extensive research on the Ifugao, affirmed the desire to forge ties with USC. Dr. Hau will soon prepare a memorandum of agreement to be presented to USC President Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD, for approval.

Also present during the meeting was Dr. Yoko Hayami, head of the CSEAS Publications Division. Dr. Hayami and Prof. Bersales, USC Press manager, discussed details on the possibilities of joint publishing as well as exchanges of currently published books and journals.