Delegation from Japan visits UH Hilo, exchange agreement signed with Eikei University of Hiroshima

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Visiting UH Hilo were Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki and four others representing Hiroshima Prefecture, President Mutsuhiro Arinobu from Eikei University of Hiroshima, and the university’s Director of International Affairs Yuko Uesugi.

A large group of people pose in the lobby of ʻImiloa near floor mosaic. Dignitaries are at the center front of the group on either side of the Chancellor.
A delegation from Japan, including Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki from Hiroshima Prefecture (center front in red), President Mutsuhiro Arinobu from Eikei University of Hiroshima (left front in blue holding backpack), and Eikei University’s Director of International Affairs Yuko Uesugi (front right in floral dress) visited UH Hilo on Oct. 14, 2022. Above, members of the delegation, along with UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin (front center), other UH Hilo administrators, and a group from Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language who performed oli and welcoming protocols, stand in the lobby of ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. (Photo: Tom Callis/ʻImiloa/UH Hilo)

By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin welcomed a delegation from Japan to campus Oct. 14. The group included Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki and four others representing Hiroshima Prefecture. Also in the delegation was President Mutsuhiro Arinobu from Eikei University of Hiroshima and the university’s Director of International Affairs Yuko Uesugi.

The visit to UH Hilo was part of the group’s week-long visit to Hawaiʻi to celebrate 25 years of a sister state relationship between Hawaiʻi and Hiroshima Prefecture. During the visit, university members of the delegation, along with UH Hilo administrators, signed an exchange agreement between UH Hilo and Eikei University of Hiroshima.

“Hawaiʻi and Japan have so much in common as island cultures, and I look forward to building upon the sister-city relationship between Hilo and Hiroshima through a partnership with Eikei University,” says Chancellor Irwin.

“We are excited to forge this new partnership with Eikei University, and I look forward to working with the campus to encourage more of our students to study abroad,” she adds.

This visit to campus was the last part of the Japan delegation’s week-long visit to Hawaiʻi. Before coming to Hawaiʻi Island, they were on Oʻahu and attended a reception at Washington Place hosted by Governor David Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige.

While in Hilo, the entire delegation and UH Hilo officials together visited ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. The governor’s delegation then headed out to tour Maunakea, and the university delegation took a tour of the main UH Hilo campus and attended a follow up meeting with Chancellor Irwin.

Story by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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