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

University of Hawai‘i 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 Hawai‘i to celebrate 25 years of a sister state relationship between Hawai‘i 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.
“Hawai‘i 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 Hawai‘i. Before coming to Hawai‘i Island, they were on O‘ahu 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 ‘Imiloa 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.
By Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories.