ENG
INA
Celebrating its 21st Anniversary, Japanese Literature of FIB Unud Holds a Public Lecture with the Japanese Consul General
The Bachelor of Japanese Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University (FIB Unud) held a public lecture entitled "Indonesia-Japan Friendship Relations: Past, Present, and Future" as part of the 21st-anniversary celebration of the Bachelor of Japanese Literature of FIB Unud on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Taking place at the Widya Sabha Mandala Auditorium, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra Building, 3rd Floor, FIB Unud, this event featured the Consul General of Japan in Denpasar, Miyakawa Katsutoshi, and was attended by the Rector, the Dean of FIB Unud, study program coordinators within FIB Unud, as well as lecturers and students of the Bachelor of Japanese Literature.
Commencing the series of events, Dr. Silvia Damayanti, S.S., M.Hum., as the Coordinator of the Bachelor of Japanese Literature, highlighted the program's development since its inception in 2005. She noted that the study program currently educates 342 students, has produced 719 alumni, and successfully increased the on-time graduation rate to 75 percent in 2026. Supported by 15 teaching staff and the achievement of FIBAA international accreditation, the Japanese Literature Program of Unud continues to expand its international collaborations, including through a student exchange program of 10 to 15 students to Japan annually and the execution of the JLPT exam twice a year.
In his opening remarks, Prof. I Nyoman Aryawibawa, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., as the Dean of FIB Unud, emphasized the strong Indonesia-Japan relations that have been established for 68 years. Furthermore, Prof. Aryawibawa also expressed his pride in the high academic mobility within the Bachelor of Japanese Literature of Unud, evidenced by various academic visits by lecturers and students to Japan, as well as the study program's achievement in becoming the destination for 40 MBKM (Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka) program students from outside Bali this year.
The Rector of Udayana University, Prof. Ir. I Ketut Sudarsana, S.T., Ph.D., emphasized the strategic role of the Bachelor of Japanese Literature at its 21st age as a bridge for cultural diplomacy between Indonesia and Japan. He revealed the close historical proximity between Unud and Japan, which is evident from the presence of approximately 45 Unud lecturers holding master's and doctoral degrees from Japan, as well as two Unud professors who have received prestigious awards from the Japanese government. Furthermore, the Rector asserted that education in Japanese Literature is not limited to studying grammar that can be obtained from regular courses, but also delving into Japanese cultural values that share many similarities with Balinese culture, so that its graduates are expected to become the succeeding generation of friendship between the two countries. The event was then followed by the presentation of a memento from the Rector of Udayana University to Miyakawa Katsutoshi as the Consul General of Japan in Denpasar.
In his public lecture, the Consul General of Japan in Denpasar, Miyakawa Katsutoshi, highlighted the strong roots of the friendship between Indonesia and Japan that have been built for a long time. The foundation of this partnership was partly strengthened by the "Fukuda Doctrine" in 1977, which affirmed Japan's commitment not to become a military power, but rather to build "heart-to-heart" relations and equal partnerships with ASEAN countries. Historically, the closeness of the two countries has been intertwined since the era of President Soekarno and continues to be manifested through various early economic development cooperation, such as the Tangga Asahan Dam project and the presence of Toyota Kijang vehicles.
Currently, this closeness has advanced to a higher level through the elevation of status to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," which was agreed upon during the summit meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in March 2026. Japan currently holds the position of the second-largest foreign direct investment (FDI) investor in Indonesia, with the presence of 1,700 Japanese companies operating and providing a massive economic impact, including labor absorption. Furthermore, today's bilateral collaboration also expands concretely to include infrastructure development such as MRT mass transit, energy transition through the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, and security and maritime defense cooperation within the framework of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.
Looking to the future, the synergy between Indonesia and Japan will rely heavily on human resource development collaboration to address the challenges of demographic transition, where Japan's aging society requires the support of young workers from Indonesia. This mutually beneficial cooperation opportunity is realized through various labor dispatch channels, such as the Technical Intern Training Program (Ginoujisshu), Specified Skilled Worker (SSW), the dispatch of nurses through the EPA, and the acceptance of highly skilled professional workers. Moreover, Japan is also committed to supporting the next generation of Indonesia through the MEXT educational scholarship program, youth exchange programs like JENESYS, as well as providing technical support for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program adapted from the long experience of the school lunch system (kyusyoku) in Japan.
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY