The Research Centre for Comparative Japanese Studies celebrated its grand opening on 23 October 2014.

Affiliated with the Department of Japanese Studies, the Centre is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. The Centre will provide a channel of communication between scholars in Japanese studies at top research universities in the region and will promote inter-disciplinary and comparative studies of Japan.

Officiating guests included Prof. Fanny Cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, CUHK; Mr. Hitoshi Noda, Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong; Mr. Kiyotaka Ando, Chairman, Nissin Foods (China) Holding Co. Ltd.; Mr. Mike T. Mizoguchi, Chairman, MRT (HK) Co. Ltd.; Prof. Leung Yuen Sang, Dean, Faculty of Arts, CUHK and Prof. Takanori Kitamura, Hong Kong Institute of Asia Pacific Studies and the Department of Japanese Studies, CUHK.

Professor Andrew Gordon from Harvard University presented the inaugural lecture titled, ‘Making Sense of Japan’s History of Lost Decades’ after the opening ceremony.

Prof. Fanny Cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong gave a welcome speech

Ribbon-cutting ceremony by officiating guests

(from left to right:) Prof. Lynne Nakano, Prof. Benjamin Ng, Prof. Takanori Kitamura, Mr. Hitoshi Noda, Prof. Fanny Cheung, Mr. Kiyotaka Ando, Mr. Mike T. Mizoguchi, and Prof. Leung Yuen Sang)

Prof. Andrew Gordon, Lee and Juliet Folger Fund Professor of History, Harvard University delivered the inaugural lecture.