Next lecture

H.E. Mr. João Pedro Zanatti, the Portuguese Ambassador to Japan

Date

Tuesday, September 28th, at 6:30 p.m.

Venue

Unfortunately space at this meeting is very limited. Priority has already been given to members who were unable to attend the March lecture. There are still around twenty seats available for this lecture meeting. If you wish to apply for one, please contact the ASJ office by e-mail or fax. We are very sorry that we probably will not be able to accommodate everybody who wants to attend.

Topic

Portugal, Old and New — the Beginning of Globalization.

About Our Speaker

After graduating from the University of Lisbon, Mr. Zanatti joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1974. After stints as Second Secretary in Pretoria in 1976, and then in Tunis in 1979, where he became First Secretary in 1982, he was posted to the Embassy in Washington in 1985 as Political Counsellor. He was appointed Minister-Counsellor in Brasilia in 1991 and as a Minister in 1996, and his first ambassadorial position was in Stockholm in 2001, with concurrent responsibility in Riga. He came to Tokyo as Ambassador in December 2005.

Abstract

Portugal has a long history of more than 2000 years, including 870 years as an independent state. Through its long and rich history Portugal has had a unique role worldwide with important legacies in America, Africa and, of course, Asia where the Portuguese arrived for the first time in 1498, with their first arrival in Japan occurring in 1543. Ambassador Zanatti will talk about interesting but less-known aspects of Portuguese history and culture, with a special focus on modernity in the sixteenth century as well as today, comparing the contribution of Portugal during the 'European Renaissance' to today's concept of 'Globalization'.

Coming meetings

October 18th, Mr. Yujiro Naka, on "Research into the Traditional Japanese Use of Colour: Restoring Polychrome Sculptures of Buddha", at the Youth Buddhist Association, Tokyo University, Hongo-Sanchome.

November 8th, the Fifth Young Scholars' Programme, at Komazawa University

December 6th, Dr. Stephen Robert Nagy, on "Immigration and National Prosperity: The Challenges and Opportunities for Japan Adopting" [provisional title]