On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the Romania Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka hosted the official signing ceremony of an academic collaboration agreement between Hyogo University (Japan) and Transilvania University of Brașov (Romania) — a moment of academic diplomacy that strengthens bilateral relations between higher education institutions of the two countries and expands Romanian–Japanese cooperation in education, research, and innovation.
The event took place in the presence of Mr. Ferdinand Nagy, Commissioner General of the Romania Pavilion, Professor Makoto Kosaka, President of Hyogo University, Professor Dr. Liliana Rogozea, Vice-Rector of Transilvania University of Brașov, and Dr. Carmen Tămaș, Professor at Hyogo University.
The ceremony was opened by Commissioner General Ferdinand Nagy, who emphasized the role of academic diplomacy in strengthening partnerships between Romania and Japan, as well as in promoting educational, cultural, and scientific values within the framework of Expo 2025 Osaka.
At the opening, Professor Carmen Tămaș, lecturer in Japanese culture at Hyogo University, offered insights into the significance of the agreement and the collaboration between the two higher education institutions.
The event continued with video presentations from both universities and remarks by Professor Makoto Kosaka, President of Hyogo University, and Professor Dr. Liliana Rogozea, Vice-Rector of Transilvania University of Brașov, who highlighted the importance of this partnership for the development of academic exchanges, joint research projects, and international mobility programs.
The ceremony concluded with the signing of the collaboration agreement, followed by a piano recital by Dr. Botond Szöcs, lecturer at Transilvania University of Brașov, whose performance was warmly received by the audience.
This signing ceremony is part of the long-standing collaboration between the Romania Pavilion and Transilvania University of Brașov, carried out throughout Expo 2025 Osaka through educational and cultural activities supported by the university’s students and faculty members.
The event followed the cultural diplomacy initiative held the previous day, when the Romania Pavilion donated books to the Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library.
Together, these moments underline Romania’s active role in promoting intercultural dialogue, education, and academic cooperation between the two nations.