Osaka Kansei Expo 2025 - Euroculture
Euroculture in Japan at the University of Osaka:
This week focused on climate and sustainable development in celebration with the Osaka Kansei Expo 2025
The Euroculture program is proud to present a special workshop this week by Prof. Ronald Holzhacker at the University of Osaka. Also participating in the program and speaking to prospective Euroculture students is Ms. Miki Fukuda. Miki was able to share her experience with the Euroculture program in both the Netherlands, Spain, and Japan. During her Euroculture masters, she obtained an important internship at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Japan, where she now holds the position of Policy Researcher in integrated sustainability. She was able to answer many questions and share her insights about the Euroculture program to prospective students in both Japanese and English.
The Euroculture program is part of a special EU sponsored master program connecting a series of universities across Europe and around the globe, including the University of Groningen and the University of Osaka. This special lecture and video presentation was held on Monday, May 19, in the context of a special week in the Netherlands – Japanese relationship. His Majesty the King of Netherlands, Willem-Alexander will be officially visiting the Dutch pavilion at the Osaka Kansei Expo 2025 on Dutch national day on May 21 (https://www.royal-house.nl/latest/news/2025/03/03/king-willem-alexander-to-visit-expo-2025-osaka). The theme of the 36th World Expo is ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives.’ The following day, the King will also be visiting the Tekijuku school, a forerunner of the University of Osaka as part of a program on the cooperation between the Netherlands and Japan in education and science.
During the Euroculture presentation during this special week in Osaka, Prof. Holzhacker first screened videos related to the ‘Transformative Futures of Cities’ and then the student winners from the ‘Netherlands – Asia Pacific Short-Video Student Climate and Sustainable Development’ competition. He also debuted for the first time two videos concerning climate and citizen engagement in the Netherlands. The first of these videos focused on the future of the Wadden Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands, considering climate change, water issues, community resiliency, and the need to preserve bio-diversity in this sensitive environment. The second video focused on floating cities, and the inseparability of the Netherlands and water, and potential opportunities to construct floating neighborhoods and housing in the future. Euroculture is pleased to be engaged in these important issues related to climate and sustainable development relevant for Europe, the Asia Pacific, and the global community.
