VPM's Cultural tour to Japan

Recently, I had interaction with Dr. Kiyokoni Shiga, Professor, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto Japan in Thane. It was a great experience to meet a team of 20 Japanese students. The team is on the visit of India under the student exchange program hosted by Vidya Prasarak Mandal Thane, Mumbai.
The team of Japanese students study Hindi, Yoga and conversational English in a span of 2 weeks. They visit all the constituent colleges of VPM and interact with Indian students, teachers and policymakers. This year they have also visited the iconic green campus of VPM's Maharshi Parashuram Engineering College, Velaneshwar, situated in the Kokan region. The team also visited Raigad fort. They were thrilled to witness the vision and valour of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Co-incidently, this year is celebrated as 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
This exchange program is the outcome of the vision of Dr. Vijay Bedekar, Chairman, VPM, Thane and Dr. Sudhakar Agarkar, a noted Scientist from TIFR.

This venture bolsters the rich cultural ties between India and Japan. These academic endeavours creat conducive atmosphere to learn intercultural ethos of the world. G20 presidecncy of India underlines the theme "One Earth One Family"

*Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane*
and
*Institute for Oriental Study, Thane*
Jointly organise

Educational Tour of Indian Students, Teachers & Parents to *Japan*

Dates : *Saturday, February 18th to Saturday, February 25th, 2023*

Appeal
Over the past decade the Vidya Prasarak Mandal (VPM) Thane has established links with the educational institutions in Japan. VPM has been hosting the visits of students from Kyoto Sangyo University (Kyoto, Japan) to Thane since 2012. It has also arranged a successful exchange visit of Indian students, their teachers and parents to Japan in November 2019.

It is now proposed to organise an educational tour to Japan from February 18 to 25, 2023. This tour will enable the participants to visit places of interests in Osaka (an industrial city), Kyoto (a cultural town) and Nara (earliest capital of Japan). It will also provide a rare chance of interaction with local people and academicians in Japan at different levels of education. A special seminar at the Department of Cultural Studies of the Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto would be an added attraction.

The approximate cost of the tour works out to be *Rs. 1,75,000*/- (Rupees One lakh seventy fifty thousand only). It will cover return airfare (Mumbai - Osaka - Mumbai) by economy class, surface transport in Japan, entry fees and stay/food for the duration of the tour. This estimate might change a little depending on the exchange rate and the airfare at the time of departure. Please note that this estimate does not include the cost of getting Passport and Japan Visa.

If you wish to participate in the proposed educational tour of Japan, please fill the attached form and return it to the office along with a demand draft of *Rs. 85,000*/- (Rupees eighty five thousand only) drawn in favour of “VPM’s Academy of International Education and Research”. The second and final instalment of *Rs.90,000*/- (Rupees ninety thousand only) will have to be paid one week before the beginning of the tour. The application form (duly filled in) along with a demand draft must reach VPM office on or before December 31, 2022. Only those candidates who submit the copy of the Valid Passport before January 20, 2023 will be considered for the tour.

I look forward to taking you to a memorable tour of Japan in February 2023. Please contact Dr. Sudhakar Agarkar (8097274097 / [email protected]) or Dr. Prashant Dharmadhikari (9422495094 / [email protected]) for additional information.

Sincerely yours,

*Dr.Vijay Bedekar*
Chairman
Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane

VPM Address: Dr. Bedekar Vidya Mandir, Naupada, Thane (W) 400602 MS INDIA
Tel.: 022 2542 6270 E-mail : [email protected]

Cherry blossom pics from the campus of Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan. Thanks Dr. Kiyokoni Shiga for sending this. We will surely plan to visit the KSU campus this year. Hope for the best.

The year 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the Establishment of India-Japan diplomatic relations!!

Andre Malraux, the well known French intellectual said 'Great films will be made only when we become a great audience'.

Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane

Tel: 022‐25426270 Email: [email protected]

*Appeal*

**Educational Tour of Indian Students, Teachers & Parents to UK
May 19 to 29, 2020*
*

Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane has arranged numerous educational tours of Indian teachers,
students and parents to UK since 2004. These visits offered them a blend of academic as well as social
interaction in England. As a result, many of them reaped great benefits from these visits.
VPMT now proposes to organise the next educational tour of Indian students, teachers and parents to UK
from May 19 to 29, 2020.

This tour will include visits to educational institutions, museums and libraries in
three important cities in England namely Oxford, Cambridge and London. It will also provide a rare chance
of interaction with local people and academicians in UK at different levels of education. A special tour of
the places associated with Indian Revolutionaries in London will be an added attraction.


The approximate cost of the tour works out to be Rs. 1,60,000 (Rupees One lakh sixty thousand only). It will
cover return airfare (Mumbai‐London‐Mumbai) by economy class, surface transport in UK, entry fees and
stay/food for the duration of the tour. This estimate might change a little depending on the exchange rate
and the airfare at the time of departure. Please note that this estimate does not include the cost of getting
passport and UK visa.
If you wish to participate in the proposed educational tour of UK, please fill the attached form and return it
to me along with a demand draft of Rs.75,000/‐ (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand only) drawn in favour of
“VPM’s Academy of international Education and Research, Thane”. The second and final instalment of GBP
900 (Great Britain Pound Nine hundred only) will have to be paid one week before the beginning of the
tour. The Application Form along with a demand draft must reach VPM office on or before 28 February,
2020.

I look forward to taking you to a memorable tour of UK in May 2020.
For more details Contact
Dr. Prashant Dharmadhikari
Assistant Professor
Joshi Bedekar College, Thane
9422495094

The article about Cultural Exchange Programme 2019 now appears on the web:

http://www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/news/20191106_190_ryugaku.html

Please check it!!

2019年度「国際文化研修（インド）」の成果報告会が開催されました！ 2019年度「国際文化研修（インド）」の成果報告会が開催されました！ 2019.12.09 文化学部 文化学部では、海外における文化研修を授業計画に含む「国際文化研修（インド）」を開講しています。 この科目は、海外研修におい...

The maiden cultural tour of Japan of came to an end today. 18 members including students, teachers and parents participated in the tour. It had a good blend of academic, social and cultural interactions. The team visited three important cities in Japan namely Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. Apart from the places of tourist interest the team had an opportunity to visit Kyoto Sangyo University and Osaka University and interact with the academicians in these prestigious educational institutions.

I take this opportunity to thank all the members of the team for their cooperation. I would be failing in my duty if I do not thank Dr. Kiyokuni Shiga and Prof. Yasuko Miyagawa for their help in arranging the tour effectively. It is notable the Prof. Michio Yano and Prof. Tomio Mizokami spared their valuable time to interact with the members of the team.

I am sure, the cultural tour to Japan becomes an annual activity of the Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane. With this belief we wish to announce that the second Cultural Tour to Japan will be arranged in the last week of November 2020. I expect an overwhelming response to the proposed tour from students, teachers as well as from parents.

Aqua Liner River Bus
Osaka sightseeing

Took dinner in Indian Nepali Restaurant ,Mustang. It was nice to get Indian food in Japan. Glad to see Indian deities and Indian paintings in the hotel.

Now the discussion and diary reading session is going on. Dr. Bedekar is addressing the group. Aditi Singh read her diary today.

Today we came to Osaka from Nara. Checked in to Hotel WBF. It was a great day today.

Some beautiful moments of KSU Japan cultural program

Dr. Kiyokuni Shiga and the student team of Kyoto Sangyo University have arranged delicious and mouth watering Indian vegetarian dishes for all of us.!

Step In Japan
A warm welcome from Dr Shiga & Team, Japan, for VPM's Japan Cultural Tour Team, India at Konsai Airport, Okasa, Japan.

Journey Of Glory Rises With A Start .

जोशी बेडेकर च्या विद्यार्थ्यांचा जपान दौरा

जपानचा सांस्कृतिक अभ्यास करण्यासाठी ठाण्यातील विद्या प्रसारक मंडळाच्या वतीने विद्यार्थी व प्राध्यापकांचा चमू सांस्कृतिक आदानप्रदान कार्यक्रमा अंतर्गत दि 18 ते 26 नोव्हेंबर दरम्यान जपानला जात आहे. जपानमधील प्रतिष्ठित क्योटो सांगयो विद्यापीठाशी विद्या प्रसारक मंडळाचे शैक्षणिक व सांस्कृतिक आदानप्रदान प्रकल्पाअंतर्गत संबंध आहेत. या माध्यमातून दरवर्षी 15 जपानी विद्यार्थी आपल्या प्राध्यापकांसोबत गणपती उत्सवा दरम्यान भारताच्या अभ्यासदौऱ्यावर येतात.

यावर्षी प्रथमच विद्या प्रसारक मंडळाच्या जोशी बेडेकर महाविद्यालयातील विद्यार्थी व प्राध्यापकांचा चमू 18 ते 26 नोव्हेंबर दरम्यान जपान भेटीवर जात आहे. या शैक्षणिक दौऱ्यात क्योटो, नारा व ओसाका या जपान मधील महानगरांमधील शैक्षणिक संस्था, ग्रंथालय बौध्द मंदिरे व वस्तुसंग्रहालयांना भेट द्यायची संधी विद्यार्थ्यांना मिळणार आहे. क्योटो सांगयो विद्यापीठ व ओसाका विद्यापीठातील प्राध्यापक व भाषा व संस्कृती विभागांच्या भेटी ही एक अनोखी गोष्ट विद्यार्थ्यांना अनुभवता येईल. तेथील अनेक ऐतिहासिक वास्तू, बौद्ध मंदिरे व जपानी संस्कृतीची महत्वाची ठिकाणे पाहणे मोठे औत्सुक्याचे ठरेल. हिंदी भाषेचे अभ्यासक व ओसाका विद्यापीठातील भूतपूर्व प्राध्यापक पद्मश्री डॉ तामिओ मिझोकामी, तसेच आंतरराष्ट्रीय ख्यातीचे गणिती डॉ मिचो यानो यांच्या सह चर्चा करण्याची संधी विद्यार्थ्यांना मिळणार आहे.

भारत व जपान या दोन देशांमध्ये सांस्कृतिक साधर्म्य खूप असल्याने भारतीय विद्यार्थ्यांना जपान अधिक जवळून अभ्यासता येईल. हिरोशिमा व नागासाकी सारखे भीषण अणुबाँब हल्ले होऊन सुध्दा जपानने जी आर्थिक प्रगती केली ती डोळे दिपवून टाकणारी आहे. आपल्या देशाला प्रगतीच्या वाटेवर नेण्यासाठी भारतीय विद्यार्थ्यांना जपान खूप मोठा आदर्श आहे. असे विद्या प्रसारक मंडळाचे कार्याध्यक्ष डॉ विजय बेडेकर यांनी सांगितले.
जपानचा सांस्कृतिक वारसा, कायझेन तंत्र, जपन्यांची जिद्द व चिकाटी इत्यादी अनेक गोष्टी अनुभवण्याची सुवर्णसंधी विद्यार्थ्यांना या जपान भेटीमुळे मिळेल असा आशावाद जोशी बेडेकर महाविद्यालयाच्या प्राचार्या डॉ सुचित्रा नाईक यांनी व्यक्त केला.

जपानी साहित्याचा महत्वाचा पैलू म्हणून जपानी हायकू. नोबेल पारितोषिक विजेते काझुओ ईशीगुरो तसेच प्रसिद्ध जपानी कादंबरीकार हारुकि मुराकामी यांच्या लेखनाला तरुण पिढीची मागणी आहे. या जपान दौऱ्यात विद्यार्थ्यांची साहित्यिक अभिरुची वृद्धिंगत होईल असे मत जोशी बेडेकर महाविद्यालयातील इंग्रजीचे प्राध्यापक डॉ प्रशांत धर्माधिकारी यांनी व्यक्त केले. ज्येष्ठ शास्त्रज्ञ डॉ सुधाकर आगरकर म्हणाले की जपानच्या विज्ञान विषयक प्रगतीचा अनुभव विद्यार्थ्यांना घेता येईल तसेच त्यांची जिज्ञासा वृद्धिंगत होईल.
या वेळी योगशिक्षिका विजया खरे या क्योटो सांगयो विद्यापीठातील विद्यार्थ्यांना योगाचे धडे देणार आहेत.
या चमुमध्ये 5 प्राध्यापकांसह 13 महाविद्यालयीन विद्यार्थ्यांचा समावेश आहे.

Two days to go...

Count down starts...

Cultural tour to Japan
meeting of participants. Count down starts.
2 weeks to go..

Wishing You All a Happy And Safe DIWALI..!

In my opinion, if all our rich and educated men once go and see Japan, their eyes will be opened.
— Swami Vivekananda

Japan, the land of rising sun or the country that is often personified as Phoenix, has old, strong and rich bonds with India in many ways.
Through the silk route Buddhism had travelled to China and Korea from where it spread beyond the sea in Japan and was officially introduced in 552 CE. Even before that Buddhism was promoted to Japan by traveler Buddhist monks from Gandhar in 467 CE. At that time Japan was known as Fusang or the land that is to east of China. Buddhism enrooted quickly and deeply in Japan and greatly influenced its later development in every aspect since then. Today around 75% of Japanese population practices Buddhism. Among many branches of Buddhism that sprouted in Japan, most popular ones are Nichiren Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Along with Buddhism, many Hindu ideologies and myths flowed to Japan. The deities such as Kangiten, Benzaiten, Kichijoten, Bishamon, Enma and Daikokuten are Japanese representation of popular Indian Gods such as Ganesh, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kuber, Yama and Shiva respectively.
Many Indian freedom fighters during Indian freedom struggle admired Japanese post war rapid economic reconstruction and found an alliance in Japan, British being its nemesis. Writers like Rabindranath Tagore adored Japanese thinking and its rich literature. Rash Bihari Bose and Subhashchandra Bose paved way for Indo-Japanese relations. The Indian National Army was a brainchild of Iwachi Fujiwara, the then head of Japanese intelligence unit. The islands of Andaman and Nicobar were taken under possession with the help of Japanese army in 1942. India’s iron ore helped Japan to recover from World War II devastation. There are numerous ties and key agreements between the two countries that have been strengthening over the years. These include cultural, military, literary, technological, economical, nuclear power and socio-developmental agreements.
Japanese history can be basically characterized by three periods, isolationist period, semi-open period and expansionist period. From fourth century CE to ninth century CE, Japanese tribes and kingdoms started unifying under an Emperor in Kyoto initiating the Heian era famous for its rich classical Japanese culture. Thus a centralized imperial rule was set which reigns even today. Recently Japan celebrated commencement of their new era, ‘Reiwa’ as the former Emperor Akihito abdicated the throne which was ascended by his son Emperor Naruhito as Japan’s 126th Emperor. Later military clan took over the throne shifting the capital to Kamakura and absorbed the title of Sh**un which began the Sh**unate. In 1598 Tokugawa became the Sh**un and shifted capital to Edo, modern Tokyo and the ‘Edo’ era began. It was then when contact with outside world was imposed under strict restrictions. Dutch and Portuguese were the first outsiders to get a limited interaction and trade with Japan. However in the years of 1853 and 54 things gradually took a turn when American expeditionary Commodore Mathew Perry signed the treaty of Kanagawa bringing Japan out of its seclusion. It was followed by the Meiji restoration that brought the influence of western models and democracy developed in Taisho era. Japan’s military became powerful and was engaged in many wars particularly with China. Its participation in World War II made it face most severe consequences. As Japanese air force attacked Pearl Harbor an American port, America dropped atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dreadful consequences were faced for generations by the cities. Since then Japan focused on its growth and development and succeeded exceedingly.
Japanese literature is highly influenced by Chinese literature. It used Chinese writing system until the invention of Japanese writing systems in early Heian era in 8th century. Japan’s unique poem composing style of Haiku is globally popular. Japanese authors Yasunari Kawabata and Kenzaburo Oe received Nobel prizes for their writings. Haruki Murakami is one of the most acclaimed names in the list of modern Japanese novelists. In the recent decade Japanese comics or the Mangas and animation series have fetched tremendous reception worldwide.
It is a country that records 1500 earthquakes per year of 4 to 7 magnitudes. But the most disastrous one occurred in 2011 resulting into a catastrophic tsunami claiming more than 20,000 lives around 4 cities and destruction of Fukushima Nuclear power plant. Yet through its imbibed nature of hard work, Japan in no time managed to be back even more improved.
Thus the metaphor of Phoenix, a mythical bird that can reform itself back from its ashes even after burning up is correctly titled to the land of hard work and values; land of rich culture, literature, philosophy and history; land of modern technology and age old traditions, land of beautiful scenery as well as people; and the land of rising sun: Japan.

Compiled by
Atharva Deshpande
FYBMM,
Participant of Japan tour

Happy to announce that the seats are full for Japan Cultural visit November 2019. Thanks for your overwhelming response.Booking for Next tour November 2020 are open

Times of India

Thane: From modaks to mehndi, 15 Japanese students gets taste of Ganeshotsav | Thane News - Times of India A digital camera manifests before a pig that is sniffing wet mud. Coos and squeals ensue when a kitten scurries into the chemistry lab.

Glimpses of cultural programme