Mexican ambassador to give special lecture at Chuo

駐日メキシコ大使が中大で講演

Prof. Shuichiro Megata, former Japanese ambassador to Mexico, speaks at a lecture in Mexico.
Prof. Shuichiro Megata, former Japanese ambassador to Mexico, speaks at a lecture in Mexico.

A wide variety of events are scheduled to take place during the International Week on Mexico to be hosted by Chuo University at the Tama campus between November 28 and December 3. Those will include tasting of Mexican cuisine, lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) matches, mariachi (traditional Mexican band) performances, a Spanish speech contest and a special lecture by Mexican Ambassador to Japan Carlos Almada.

 今年度の中央大学インターナショナル・ウィークは企画が目白押しだ。多摩キャンパスでは11月末から12月初めの1週間、メキシコ料理の提供やルチャリブレ(メキシコのプロレス)、マリアッチの演奏、スペイン語弁論大会、そしてカルロス・アルマーダ駐日大使の講演会などが予定されている。

 

Yumi Akiyama, the assistant chief of Chuo’s International Center who is in charge of this year’s International Week, said in an interview with Hakumon Herald, “All our professors, school employees and students are joining hands to organize those colorful events. In particular, we have been assured of special support by Prof. Shuichiro Megata of the Faculty of Law.” There is little wonder why he will play a special role in this year’s session of Chuo International Week. He contributed a great deal to strengthening the bilateral relationship while serving as Japanese Ambassador to Mexico for four years from 2011 to 2014.

 

「教授、職員、学生と一丸となってイベントを運営しています。法学部の目賀田周一郎先生には特にサポートしてもらいました」と、インターナショナル・ウィークの責任者を務める国際センター副課長の秋山裕美さんは言う。それもそのはず、目賀田教授は2011年から14年まで、駐メキシコ特命全権大使を務め、両国の関係強化発展に貢献した人物なのだ。

Shuichiro Megata (front left), then Japanese Ambassador to Mexico, signs a document in Mexico City in July 2014, witnessed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (back left) and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto (center).
Shuichiro Megata (front left), then Japanese Ambassador to Mexico, signs a document in Mexico City in July 2014, witnessed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (back left) and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto (center).

“Both countries have much room to promote their relationships in political, economic and cultural fields.” That, Megata said, was his first impression of Mexico when he took office as ambassador five years ago. His arrival in Mexico City coincided with the start of an investment boom involving Japanese automakers seeking presence in Mexico. With the aim of accelerating the bilateral partnership in other fields, Megata proposed the two countries launch a “Japan-Mexico Year of Exchange” in 2013-2014 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival in Mexico of the Hasekura Mission in 1613 seeking to establish direct trade relations between Japan and Mexico, which was Nueva España in those days. The Year of Exchange was highlighted by the official visit to Japan of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in April 2013 and the return visits by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Prince and Princess Akishino in July and October 2014, respectively. The Mexican government invited Japan as a guest country to Internacional Cervantino Festival, the biggest arts and cultural event in Latin America. Megata also made arrangements for the joint meeting of university presidents from Japan and Mexico, where more than 20 Japanese universities including Chuo were represented. In November 2015, the Mexican government conferred the Order of the Aztec Eagle on Megata for his contribution toward strengthening the bilateral relationships. It is the highest Mexican order to be award to foreigners.

 

 「両国の間には、政治、経済、文化面でまだまだ発展の余地がある」目賀田氏がメキシコ赴任当初に抱いた感想だった。経済面では、赴任に合わせたように自動車分野での日本企業の投資ブームが始まった。他の分野での交流を加速するべくメキシコ、当時は縫えばエスパーニャ副王領との直接貿易を目指した支倉常長使節団訪墨から400周年を迎える13~14年を「日メキシコ交流年」とすることを提案した。そして、13年4月のペーニャ・ニエト大統領の訪日、翌14年7月の安倍首相および同10月の秋篠宮同妃両殿下のメキシコ訪問を含め様々な交流が実現した。中南米最大の芸術祭、セルバンテイーノ国際芸術祭に日本は招待国として参加し、また、日墨学長会議には、中大を含め日本から20以上の大学が出席した。こうした功績を認められ、同氏は15年11月、のアギラ・アステカ勲章(外国人に授与されるメキシコの勲章として最高位の勲章)を受賞した。

Prof. Shuichiro Megata speaks during an interview with Hakumon Herald.
Prof. Shuichiro Megata speaks during an interview with Hakumon Herald.

The professor visited Mexican Ambassador Almada, his friend since he was ambassador to Mexico, in August and requested him to give a special lecture at Chuo. He said smilingly “The ambassador accepted my request off hand. We are amigo with each other and so our conversation went along smoothly.” Ambassador Almada is expected to focus in his lecture on the history and the present state of bilateral relations. Megata said he strongly hopes that Chuo International Week will provide a good chance to further deepen the relationship between the two Pacific-rim countries.

目賀田教授は今年8月、大使時代からの友人であるアルマーダ駐日大使を訪問し、学生向けの講演を依頼した。「彼からは一言『もちろん』。私たちはアミーゴと呼び合う仲なので、話はすんなり進みました」と、同教授は顔をほころばせながら語る。アルマーダ大使は二国間関係の歴史と現状を中心に講演する予定だ。目賀田教授はインターナショナル・ウィークを通して両国の交流が更に発展することを願ってやまない。Written By Hideki Kato(加藤英樹)

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