A Unibo student in Tokyo for the MIRAI Japan Friendship Ties programme

Khalil Zantou, a Master's student in Italian Studies and European Literary Cultures at the University of Bologna, selected from over 1400 candidates for the "Diplomacy and Security Policy" group of the MIRAI Japan Friendship Ties programme, was the only ambassador for Italy among the 120 European students who left for Tokyo. Meetings and debates with leading figures from Japanese politics, industry and academia were the focus of the week of discussion and dialogue, culminating in a meeting with Fukuzawa Yoichi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

One of the central themes of Khalil's trip was cyber security. The topic was explored in a series of meetings and conferences at institutions and leading Japanese companies specialising in digital security and information and communication technologies. The debate then moved to two prestigious universities in Tokyo, Keio and Meiji, where lecturers and students explored the challenges and opportunities of Japanese policy. Equally important was the promotion of peace, which was addressed during the visit to the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development. Here, the European ambassadors were able to admire the permanent exhibition dedicated to the Japanese lecturer and diplomat Sadako Ogata, and attend a conference on citizen security in Japan and the world.

Social and political engagement, but also art and beauty: students from the Diplomacy and Security Policy group were able to appreciate the Sensō-ji temple complex, the beautiful Rikugien Gardens (六義園), the Imperial Palace and its gardens, and then immersed themselves in tea culture with a visit to the Tokyo National Museum.

"I found that the distance was less than I had imagined. I have made friends and have memories that I will cherish forever. The power of dialogue with others allows us to enrich ourselves. We discover as much about others as we do about ourselves. It was a great honour to represent Italy, Morocco and my university, Alma Mater, in this context," commented Khalil Zantou at the end of his experience.