A special workshop will be held in Hiroshima University on 26 October 2024, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan.

The following translation is an excerpt taken from the event’s flyer:

Why not learn about the bonds of exchange between the students from Southeast Asia who were exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and the citizens of Hiroshima, share their experiences of the atomic bombing with the world, and think together about the efforts of Japan and ASEAN toward peace?

Purpose of the event:

As the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing approaches next year, this event is one of the efforts to strengthen the transmission of the reality of the atomic bombing to the next generation across borders. It is expected that ASCOJA-recommended MEXT-sponsored ASJA-sponsored students, who are expected to become leaders in building bridges between Japan and ASEAN, will have an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the reality of the atomic bombing among the South Pacific Special Students, who are the source of exchange between Japan and ASEAN students, and to experience the bond between the South Pacific Special Students and the Japanese community that continues to be passed down in Hiroshima to this day. Through this, we aim to develop human resources who will play a central role in strengthening the relationship between Japan and ASEAN and contribute to the realization of peace together with Japan.

Background and History

During the war, in 1943 and 1944, Japan accepted approximately 200 outstanding students who were expected to become future leaders in the Southeast Asian region as special students from Southeast Asia.

On August 6, 1945, eight students from the southeastern region who were studying at Hiroshima University of Literature and Science were killed in the atomic bombing. Two students died immediately after the bombing and were buried in Islamic rites in temples in Hiroshima and Kyoto, respectively.

These students became the source of exchange between Japan and ASEAN, and occupied important positions in their home countries after the war and contributed greatly to nation building. At the same time, they played a central role in strengthening Japan-ASEAN relations. Some of the students who were exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and studied abroad from Southeast Asia have gone on to have successful careers in various fields, including Brunei’s first prime minister, Pengiran Yusof, Indonesian member of parliament, Hassan Rahaya, as well as diplomats, journalists, and scholars.

Currently, ASCOJA works with the Japanese diplomatic missions in each country to promote Japanese culture and the Japanese language, and through the selection and recommendation of government-sponsored students, recommends ASJA-MEXT-sponsored students every year, who are expected to become future leaders who will build a bridge between Japan and ASEAN.

ASJA-MEXT-sponsored students who come to Japan upon recommendation by ASCOJA are accepted by ASJA International, which is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in Japan, supports their education and research at Japanese universities and graduate schools, and also implements exchange programs aimed at helping them learn the Japanese language, understand Japanese culture and Japanese people, and become future leaders who will build a bridge between Japan and ASEAN. ASJA is the organization that carried out the visit to Hiroshima by the ASJA-MEXT-sponsored students this time.

The visit to Hiroshima by ASJA-Government-sponsored students will provide an opportunity for Hiroshima citizens with ties to the Southeastern Asia students who were exposed to the atomic bomb, people from universities in Hiroshima and Hiroshima City, and students from ASEAN countries studying in Hiroshima to come together and reaffirm the reality of the Southeastern Asia students who were exposed to the atomic bomb and the bonds of exchange with Hiroshima citizens. It is expected that this will greatly contribute to expanding understanding of the reality of the atomic bombing across borders, passing on bonds that transcend generations, and strengthening relations between the next generation of Japan and ASEAN countries toward peace.

After returning to their home countries after the war, the Nanpo Tokubetsu Exchange Students established associations of former Japanese students in each country, and in 1977, they established the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) as a federation of associations of former Japanese students in ASEAN countries with the aim of promoting exchanges between former Japanese students from each country.

About ASJA International
https://asja.gr.jp/ About ASCOJA
https://ascoja.org/