February 5–6, 2010
Executive Director/Executive
Vice-President Ohnishi presenting
his opening speech
On February 6, the 6th Southeast Asia Forum was held in Bangkok by Kyoto University (KU) and Kyoto Union Club (KUC), an alumni association that comprises mainly KU Thai alumni.
Since academic year 2007, the Kyoto University Southeast Asia Forum has been held annually both in Indonesia and Thailand to promote interactions between KU and KU alumni associations in Southeast Asian countries and to share KU's wide spectrum of academic accomplishments with Southeast Asian societies. Marking the Forum’s third anniversary in Thailand, this year's event focused on future directions to be taken by medical services and technologies in the aging Asian societies. The Forum began with an opening speech by KU Executive Director/Executive Vice-President Yuzo Ohnishi, followed by a congratulatory address by Ambassador Kyoji Komachi of the Embassy of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand (KU Faculty of Law graduate, 1969).
The Forum's first session included an explanation by a Thai doctor on cutting-edge medical treatment technologies, and a lecture by Professor Kozo Matsubayashi of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) on community-based medical care for elderly people. The Forum's second session featured a panel discussion, with CSEAS Professor Hiromu Shimizu as one of the discussion panelists. Following an active Q&A session and opinion exchange with more than 170 audience members from the Thai general public, CSEAS Director Kosuke Mizuno delivered a closing speech.
On February 5, a KU alumni party was held at the Bangkok Liaison Office of CSEAS, Thailand, attended by approximately 50 persons, including KU Japanese and Thai alumni living in Bangkok. At the party, KU Japanese Alumni Association in Bangkok President Mitsuhiro Sonoda (KU Faculty of Engineering graduate, 1977) expressed his determination to further improve the Association's activities. The party served as a good opportunity for Japanese and Thai alumni to develop interactions in an amicable atmosphere.
 Venue with more than 170 participants |
 Question from a citizen participant |
 From right: KUC President Wiwut, Executive Director/Executive Vice-President Ohnishi, KU Japanese Alumni Association in Bangkok President Sonoda, and CSEAS Director Mizuno |
 Participants mutually interacting |