December 17, 2010
The Euro Rakuyukai held its regular gathering in London, England. This event, the fifth one since its founding in February 2010, marked the last gathering opportunity for 2010 after a dinner party in Cambridge and a cruise along the River Thames in London.
About half of the twenty-seven participants joined the event for the first time. Based in London, the network of alumni and staff members of the University has been steadily expanding over the year to include about one hundred members, forming a well-balanced group of people from academia to business. Its members enthusiastically hope that with all their contacts, they are likely to broaden their activities in various European cities.
Recently, Euro Rakuyukai welcomed new members from Geneva, Switzerland. With these members, the opening of its Geneva branch, comprised of people working for the UN and other international organizations, is becoming more of a reality. They have also started exchanges with members of the Tokyo University Akamonkai Alumni Association by holding a golf competition.
"I'm not sure if it's because we're here in Europe far away from Japan, but interestingly our ties to Kyoto University just make us feel like we're all good old friends," according to members of the Euro Rakuyukai. It seems that what makes a regional alumni association particularly attractive are the opportunities for diverse cultural interaction between people beyond business relations. Unlike everyday life situations where we tend to get together with people in the same line of business, you can find straightforward, warm human relationships there, which may be the main pillar of the Euro Rakuyukai.
People attending the regular gathering of the Euro Rakuyukai