On 3 November, an award ceremony to present an Honorary Doctorate of Kyoto University to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, state counselor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, was held at the Inamori Foundation Memorial Building of Kyoto University. The award was presented by Dr Juichi Yamagiwa, president of Kyoto University, and in attendance were several of the university's executive vice-presidents, vice-presidents, and deans, as well as officials from the government of Myanmar and from the Japanese government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
The honorary doctorate was awarded to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her outstanding achievements in promoting freedom and democracy in Myanmar and around the world. She is the 14th person to be presented with an honorary doctorate from Kyoto University, and the first to be awarded the accolade for contributing to the advancement of such universal values.
In addition to the honorary degree certificate and citation, President Yamagiwa presented Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with an honorary academic stole. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi then spoke about her time living in Kyoto in the 1980s as a researcher at Kyoto University. She expressed her fondness for the city, and even included a few phrases in Japanese to the appreciation of the audience. She concluded by expressing her appreciation for Kyoto University and the people of Kyoto.
After the award ceremony, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi participated in an open dialogue with Kyoto University students, eight coming from faculties and graduate schools related to international politics or involved in exchange with Myanmar. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi answered each question carefully, and the approximately 150 members of the audience were treated to an inspiring discussion in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
After the discussion, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was escorted by Professor Yasuyuki Kono, director of Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies, to the Aung San Suu Kyi Room in the center's east building. The last time she visited the room, which displays items relating to her life and time at the university, was during a previous visit in April 2013.
The award ceremony for the honorary doctorate
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
President Juichi Yamagiwa
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the student dialogue
Kyoto University students asking questions
Ceremony attendees
