Welcome speech for newly enrolled foreign students - June 20, 2007 -

Welcome speech for newly enrolled foreign students - June 20, 2007 -

Kazuo OIKE

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I’d like to say a few words of welcome in four languages.

As a representative of Kyoto University I would like to welcome all 222 newly enrolled foreign students.

Kyoto University currently has exchange agreements with 76 research institutions around the world. There are also 1275 foreign students studying at the university.

Kyoto is situated in a basin that has been formed over a million years of fault line movements. In the deep sedimentary layers beneath this basin is a rich source of subterranean water.

Much of the ancient capitals cultural heritage was developed with the use of this water. I encourage you all to enjoy the cultural wonders that were born here; the delicious Fushimi sake, the Yuzen dyeing process, tofu and yuba, and of course our tea.

I hope that you will all be able to make many friends and experience many of the ancient capitals cultural wonders while you are here on our campus.

Please enjoy yourselves tonight at this party.

Thank you for your attention.