On Monday, 6 January 2020, 22 visitors from Osaka City University (OCU)’s sister university, the University of Seoul (UOS), visited OCU’s Sugimoto Campus. The visitors included students studying urban landscape strategies who were selected for the UOS-sponsored observation program, as well as their chaperones Professor Lee Jinwon and Professor Jung Jin Moon of the Department of International Relations.

First, everyone visited the Urban Research Plaza (URP) where they listened to Director Masaki Abe’s lecture on the history of Osaka, how it became a commercial city and its prosperity due to industrialization, as well as the countermeasures it took against poverty, disasters and other issues that typically arise as areas become urbanized. The URP promotes a culture of resilience by constructing advanced cities contributing to social inclusion, connecting with other cities mainly in Asia and accumulating comparative research based on these distinctive features. Participants who had studied the topic of the lecture beforehand, asked many questions about the actual situation of urban cooperation in and outside of Japan and the history of various activities in the Airin district. In addition, the transfer of capital functions, a common issue between Japan and Korea, received a heated exchange of opinions. On Monday, 6 January 2020, 22 visitors from Osaka City University (OCU)’s sister university, the University of Seoul (UOS), visited OCU’s Sugimoto Campus. The visitors included students studying urban landscape strategies who were selected for the UOS-sponsored observation program, as well as their chaperones Professor Lee Jinwon and Professor Jung Jin Moon of the Department of International Relations.

Next, everyone visited the Archives of University History/Kyo Tsuneto Memorial Room in the OCU Media Center where they learned the history of OCU and were shown exhibits by the curator. The ancient human bones currently under maintenance are valuable research materials that have been accumulated throughout each era, mainly in the western part of Honshu island, known as the Kinki region of Japan. After they enjoyed views from the rooftop of the Media Center, they visited the Global Exchange Office and the Global Village and were told by staff that these areas are used for various international exchange activities, cross-cultural activities, and support for students studying abroad at OCU.

Despite their short visit, participants were exposed to the distinctive research at OCU and by using the various facilities, each of them deepened their interest in Japan and were inspired to study overseas.