The Center for Japanese Language and Culture held a course completion presentation session at Gifu University Satellite Campus (Gifu City) on August 4, 2019.

The international students study the Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture of Gifu University from October to August the following year as state-funded students recommended by the embassies, their home universities, or as exchange students from Gifu University's oversea partner universities. To wrap up their studies of Japanese language and culture, students write theses at the end of the course. The themes are chosen by students, and under the instructions of supervisors, and assisted by Japanese tutors (Gifu University students), they complete their theses.

A total of six international students gave their presentations this year. They are from China, Thailand and Ukraine who are the 18th term students of the center.

Gifu University's teaching and administrative staff, Japanese and international students and citizens came to listen to their presentations. The students spoke about the contemporary Japanese society, characteristics of Japanese, comparison between Japanese culture and that of his/her home country by showing slides to the audience. When their speeches were over, each speaker took questions and gave answers to every question asked with great sincerity. Active exchange between the speakers and the audience also showed the students' successful accomplishments of their studies at Gifu University.

The students will attend the course completion ceremony scheduled on August 21. After returning to their countries, they will resume their studies in their home universities. Many of the students who completed the course returned to Japan and continued their studies at Gifu University's graduate schools or other universities, or found employment in Japan. We all look forward to seeing them again soon and wish them the very best in the future.

The followings are the names of speakers and the speech themes (in the order of making presentations):

- Ms. Jiang Kaiti (China) "Little-known world of Fumuke (works for people (mainly female) who love stories of male homosexuality) - revelations from a parody of Detective Conan film"

- Mr. Thongphichai Pakin (Thailand) "Company naming - in comparison with naming of people and enterprises in Europe and US"

- Mr. Durdynets Yevhen (Ukraine) "Translation of Japanese onomatopoeia - comparison among original piece (English), translation in Chinese and Ukrainian of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"

- Mr. Li Yujie (China) "Observation on tolerance for Christianity during Ming and Qing dynasties in China - Ming Dynasty and Italian missionary Matteo Ricci and comparison with Japan during the corresponding era of the dynasty"

- Ms. Liang Yali (China) "Stand up against exploitative part-time work - survey results of international students at Gifu University"

- Ms. Saokumkate Supawadee (Thailand) "Living together may result in marriage? - different perceptions among university students in Thailand and Japan"