On Wednesday, 21 May 2025, His Excellency Kansuke Nagaoka, Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic, visited the Faculty of International Relations (FIR) at the Prague University of Economics and Business. Ambassador Nagaoka ceremonially presented a book donation from the Tokyo Foundation to the Centre for Asian Studies (CAS). The books were donated to the Centre for Asian Studies and to the Prague University of Economics and Business, as part of the Read Japan Project 2024, based on the recommendation of the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic. The ceremony was attended by the Dean of FIR, Ms Martina Jiránková, the director of CAS, Ms Zuzana Stuchlíková, as well as other faculty members and students involved in CAS.
The Read Japan Project was launched in 2008 and is currently administered by the Tokyo Foundation, a nonprofit think tank. The project aims “to promote understanding of Japan in the world through books.” Each year, the Tokyo Foundation (with financial support from The Nippon Foundation) sends books to selected research and educational institutions as well as libraries. By the end of 2025, a total of 21 in the Czech Republic will have received support through this initiative.
More than 170 academic monographs on the economy, society, culture, and Japan’s position in international relations are now available for loan to students and other interested readers of the Prague University of Economics and Business. The books are located in the CAS office (room 228 NB) and can also be found via the university library catalogue. If you are interested, please contact the Director of CAS, Ms Stuchlikova (stuchliz@vse.cz).