Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on students to support efforts for peace during an online lecture at Toyo University in Tokyo on Monday.
"Ukraine is fighting for peace," Zelenskyy, speaking in Ukrainian, told the crowd of about 350 students, which included Ukrainians studying at the university. "I hope you will support peace that gives us the freedom for education, jobs and to create things."
It was the first time Zelenskyy addressed a group in Japan since his speech to the Diet on March 23.
Toyo University has accepted a total of 13 students and researchers from Ukraine based on agreements concluded in April with three Ukrainian universities. Monday's lecture had been proposed by the Ukrainian Embassy in Japan.
Zelenskyy said during his lecture, "I think young Japanese have come to know about war from books, movies and video games," adding, "When a war begins, ordinary peace becomes just a memory."
An 18-year-old freshman at Toyo said, "He left a deep impression on me. I have a renewed sense of the importance of peace."
During a question-and-answer session, a student asked the president, "What can we do to help in the reconstruction of Ukraine?" Zelenskyy replied, "I'm sincerely grateful for your support. The best thing you can do is to interact with [the Ukrainian students] as friends."
Asked by a Ukrainian student studying tourism at Toyo about how she and others now in Japan can contribute, Zelenskyy said, "I hope you will join in the reconstruction of Ukraine using the experience and knowledge you gain in Japan."
The lecture was streamed to 14 other universities across Japan. A 20-year-old junior at Matsuyama University in Ehime Prefecture said: "I realized that my lifestyle isn't something to be taken for granted, that it is a blessing. I want to think about what I can do in the pursuit of peace."
Spreading support
At universities across Japan, the ring of support for Ukraine is expanding.
As of June 29, 40 universities in Japan had accepted a total of 179 students and researchers evacuated from Ukraine, according to the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
At Tokyo's Sophia University, eight Ukrainian students will start attending classes from early July. In preparation for their arrival, the university held a lecture for its student body on June 27 titled "The effects of war on mental health." A university official explained, "We want to give a warm welcome to students coming to Japan from the ravages of war."
In addition, the University of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture announced that it will be accepting 20 students from Ukraine from mid-July. It also plans to accept an additional 30 students in a second round of applications in the near future.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
