Bhubaneswar: The Central University of Odisha inaugurated its Japanese Language Certificate Course on Wednesday.
The event took place on the university campus and was graced by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Chakradhar Tripathi, who officially launched the course. Other guests included Sato Koji, Director of the Japanese Foundation in New Delhi, Sushri Hakamata Maho, Representative of the Ambassador of Japan to India, and Prof. Nabin Kumar Panda from the University of Delhi’s East Asian Studies department. 
In his address, Prof. Tripathi emphasized the technological advancements in agriculture, animal husbandry and dairy science, and forest management in Japan, describing it as a global leader in these fields. He expressed his hope that undergraduate students undertaking this course would not only learn the Japanese language but also bring these advanced technologies to India through the University.
Speaking on the occasion, Sato Koji emphasized the bright prospects for students who learn the Japanese language in the current scenario. He appreciated the noble initiative of Prof. Tripathi for launching Japanese language education at the University.
Hakamata Maho highlighted the cultural similarities between Japan and Odisha in terms of food, traditions, and religion. She emphasized how learning Japanese would promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, fostering collaboration in technology, education, tourism, and other fields.
Prof. Nabin Kumar Panda, Head of the East Asian Studies department at Delhi University, shared insights into the numerous opportunities available in India’s corporate sector, especially in Japan, for students proficient in the Japanese language.
The initial intake capacity for the Japanese Language Certificate course is set at sixty students, with admissions taking place through an entrance test scheduled for October 9. The course will be divided into two sections, each accommodating 30 students.
