• Top
• Profile
• Ceremony and Reception

Speech by The Old Japan Students' Association, Thailand

As the President of the Old Japan Students' Association, Thailand (OJSAT), I feel highly honored and most delighted to receive this prestigious award from the Japan Foundation. OJSAT, which was established in 1951, is now already 51 years old. There are about 2,700 Japan Alumni the member of OJSAT, and the number increases every year.
Throughout the past the fifty-one years, we have undertaken many useful activities for society, especially concentrating on education, culture, and also co-activity with Japanese organizations such as schools, colleges, governmental and non-government organizations, and the Embassy of Japan in Thailand.
For education and culture, OJSAT established the first Japanese-language school in Thailand in 1964. Nowadays, there are up to 3 branches in order to be able to admit more students and people interested in Japanese. Interestingly, the schools have many culture courses, such as Japanese cuisine, ikebana, origami, calligraphy, tea ceremony, kimono wearing, singing, etc. Moreover, OJSAT has arranged for teachers to advise people interested in going to study in Japan.
Among our many joint activities, many supported by the Japan Foundation, are the Japanese Speech Contest and Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, which interest many high-school students, college students, and people in general. Obviously, there is an increasing number of candidates every year. OJSAT also sponsors the Japan Education Fair, which offers information on studying in Japan, and this year is the 11th year we have held the fair. In addition, OJSAT issues a biannual journal to publicize news, OJSAT's activities, and events concerning the Japanese language and culture as well.
For overseas activities, OJSAT has cooperated with the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) on meeting and exchanging opinions within the ASEAN region. Also OJSAT supports the cultural exchange program, and offers an academic scholarship to study in Japan.
On this occasion, we would like to thank the Japan Foundation once again for honoring us with this award. As the representative of OJSAT, I will pass on this pride to all our members. Likewise, I promise that we will help society and cooperate with the Japan Foundation as much as possible. And on the 30th anniversary of the Japan Foundation this year, we would like to congratulate the Japan Foundation on its 30 years of success in helping and cooperating with organizations such as the Old Japan Students' Association in Thailand.
Thank you very much.