For Immediate Release
Tokyo, November 6, 2002—Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) successfully celebrated its 20th year in Japan with a special event held at Tokyo’s Hotel Okura on October 29, 2002. Central to that event was TUJ’s 20th Anniversary Symposium, “The Battle to Protect Privacy: A Japan-U.S. Dialog.” Following the symposium, the audience of journalists and TUJ sponsors and supporters from the corporate and academic communities and from the community where the Tokyo campus is located, as well as some 150 other guests, enjoyed a reception hosted by TUJ.

“The Battle to Protect Privacy: A Japan-U.S. Dialog” was led by two distinguished panelists. Ms. Yoshiko Sakurai is a well-known journalist and former national television newscaster who has authored many books on a variety of controversial topics. Mr. Lawrence Repeta is the associate dean and the director of, and a professor in, the Law Program at TUJ. He has been a close observer of and a participant in the protection of free speech in Japan for two decades.

Mr. Repeta initiated the discussion by citing the differences in the legal and social systems between the United States and Japan specifically regarding the issue of privacy. He warned against complacency in a modern society where technology plays an increasingly pervasive role in undermining privacy. Ms. Sakurai, in turn, expressed her opposition to Juki-Net, a newly introduced Japanese government system that provides on-line access to multiple sources of information about individuals in Japan.

The discussion was relayed to the audience by simultaneous translation and, as illustrated by the protracted nature of the question and answer session at the end of the symposium, was of great interest to all in attendance. The discussion, in fact, carried on well into the time scheduled for the reception that followed the symposium.

Among the many guests at the reception was Mr. Keimi Harada, the mayor of Minato-Ward, Tokyo, which is home to TUJ’s Tokyo campus. Mr. Harada opened the reception with a toast. He commented on the strong role that TUJ plays in the field of international education and noted how happy he is that TUJ is a resident of Minato Ward.

This 20th Anniversary Symposium and Reception underscores the importance of TUJ’s presence in Japan and TUJ’s prospects for continued growth in the next 20 years and beyond.

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