On September 25th, 2026, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv was visited by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Yo Osumi. First Secretary of Embassy of Japan in Ukraine Tadayoshi Hiraki also was a member of the Japanese delegation.
During the visit to Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, the Ambassador talked with the Rector, academician of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Professor Roman Gladyshevskii. Vice-Rector for Research, Teaching and International Cooperation Khrystyna Miliyanchuk, Dean of the Faculty of Philology Roman Krokhmalnyi, Head of the Department of Oriental Studies named after Professor Yaroslav Dashkevych Olha Maksymiv and Associate Professor of the Department Oresta Zaburanna.
In the beginning, Roman Gladyshevskii thanked Japan and its people for supporting Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. In turn, the Ambassador ensured that the position of his country is permanent and the solidarity with Ukraine in fighting off russian aggression is steadfast.
Over the course of the meeting, the Rector introduced the Japanese delegation to history and contemporary activities of Lviv University, its educational and scientific areas of work. In particular, he told the guests about the structure of the University, which encompasses 19 faculties and the Pedagogical College, noting that roughly 25 thousand students study at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, outlining the peculiarities of preparing Oriental languages experts. Nowadays, approximately140 students are learning the Japanese language at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, and next year will mark 25 years since its teaching began at the University.
Particular attention the participants of the meeting paid to the perspectives of development of Ukrainian-Japanese academic cooperation. Roman Gladyshevskii emphasised on the importance of a deeper partnership in many areas. In his turn, Yo Osumi mentioned the significant potential of Lviv University as one of the leading educational and cultural centres of Ukraine and voiced his interest in expanding the cooperation between Japanese and Ukrainian higher education institutions.
In this context, the parties discussed the importance of learning Japanese language and culture as a foundation for the development of inter-university connections, academic exchanges, and joint initiatives.
A part of the conversation concerned the JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) – the main international exam for determining the level of Japanese language proficiency for non-natives – and the sessions to be conducted in December at Lviv University. This exam is necessary for employment, education, or internship in Japan.
Thus, the support of young people’s interest towards the Japanese language became an important topic of the conversation. The Dean of the Faculty of Philology Roman Krokhmalnyi noted the constant increase in students’ interest towards Japanese history, culture, and traditions.
After this, the meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Yo Osumi and the students from the Department of Oriental Studies of the Faculty of Philology. Young people shared their impressions on the internships in Japan, the peculiarities of Japanese culture that impressed them, described their own experience of being in that country and acquisition of important skills during said internships.
The Ambassador expressed sincere interest in the students’ stories and questions raised by the participants of the meeting. Notably, young people were interested in both the prospects for development of Ukraine-Japan relations and the possibilities to get to know the culture of Japan better and to feel the spirit of that country.
Yo Osumi enjoyed listening to stories of the students about Lviv as a city where different cultures and traditions get intertwined. The Ambassador also expressed his particular interest towards the history of Ukraine, especially the Cossack period.
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