Marking 40 Years of Collaboration for Nagoya University and NC State

On September 22nd and 23rd, Nagoya University leadership traveled to NC State to celebrate four decades of collaboration. The program featured a 40th anniversary symposium, garden dedication and research roundtable.

Celebrating Past, Present and Future

“NC State and Nagoya University have worked together since 1985,” said Chancellor Howell. “Over the past four decades, our partnership has expanded to reach nearly every corner of our campuses. We’ve exchanged hundreds of students, advanced groundbreaking research in areas of deep interest — from biotechnology to quantum computing — and deepened our connections through seed grants, faculty exchanges and shared innovation.” 

To kick off the celebration, the Office of Global Engagement hosted the NC State-Nagoya University 40th Anniversary Symposium: Past, Present and Future. The symposium included words of welcome from Chancellor Howell and Nagoya University President Sugiyama, as well as Japanese Consul General Mio Maeda. President Sugiyama looked back on the four decades of exchange between the two universities and expressed his hopes for expanding collaboration and embracing new challenges in his remarks. 

Symposium participants traced the history of collaboration between the two universities and marked ten years of success for the Ryugaku Academy — a short-term study abroad program for Nagoya University students hosted by NC State’s Global Training Initiative (GTI). Following reflections of current Ryugaku students, Nagoya University students Koto Katae and Keisuke Sakata surprised Michael Bustle, NC State’s Associate Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Director of GTI, and Nami Iwaki, Nagoya University’s Professor and Director of Study Abroad with gifts to thank them for all that they have devoted to the program.

Another highlight of the event was the opportunity for NC State students to share perspectives on their own experiences abroad. NC State students Jordan Carr, Marina Kapitanov and Harper Martin offered insights on their time at Nagoya, followed by questions from attendees about what they learned and how it shaped their future plans.

“My study abroad at Nagoya University inspired me to work harder. I developed an understanding of the breadth of computer engineering while gaining valuable relationships.”
– computer engineering student Jordan Carr.

The two-day program also included meetings at Toyota Battery Manufacturing and FujiFilm headquarters, as well as opportunities for guests to explore cutting-edge research initiatives within NC State’s College of Engineering. Featured research initiatives included the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein with Rohan Shirwalker, ASSIST/IConS with Ravi Chilukuri and CLAWS with John Muth.

Dedication Honors History, Celebrates Growth Ahead

Colleagues from both universities gathered at the North Carolina Japan Center for a garden dedication that included a Japanese drum performance and reflections on the history and value of the partnership. “As many of you know, Nagoya University honored us by planting a dogwood tree on their campus earlier this year,” said Chancellor Howell. “This morning, we are dedicating these beautiful cherry trees as a living symbol of our partnership. Our choice of three trees has special meaning, as we want them to represent the past, the present, and the future of our valued relationship.”

A pine bowl created by College of Design student Kai Kuwata was gifted to President Sugiyama on behalf of NC State to serve as a reminder of how much NC State values the partnership. Nagoya University President Sugiyama presented an Ougi (Japanese fan) to Chancellor Howell to affirm their commitment to many more years of educating students, advancing bold research and driving innovation that benefits society.

“Our partnership has steadily gained recognition and expanded in scope,” said President Sugiyama. “Today, we see vibrant exchanges of students and researchers between our institutions. We should all be proud of what we have achieved together over these four decades. With continued commitment and shared vision, this collaboration will only grow stronger and more impactful. Who knows what the future holds?”

NU Tech Roundtable Highlights Joint Research in Plant Science and Biotechnology

The visit concluded with the 2025 NU Tech Roundtable focused on “Adaptive Plant Strategies for Environmental Stress.” NU Tech is the technology partnership of Nagoya University that facilitates research collaboration and promotes technology transfer in life science and AgBiotech fields. Roundtable topics ranged from the rapid genome evolution in weedy plants to the regulation of microtubule dynamics during plant cell division and morphogenesis. More than 60 NC State and Nagoya University students and faculty participated in the roundtable to share ideas and expertise.

“It has been an honor to welcome our colleagues from Nagoya University and I am deeply grateful to the faculty, staff, and students who helped make this celebration possible,” said NC State Vice Provost for Global Engagement Amy Conger. “By working in partnership, we create unique opportunities for student learning, cultural exchange and innovative research that would not be possible on our own. Together, we are preparing our students to thrive in a global community while advancing knowledge that benefits us all.”