Medan, October 4, 2024 – Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) proudly hosted a public lecture by the Consul General of Japan in Medan, Dr. Takonai Susumu, on Friday (4/10) at the Jalan Kapten Mukhtar Basri Campus. The public lecture themed “The Development of Islam in Japan” attracted the attention of the UMSU academic community and the general public.
In his remarks, Dr. Takonai Susumu expressed his deep gratitude for the opportunity given by UMSU to be a speaker at the event. He also conveyed his closeness to the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership and shared stories about the Muslim community in Japan that continues to grow.
According to Dr. Takonai, although Japan is not a country with a large Muslim population, people’s interest in Islam continues to increase along with the growth of interaction and understanding between cultures. “The number of Muslims in Japan is relatively small, but the interest of the Japanese people in Islam is growing, especially through interfaith dialogue and da’wah activities from the Muslim community in Japan,” said Dr. Takonai.
This public lecture provided new insights for UMSU students and participants regarding how Islam was accepted and developed in a country with a non-Muslim majority population like Japan. In addition, Dr. Takonai also discussed educational opportunities that Indonesian students, especially at UMSU, can take advantage of through scholarships offered by universities in Japan.
UMSU Rector, Dr. Agussani, MAP, who also attended the event, expressed his high appreciation for Dr. Takonai’s presence. “We hope that this visit will strengthen the relationship between UMSU and Japan, as well as pave the way for more collaborations in the academic and cultural fields,” said Dr. Agussani.
This public lecture is expected to inspire UMSU students to continue exploring global educational opportunities and contribute to the development of intercultural dialogue in the future.
