Chinese Herald News (Reporter Zhang Shi) On April 7, 2024, the 44th "Zhou Ying Cherry Blossom Viewing Party" was held in the lobby on the first floor of the Soka University Central Education Building to commemorate former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Zhou Ying, a symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship.
About 200 people, including the Soka University student organization China Studies Association, Soka University President Masaki Suzuki, Soka University Chairman Yasunori Tashiro, and Chairman Wang Xinqi of the Zhengzhou Shengda School of Economics and Business Management in Zhengzhou, China, attended the opening ceremony of the 44th Weekly Cherry Blossom Viewing Party.
First of all, a representative of Soka University's China Studies Association took the stage to deliver a speech. He said: "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Soka University founder Daisaku Ikeda and Premier Zhou Enlai of China in 1974, and it is very meaningful to hold the 44th "Zhou Sakura Viewing Party" here today, which is an eternal symbol of the promotion of friendship between Japan and China by Premier Zhou Enlai and Mr. Daisaku Ikeda.
From left to right, from top to bottom: Student representatives of the "China Studies Association", Shoshi Suzuki, Wang Xinqi, and Yasunori Tashiro
The Soka University China Studies Association is an extracurricular organization of Soka University students that aims to carry on Soka University's founder, Mr. Daisaku Ikeda's passion for Sino-Japanese friendship, and to carry out activities such as "learning Chinese," "mutual inspiration among partners who study Chinese," and "building a firm belief in Sino-Japanese friendship" based on dialogue, culture, and education among young people.
The "China Studies Society" published their research results reviewing the origin of "Zhou Ying".
The "China Studies Society" publishes the research results
On December 5, 1974, Premier Zhou Enlai, who was suffering from cancer, had a historic meeting with President Daisaku Ikeda of the Soka Gakkai of Japan during his serious illness. Premier Zhou met with President Daisaku Ikeda as "the most important thing" in the face of his severe health and illness to support his work.
A photograph of Premier Zhou Enlai meeting with President Daisaku Ikeda is shown in the research results
During the meeting, Premier Zhou recalled his time in Japan and said, "Fifty years ago, I left Japan when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Mr. Ikeda says, "When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, please visit the place where you once lived." Premier Zhou replied: "I would love to go, but it may be difficult to achieve." ”
Although the meeting lasted only about 30 minutes, Premier Zhou's enthusiasm for Sino-Japanese friendship was something that Daisaku Ikeda will never forget. At that time, China and Japan had just resumed diplomatic relations, and there were still many difficult problems in how to carry out exchanges between the two countries and promote friendship.
In November 1975, under the personal initiative of Chairman Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University welcomed the first six Chinese students to study in Japan after the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, including Cheng Yonghua, former Chinese ambassador to Japan. At the initiative of Chairman Daisaku Ikeda, the six international students planted cherry blossom saplings along with Soka University students, whom Mr. Ikeda named "Zhou Sakura" and wrote down the word "Zhou Sakura" with his own handwriting, which was later engraved on a stone tablet next to "Zhou Sakura" in the direction of China.
On April 7, 1979, in order to fulfill Premier Zhou's last wishes, Premier Zhou and his wife Deng Yingchao visited Japan, and to commemorate Deng Yingchao's visit to Japan, Mr. Daisaku Ikeda and Gao Zhanxiang, vice president of the All-China Youth Federation who led a delegation to Japan at the time, planted two cherry trees in honor of Zhou Enlai and his wife, named "Zhou and his wife cherry blossoms".
At the opening ceremony, Soka University students who will visit China in 2023 also introduced their experiences on their visit to China.
Let's talk about the experience of visiting China
At the invitation of the China-Japan Friendship Association, about 100 representatives of university students, junior college students, and faculty members, including the Soka University Student Union, the Alumni Association, and the Society of Chinese Studies, will travel to various parts of China for a seven-day tour starting September 2, 2023. In various cities, they visited schools that have friendly exchanges with Soka University, where they were warmly welcomed and participated in exchange events.
Soka University President Masashi Suzuki, Soka University Chairman Yasunori Tashiro, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the China Zhengzhou Shengda School of Economics and Business Management Wang Xinqi also delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.
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Chairman Wang Xinqi recalls the exchange between his grandfather, Dr. Wang Guangya, the founder of SITA University, and Mr. Daisaku Ikeda, the founder of Soka University, who became close friends at a young age, and who also received an honorary doctorate from Soka University in Japan.
President Masashi Suzuki (first from right), Chairman Yasunori Tashiro (second from right) and Chairman Wang Xinqi and his wife took a group photo in front of "Zhou Ying".
Toward the end of the opening ceremony, attendees joined Soka University students in singing the song "Cherry Blossom Edge," based on a long poem given to Ms. Tang by Daisaku Ikeda. President Masaki Suzuki and Chairman Yasunori Tashiro also accompanied Chairman Wang Xinqi and his entourage to take a group photo in front of the open "Zhou Ying".
(Except for the one indicated, Zhang Shi photography)