READ JAPAN PROJECT Book Donation Ceremony at Sokoine University of Agriculture
2026/6/8
On June 5, 2026, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan in Tanzania attended a book donation ceremony organized under the READ JAPAN PROJECT by The Nippon Foundation at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro.
■ About Sokoine University of Agriculture
SUA is one of Tanzania's most prestigious higher education institutions, founded under the leadership of the nation's founding father, President Julius Nyerere, as its first Chancellor. The university has long been a key contributor to agricultural and economic development in Tanzania, producing outstanding human resources in the field of agriculture and rural development. SUA also has deep academic ties with Japan, including exchanges with Kyoto University, Tokyo University of Agriculture, and other Japanese universities, long-standing technical cooperation through JICA, and international collaborative research through SATREPS.
■ About the Donated Books
A total of 45 volumes were donated on this occasion, covering a wide range of topics on Japan including culture, society, language, economy, politics, and history. This follows a previous donation made to SUA in 2022. The READ JAPAN PROJECT, operated by the Tokyo Foundation and supported by The Nippon Foundation, has to date donated approximately 117,000 books to more than 1,600 libraries and institutions in over 150 countries worldwide.
■ Overview of the Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by senior university officials and library staff. Following a screening of a video introducing the history of SUA, the program included introductions of speakers, welcoming remarks from the university, a speech by the Deputy Chief of Mission (delivered on behalf of Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation), and a commemorative photo session.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samwel Kabote delivered welcoming remarks on behalf of SUA. He spoke of the donation as a symbol of friendship between Japan and Tanzania, noted that the value of printed books remains unchanged even in the digital age, and expressed the university's commitment to ensuring the books are well used and cherished by students and faculty.
■ Overview of the Deputy Chief of Mission's Remarks
Mr. Ueda, The Deputy Chief of Mission and Counsellor, read out a message from Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation, and introduced the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program. In his message, Mr. Sasakawa highlighted his personal affinity with Tanzania — including his decades-long commitment to leprosy elimination in the country since the 1980s and his ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024 to raise awareness of leprosy — the achievements of the READ JAPAN PROJECT, and his hope that the donated books would serve as a bridge between Tanzania and Japan.
■ About Sokoine University of Agriculture
SUA is one of Tanzania's most prestigious higher education institutions, founded under the leadership of the nation's founding father, President Julius Nyerere, as its first Chancellor. The university has long been a key contributor to agricultural and economic development in Tanzania, producing outstanding human resources in the field of agriculture and rural development. SUA also has deep academic ties with Japan, including exchanges with Kyoto University, Tokyo University of Agriculture, and other Japanese universities, long-standing technical cooperation through JICA, and international collaborative research through SATREPS.
■ About the Donated Books
A total of 45 volumes were donated on this occasion, covering a wide range of topics on Japan including culture, society, language, economy, politics, and history. This follows a previous donation made to SUA in 2022. The READ JAPAN PROJECT, operated by the Tokyo Foundation and supported by The Nippon Foundation, has to date donated approximately 117,000 books to more than 1,600 libraries and institutions in over 150 countries worldwide.
■ Overview of the Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by senior university officials and library staff. Following a screening of a video introducing the history of SUA, the program included introductions of speakers, welcoming remarks from the university, a speech by the Deputy Chief of Mission (delivered on behalf of Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation), and a commemorative photo session.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samwel Kabote delivered welcoming remarks on behalf of SUA. He spoke of the donation as a symbol of friendship between Japan and Tanzania, noted that the value of printed books remains unchanged even in the digital age, and expressed the university's commitment to ensuring the books are well used and cherished by students and faculty.
■ Overview of the Deputy Chief of Mission's Remarks
Mr. Ueda, The Deputy Chief of Mission and Counsellor, read out a message from Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation, and introduced the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program. In his message, Mr. Sasakawa highlighted his personal affinity with Tanzania — including his decades-long commitment to leprosy elimination in the country since the 1980s and his ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024 to raise awareness of leprosy — the achievements of the READ JAPAN PROJECT, and his hope that the donated books would serve as a bridge between Tanzania and Japan.