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Guanajuato,
Mexico -- Building a
Bridge of Friendship
By Marbeya
Martinez, SGI-Mexico Culture Division
"There has
never been a time when intercultural exchange has been more
essential," states Dr. Luis Rionda Arreguin, professor
emeritus of Guanajuato University. "Intercultural
exchange is essentially a matter of understanding each other
as human beings, and there is no better way of accomplishing
this than for us to make contact with the richness of our
shared humanity. By doing so, we can develop a deeper respect
for others--and that, after all, is the very essence of all
educational endeavor."
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The town of
Guanajuato in central Mexico has been designated a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO. Gold and silver were discovered there
in the 16th century when the region was part of the Spanish
colonial empire, and the resulting prosperity fueled a wave of
architectural activity that produced numerous buildings in the
traditional Spanish style. Many of those structures still
survive today, making the town a living museum. In the 19th
century, Guanajuato again figured prominently in Mexican
history when the town played a key role in Mexico's
independence movement.
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Location
of Guanajuato University
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Guanajuato
University was founded in 1732. Situated in the center of the
town, the university is one of Mexico's foremost seats of
learning with a student enrollment of more than 18,000. Dr.
Rionda was largely responsible for initiating the academic
exchanges that began in 1990 between Guanajuato University and
Soka University. This was Soka University's first exchange
program with a university in the Spanish-speaking world. Since
it began, 138 Soka University students have studied at
Guanajuato, either as exchange students or as participants in
summer-semester language courses, and 16 students from
Guanajuato have visited Japan to study at Soka University.
Cultural
Exchange
When SGI President Daisaku Ikeda visited Mexico in 1981, he
delivered a speech at Guadalajara University, located in
Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, on the theme
"Thoughts on the Mexican Poetic Spirit," in which he
stressed the importance of exchanges of the heart. Dr. Rionda,
then dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at
Guanajuato University, arranged to have Mr. Ikeda's speech
translated into Spanish beforehand. He had developed a strong
interest in the SGI thanks to his friendship with a Japanese
student then studying at the university.
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The
opening of the "World Boys and Girls Art
Exhibition" at Hospicio Cabanas
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The current
academic exchange agreement has formed the foundation for a
solid bridge of friendship between the universities. Already,
two SGI-sponsored exhibitions have been held at Guanajuato
University--"Toward a Century of Humanity: An Overview of
Human Rights in Today's World" in September 1992, and an
exhibition of photographs by Daisaku Ikeda in November 1995.
Cultural exchange has also extended beyond the university
community. The SGI's "World Boys and Girls Art
Exhibition" was shown in Mexico in February 2000 at
Hospicio Caba's, another World Heritage Site, located in
Guadalajara. In March 2000, a celebration to mark the release
of the Spanish edition of A New Humanism, a collection
of Daisaku Ikeda's university lectures published in late 1999,
was also held at Guanajuato University.
Seeds of
Buddhism Blossom in Mexico
The first seeds of Nichiren Buddhism were sown in Mexico in
1965 by Luis Iwadare, who started practicing Buddhism in the
early '60s in Japan. Two years later, Alfonso Mizuki, who was
later to become SGI-Mexico's general director, joined the SGI.
These early pioneers were active in Mexico City, home to many
Japanese immigrants, but since the early 1980s SGI-Mexico has
spread to places such as Guadalajara and Veracruz, where
Mexican nationals are now playing a central role in
activities.
In the past, all religious activities in Mexico were strictly
controlled by law, but in 1992 new legislation relaxed
restrictions on religious activity. At that time, SGI-Mexico
was formally recognized by the government as a religious body.
In 1996, Roberto Rios, who formerly worked for the Ministry of
Education, succeeded Alfonso Mizuki as SGI-Mexico's general
director.
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Dr.
Rionda with exchange students from Soka
University
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At present, the
SGI-Mexico district in Guanajuato has 10 members. The pioneer
member in Guanajuato is 75-year-old Enriqueta Vazquez Magana.
Discussion meetings are held at her home, and she always
invites Japanese exchange students from Soka University and
many other exchange students enrolled in Spanish language
courses. The local district members fully support
SGI-sponsored activities which take place at the university,
such as the exhibitions mentioned earlier.
Language
Exchange
As a result of exchanges with Soka University, Guanajuato
University's language center now offers a Japanese language
course and currently provides about 100 Mexican students with
the best facility of its kind in Mexico for studying Japanese
culture.
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Midori
Kato (fifth from right) at a student exchange
festival held at Guanajuato University in
August 2000
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Midori Kato, who
has taught Japanese at the university since the language
course was first established, says that making the transition
from being a housewife to being a teacher was a tremendous
challenge. "In addition to teaching language classes, I
am currently teaching Japanese culture courses, so it feels
like I am indeed making some contribution to cultural exchange
and mutual understanding--even on a small scale." Ms.
Kato, not herself a member of SGI, is currently in the process
of taking a correspondence course offered through Soka
University's faculty of education. Prior to this, she earned
her qualification as a Japanese language instructor while
carrying out her full-time responsibilities as a mother and
housewife.
Ms. Kato also provides lodging for Japanese language students
attending the Spanish language summer school, and she is
actively involved as an instructor in these classes as well.
"It's a genuine exchange," she says. "I have
learned a tremendous amount from these students." The
Soka students have also come away from the exchange experience
enriched with lasting impressions: "Guanajuato appears to
be a very close-knit town where people really value their
families and friends. It's as if their lives are based on
empathy with other people," comments one student. Another
says, "I've already made up my mind to come back and live
in Mexico in the future. It's really fascinating because life
here is made up of a blend of elements from other
cultures."
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Roberto
Rios
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Roberto Rios,
general director of SGI-Mexico, says, "Nothing makes me
happier than seeing the steady growth of our contributions to
Mexican society and the expansion of our exchanges in the
fields of education and culture. I think this is the result of
long years of sincere exchanges on a personal level. Through
such dialogues we are able to demonstrate a profound sense of
humanity."
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