As part of its mission to broaden students’ global perspectives and strengthen intercultural understanding, the Department of English at Bethlehem University in coordination with JICA, Palestine office, organized a special lecture on Japanese poetry followed by an interactive session where students competed in a game of Karuta, on Thursday, 13 November 2025.
Dr. Kudo Masaki, Senior Representative of the JICA Palestine Office, Ms. Sachiko Kareki, Project Formulation Advisor, Prof. Peter Macmillan, the guest speaker who is a prize-winning translator, scholar, poet, and artist, met with Dr. Fadi Kattan, Executive Vice President of Bethlehem University, to discuss possible cooperation and future collaboration. The delegation was accompanied by Ms. Hana Barahmeh, Program Officer and Mr. Mohammad Saleem, PR Officer.
Dr. Iman Saca, the Academic Vice President, welcomed JICA officials and the guest speaker to Bethlehem University emphasizing the importance of such cultural exchanges. Dr. Masaki thanked Dr. Saca and Bethlehem University for making the event possible for JICA, Palestine.
The event that followed featured Prof. Peter MacMillan who gave a lecture on Japanese poetry, its importance to the culture and difference and similarity to western poetry and philosophy. Students and faculty members from the English department attended the session that was moderated by Ms. Hanadi Younan, Chairperson of the English Department. During the lecture, students explored the beauty of Japanese verse, reflected on parallels with Palestinian poetry, and at the end played the Karuta game that is based on Japanese poetry.
The interactive activities and open discussion offered students a unique space to connect, think creatively, and engage with global literary traditions, empowering them to grow as thinkers, writers, and global citizens.
