Tokyo: Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) concluded his one-week official visit to Japan successfully. On his arrival at Narita airport on 21 September, Representative Dr Tsewang Gyalpo Arya and the staff of the Office of Tibet and local Tibetans received him with traditional Tibetan khatas. On the first day of his arrival, Sikyong visited the Japanese parliament building at Nagatacho, where Chairman Shimomura Hakubun of the Japanese Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet and the members received and welcomed him to the parliament`s conference hall.
Chairman Shimomura, Vice Chairman Watanabe, and Sakurai Yoshiko of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals welcomed Sikyong Penpa Tsering and appraised him of the working of the parliamentary support group and reaffirmed their continued support for the resolution of Sino-Tibetan conflicts.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering expressed profound thanks on behalf of all the Tibetans for the wholehearted support of the Japanese lawmakers. He informed the lawmakers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s good health and his four commitments, which the lawmakers received with thunderous claps. Sikyong talked about the importance of the Tibetan plateau and how it affects Southeast Asian countries and the world climate. He updated the parliamentarians on the current situation in Tibet and how communist China is trying to eradicate Tibetan identity, culture, and language.
He called on the parliamentarians to adopt resolutions similar to the U.S. Congress and appoint a special coordinator for Tibet. In addition, Sikyong requested financial help and cooperation to vitalize the Tibetan settlements and enhance human and material resources.
After the meeting with the parliamentarians, Sikyong visited former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s cabin in the parliament building and offered respect and prayed before the portrait of the deceased.
The next day, Sikyong visited two renowned universities in Chiba prefecture, Chiba Institute of Technology and Reitaku University, where he delivered a talk on “Tibet in the International Context” to the students and faculty members. In addition, he interacted with the students and studied the robots they created.
On the third day, Sikyong Penpa Tsering participated in a seminar titled “Tibet, Uyghur, and South Mongolia: occupied nations under the CCP, building a common ground,” where Sikyong was the main speaker. Japanese parliamentarians, think tank members, Uyghur and South Mongolia representatives, and media people attended the seminar at the Bunkyo civic centre hall in Tokyo.
After the seminar, Sikyong attended a press conference, where journalists and reporters from twelve major media in Japan interacted with him. He clarified the middle way approach and the historical reality of Tibetan independence and explained the current situation in Tibet.
On the fourth day, Sikyong visited the Office of Tibet and met with the Tibetans in Japan. He explained Kashag’s policy and requested the Tibetans not to forget their brothers and sisters suffering under the communist regime. He reminded them of their responsibility as Tibetans and to preserve Tibetan identity.
In the afternoon, Sikyong left for Saitama prefecture and visited Saitama Medical University, where Dr Kiyoyuki Maruki (M.D.), the grandson of the famous Dr Maruki Semei. The grandfather Dr Maruki helped educate the first five Tibetan students and twenty Tibetan nurses in the early 1960s. Dr Maruki and his medical team gave a presentation on the Medical university. Sikyong thanked Dr Maruki (M.D.)and the members for their help and cooperation. Dr Tsewang Nishikura and Dr Tamding Sedaiji were also on the team. Later, Sikyong met the Tibetans in Saitama and attended the dinner they hosted.
On the fifth day, Sikyong met with the representatives and members of Japan’s twelve major Tibet Support Groups. He thanked them for their support and updated them on the situation in Tibet and the policy of the Central Tibetan Administration. In the afternoon, Sikyong met with the Tibet House supporters, sponsors, volunteer translators, and helpers. Tibet House hosted dinner for Sikyong and the volunteers at Tashi Delek restaurant in Akebonobashi, Tokyo.
On the 6th day, Sikyong met with some important guests and sponsors and informed them of the areas where the Tibetan Administration needs help and cooperation. Later, Sikyong visited the Tibet House staff quarters. On the 7th morning, Sikyong left for Delhi after completing a one-week hectic and fruitful visit to Japan. Because of the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions, welcome receptions and parties involving food and drinks were omitted from the schedule.
The major achievement of the visit was meeting with the parliament members and getting their assurance for continued help and support. Sikyong met separately with some leaders and influential people to explore the training and employment of Tibetans in Japan. Saitama medical university agreed to take in Tibetan nurses with Japanese language proficiency. Setting up a Japanese language school was also discussed. Meeting with the support group members and general supporters helped strengthen the commitment and communication.
The parliamentarians, university faculty members, and supporters were impressed with Sikyong Penpa Tsering’s talks and diplomatic approach, and they assured their wholehearted support to the Tibet issue. Furthermore, Sikyong’s meeting with the parliament members, visit to Abe Shinzo’s cabin, and press conferences are well reported in the papers and local media outlets.
-Report filed by the Office of Tibet, Japan-