On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, a ceremony was held at the Hotel Primrose Osaka to deliver a certificate of receipt from The Daiyukyo Foundation of International Exchange, Assistance and Research for a scholarship for Japanese students.

　This scholarship was newly established last year by a foundation based on the Osaka Amusement and Entertainment Industry Cooperative Association, and last year OCU selected Ms. Hanano Kakimoto (French language and literature), a third-year student in the Department of Language and Culture, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, through an internal selection process. However, because of COVID-19, her study abroad was unfortunately cancelled. Ms. Kakimoto, who was selected as a scholarship recipient again this year, said in her speech, "Believing that one day I would be able to study abroad, I disciplined myself and prepared by deepening my studies while in Japan. I am convinced that I will return from my study abroad with a deeper learning experience because of the struggles I experienced. This year, I would like to fulfill my dream of studying in Lyon, France, and eventually return to Japanese society, making use of my 11-month experience there.

OCU would like to express our sincere gratitude to the The Daiyukyo Foundation of International Exchange, Assistance and Research for providing not only this scholarship for Japanese students but also grants for international students. In the wake of the Corona disaster, there have been several cancellations and delays in study abroad and international exchange programs at our university, but we hope that the situation will gradually improve, and we will do our best to make use of alternatives like online exchanges.