On 10 March 2026, Hiroko Sugiki from the Japan Foundation’s Tokyo headquarters visited Movi and also met with the University’s Rector, Jari Ojala.
The Japan Foundation (https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/) is the world’s largest and most significant organisation promoting Japanese language and culture as well as international cooperation, with offices around the world.
A representative of the foundation, Hiroko Sugiki, visited the University of Jyväskylä as her sole destination in Finland. The Japan Foundation organises the globally respected Japanese Language Proficiency Test (https://www.jlpt.jp/e/index.cgi), which has been held in Finland once a year by the Embassy of Japan. There are plans to transfer the proficiency test in Finland to Movi at the University of Jyväskylä.
During her visit, Hiroko Sugiki became acquainted with Movi’s activities.
She also discussed cooperation opportunities with Rector Jari Ojala and was impressed by the University of Jyväskylä’s extensive cooperation with Japan and its plans for the future. She was particularly impressed by the interesting Japan-related events organised by Movi over the years. Movi also received special thanks for the diversity and high quality of its Japanese language and culture teaching.
During her visit, Hiroko Sugiki observed Movi’s Japanese language teaching in the Japanese Language and Society 4 (Japanin kieli ja yhteiskunta 4) and Japanese Characters and Reading 1 (Japanin kielen kirjoitusmerkit ja lukeminen 1) courses.
In addition to the students’ active participation, she also enjoyed meeting Campus Dog Patsy. She found the volunteer-based Campus Dog activities and the students’ participation in the planning and implementation of Japan-related events to be unique.
Movi has been collaborating with the Japan Foundation for a long time, and particularly actively since 2011, when Movi’s Japanese teacher Pauliina Takala completed supplementary studies for Japanese language teachers at the Urawa Teacher Training Centre.
Movi has also received a grant from the Foundation for the production of learning materials, and its Japanese courses use the Japan Foundation’s electronic Irodori materials.
The visit strengthened cooperation between the University of Jyväskylä and the Japan Foundation and opened up new opportunities for collaboration.
