On Friday, January 30, 2026, the J-PEAKS Special Lecture "Japan in the Age of GX and DX" was held in the Function Room of the Regional GX Innovation Co-Creation Center at Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT).

The event opened with an address by President Shigeharu Kamado, followed by a lecture titled "Customer-Offered Value and Monozukuri(the Japanese philosophy of manufacturing)" by Specially Appointed Professor Hisao Takahashi, who drew on his experience as a former Senior Managing Executive Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Following this, Mr. Yoichi Oya, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Malawi, delivered an insightful talk titled "Challenges for Japan as seen from Malawi". From a diplomatic perspective, he discussed the structure of Japan’s international cooperation, future prospects, and the vast potential of African nations. At the conclusion of the lecture, international students presented a bouquet of flowers to the recently retired Ambassador Oya, as the entire audience paid tribute to his many years of distinguished service.

The event proceeded in a friendly atmosphere and concluded on a high note with a review by Mr. Naohisa Hiragata, General Manager of the Bank of Japan Niigata Branch, followed by closing remarks. The lecture was attended by more than 50 people, including NUT students, faculty, staff, and representatives from government agencies and various organizations.

Through this project, NUT will continue to promote industry-academia-government-finance collaboration.

Issued by

Head Office for Research Strategy, Nagaoka University of Technology: Saito, Takei