On May 13, 2015, Ms. Atsuko Aoki, who worked at the Consulate General of Japan in Perth, Australia, gave us a lecture entitled “What Is Required to Be Global?”

　Ms. Aoki used to work for Hyogo Prefectural Government and was temporarily transferred to the Consulate General of Japan in Perth, Australia from 2002 to 2004. She was in charge of culture and information affairs and visited schools around Perth to show and explain Japanese culture, demonstrating kimono, shodo (calligraphy), origami, sado (tea ceremony) and so on. She was asked lots of questions about Japan there. Then she realized that Japanese culture is very rich and varied.

　She told students that it is important to have your own dream, to know that there is not always one viewpoint, and to have your own opinion and express it to others.

Ms. Atsuko Aoki, who worked at the Consulate General of Japan in Perth, Australia