On June 18, 2014, 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 tell about Japanese culture, demonstrating kimono, shodo (calligraphy), origami, and so on. She was asked lots of questions about Japan there. Then she realized that Japanese culture is so rich and various, and she was surprised to know that Japanese culture is popular not only inside of Japan but also outside of Japan.

　She talked about her experience in Australia partly in English, and told students that it is important to have your dream, to know that there is not always one answer, and to have your own opinion and tell it to others.

On June 18, 2014