To mark the occasion of “World Refugee Day” on June 20th, JELA collaborated with Professor Yohei Fujino, Keio University faculty and JELA’s Refugee Support Committee member, to plan and host a charity event, “Eat and Learn! All About Myanmar.”
As many as 58 people braved inclement weather to attend the event held at JELA Mission Center Hall. The event featured presentations by guest speakers Ms. Ai Kariya, Mr. Hirosuke Hoashi, and Ms. Nang Mya Kay Khaing, as well as a Myanmar curry tasting session hosted by Mr. Hoashi and a panel discussion with the three speakers.
Ms. Kariya, a physician from Myanmar, is pursuing a Ph.D. at Juntendo University Graduate School as a JELA Foundation scholarship recipient. Ms. Kariya explained the relationship between digital skills, health, and life expectancy, and discussed not only the health situation in Myanmar but also the health benefits of curry from a physician’s perspective.
Mr. Hoashi is a Myanmar cuisine researcher and a specialist in curry. His Myanmar curry has been featured and highly praised in the media. Mr. Hoashi spoke about how he came to make Myanmar curry and his passionate commitment to support the people of Myanmar.
Ms. Nang Mya Kay Khaing is a Special Research Fellow at Kyoto Seika University and the founder and director of the Myanmar-Japan Education Center. Speaking from her perspective as a scholar of Myanmar living in Japan, she elaborated on the situation in Myanmar following the military coup in 2021, the achievements of Myanmar nationals living in Japan, and the challenges they face after arriving in the country.
Following the lecture, attendees were treated to a selection of Myanmar curry that Mr. Hoashi had painstakingly prepared. The panel discussion focused on Myanmar’s society and culture— topics rarely covered in the Japanese media—and received positive feedback from many of the attendees. JELA Foundation will continue to support refugees in Japan and facilitate such events to promote awareness among the community and beyond.
