Haruki Murakami, Honorary Doctor of M.U.S.T. (left 6) taking group photo with Chancellor Liu Chak Wan and the delegation
The ceremony for the presentation of the honorary doctorate certificate to Haruki Murakami by Macau University of Science and Technology took place on the afternoon of December 8, 2023, at the VIP Room of the Main Building of Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. The main guests attending the ceremony include: Mr. Takeo Kawamura, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, former Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences of M.U.S.T.; Mrs. Murakami; Dr. Liu Chak Wan, Chancellor of M.U.S.T. ; Chair Prof. Joseph Hun-wei Lee, Vice Chancellor and President of M.U.S.T.; Dr. Chen Ji Min, Secretary General of the University Council; Chair Prof. Paul Kwong Hang Tam and Chair Prof. Jiang Zhi Hong, Vice Presidents; Ms. Su Hsiang Mei, Member of University Council; Ms. Chu Oi Mei, Head of the Secretariat of the President's Office; Prof. Wang Wenmin, Faculty of Innovation Engineering - Program Director of the School of Computer Science and Engineering; Prof. Yoshihiro Watanabe, Executive Vice President of Waseda University, Japan; Prof. Kimiko Kono of the Faculty of Literature and Academic Research; and Ms. Asami Sakamoto, the Chairperson of CITIC Publishing Japan and the CEO of Nihon Shohin Banking Corporation, etc.
President Joseph Hun-wei Lee gave a speech
At the beginning of the ceremony, President Joseph Hun-wei Lee delivered a speech introducing the overview of Macau University of Science and Technology and its development achievements in recent years. M.U.S.T. implements an education model of “equal emphasis on teaching and research”. The university has three national-level research platforms and more than 20 interdisciplinary research centers. The first scientific satellite "Macao Science-1" jointly developed by the China National Space Administration and the Macao SAR Government was successfully launched on May 21 this year. President Xi Jinping responded to representatives of M.U.S.T. faculty and students who participated in the satellite project with cordial encouragement. Following that, President Lee paid tribute to honorary doctoral recipient, Haruki Murakami, on behalf of M.U.S.T., and said that he had read his excellent works many years ago, and highly praised his remarkable literary contributions and achievements. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of culture and art, M.U.S.T. awarded Haruki Murakami an honorary Doctor of Literature degree. President Lee also expressed his heartfelt thanks to President Aiji Tanaka of Waseda University for the meticulous arrangements made for this visit.
Dr. Liu Chak Wan, Chancellor of M.U.S.T. presented the honorary Doctor of Literature certificate to Haruki Murakami
In his speech, Takeo Kawamura expressed his honor as an Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences from M.U.S.T. to attend the award ceremony of the certificate of the honorary doctoral degree to Haruki Murakami. He pledged to work together with Haruki Murakami in contributing to the development of M.U.S.T. and cultural exchange between China and Japan.
Takeo Kawamura gave a speech
Haruki Murakami expressed gratitude for the honor bestowed upon him by M.U.S.T.. As a writer and novelist, his work involves crafting and writing imaginative stories that may not have a direct connection to technology. However, he sincerely hopes that his works can bring fantasy, inspiration, and creativity to the world of science and technology.
Group photo: (from the left): Joseph Hun-wei Lee, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Liu Chak Wan
Watanabe Yoshihiro, Executive Vice President of Waseda University, said in his speech that Haruki Murakami is a graduate of Waseda University and that he received an honorary doctorate from Macau University of Science and Technology is also a pride for Waseda University. He hopes to take this as an opportunity to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two universities.
Finally, Chancellor Liu Chak Wan presented commemorative gifts to honorary doctoral recipient Haruki Murakami and Executive Vice President Watanabe Yoshihiro, and the ceremony concluded in an atmosphere of harmony, friendship, and joy.
