After 25 years of citizen level artistic, educational and environmental exchanges between Udaipur and Kyoto, Japan, leading universities in both cities are now keen to develop closer ties and innovative collaborative programs to promote “Creative Economies”.

Japan’s first delegation to explore these possibilities with Udaipur arrived this weekend and will meet with officials and scholars from Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Sir Padampat Singhania University, and IIMU as well as city officials and civil society leaders working on development, culture, tourism and the environment.

The group includes Kyoto University professor Akio Tanabe, founder/director of Japan’s Contemporary India Studies Centers, Prof Tadashi Yagi, founder of Doshisha University’s Creative Economy Study Center; and environmental scientist, Mr. Ryuichi Fukuhara, former wetland program director with UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Program.

The Japanese visitors and their Udaipur counterparts will examine the contrasts and commonalities between Kyoto and Udaipur as international heritage cities, as stressed economies, and as centers of academic & artistic excellence.

This visit was organized in Udaipur by Big Medicine Charitable Trust in collaboration with Mohanlal Sukhadia and Sir Padampat Singhania Universities; and is being generously hosted by Sri Vishwa Vijay Singh and the Udaipur Hotel Association at the Udai Kothi Hotel.

Udaipurites who would like to contribute to this conversation or simply learn more are invited to contact project organizers at info@bigmed.org.