Chuo University Press (Tokyo) has published a magnificent volume in issues 11 and 12 of Volume 132 of its ‘Loi Shinpo’ (Progress or Evolution of Law) series, paying tribute to two eminent law professors from the university: Professors Maki Nishiumi (Saikai) and Yoichi Miyano.

We would particularly like to pay tribute to our colleague and, above all, our friend Maki Nishiumi, who played a fundamental role in the creation of the NihonEuroA network. It is thanks to him that the first mobility agreement between professors and students was adopted between the University of Tours and Chuo University, thereby enabling nearly thirty students from the Master’s in European Affairs programme at Tours to benefit from a six-month mobility placement in Tokyo.

Professor Nishiumi also enabled us to meet a large number of his colleagues from other Japanese universities, which in turn allowed us to gradually build the NihonEuropA network as it exists today. We have been working together for over 15 years.

Now that the time has come for him to retire, this magnificently produced 1,125-page volume, entitled « Collection of Retirement Commemorative Papers », contains 49 contributions from Japanese and French colleagues. For our part, we have decided to pay a very personal tribute to our colleague Maki Nishiumi to thank him for the extraordinary opportunity he has given us to experience this all-consuming passion for Japan…