Event in honour of Professor Akiko Kiso  and Lecturer Kotaro Sugiyama, on the occasion of their translation in Japanese of the  orations of the ancient Athenian orator and politician Demosthenes,  Greek Ambassador’s Residence, 7 April 2005.

Announcement of a Greek – Japanese Joint Symposium: “The World of ancient Comedy. Tradition of Greece and Japan” (Sendai, June 3, 2005)

           On April 7th, a very successful event was organized at the Greek Ambassador’s Residence in honour of Professors Akiko Kiso (Osaka University) and Lecturer Kotaro Sugiyama, on the occasion of their recently edited translation (Vol 3 & 4) of the orations of the ancient Athenian orator and politician Demosthenes. An extensive number of audience (academics, diplomats, representatives of the Classical Society of Japan, the Asiatic Society of Japan, members of the Greek community in Japan etc) attended the event.

            Professor Akiko Kiso made a short presentation of her work, followed by a photo projection of historical sites in Greece where the ancient Greek orator and politician Demosthenes was active as an orator and politician.

            The Greek Ambassador Mr. K. Rodoussakis congratulated and thanked the team of Professors for their excellent effort  to convey to the Japanese public the literary charm and the political message of such a great ancient personality as Demosthenes.

            Furthermore, the Greek Ambassador said that the Embassy of Greece is happy to establish close cooperation with the Classical Society of Japan. The Society has an excellent record of studies, as well as literary translations into Japanese and numerous publications on works of ancient Greek and Latin writers and poets. In the context of this cooperation, the first Japan – Greece Joint Symposium on “The World of ancient Comedy – Tradition of Greece and Japan” was announced by the Ambassador.

            The said Symposium will be jointly organized by the Greek Embassy in Tokyo and the Japanese Classical Society. The Symposium is going to be held in the city of Sendai on the eve of the annual Congress of the Classic Society of Japan (June 3^rd, 2005. Full program of the Joint Symposium can be found in the Cultural Column of the Embassy’s website).

            In the said Symposium two distinguished Greek Professors specially invited by the Symposium’s organizers will address the participants. Actually, Professor Emeritus of Ioannina University Mr. Theofanis Kakridis and Professor Emeritus of the Thessaloniki University Mr. Nikos Hourmouziades will speak about Greek Comedy and ancient Greek plays’ staging in ancient and modern Greece.

             The Greek Ambassador invited all the participants to attend the Symposium in Sendai on June 3^rd, 2005.

              A reception followed at the Ambassador’s Residence during which traditional Greek delicacies and drinks were offered with a Greek music background.