京都大学ブータン友好プログラム : その歴史的展望

Abstract

This article aims to describe the project called "Kyoto University Bhutan Friendship Program (KU-Bhutan)" in the historical perspective. KU-Bhutan started in 2010, as a unique outreach activity of the university. Kyoto University is known as the pioneering fieldworks. In the fall of 1957, the late Prof. Takeo Kuwabara and the late Prof. Johji Ashida welcome the third queen of Bhutan in Kyoto when there was not yet any formal diplomatic relationship between Japan and Bhutan. This was the first step to Bhutan that was followed by the first survey of Bhutan by Prof. Sasuke Nakao in 1958. Since then, there has been a lot of expeditions from Kyoto University to Bhutan. KU-Bhutan aims to revitalize the tradition and enforce the connection between Kyoto University and Bhutan. The project consists of five major topics; Health including the GNH issue, Culture and Education, Nature and Ecosystem, Safety and Security, and Mutual contribution. In the first two fiscal years in 2010 and 2011, the program sent 8 parties of 50 members in total including professors, administration staffs, graduate students and undergraduate students. The KU-Bhutan program will continue to be a heuristic approach toward understanding Bhutan as a whole.