On Saturday, February 14, 2026, an exchange event was held at Sophia University’s Yotsuya Campus as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s Friendship Ties Program “MIRAI.” The program, titled “Western Balkans Meet Japan: A Bridge into the Future,” was conducted following the successful implementation of similar events in the previous two years. This year’s event brought together 14 young participants from the Western Balkan countries—including Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina—and 11 students from Sophia University.

At the beginning of the program, Professor Taro Komatsu from the Department of Education, Faculty of Human Sciences, delivered a lecture focusing on the role of education in peacebuilding. His insights into the Balkan issues, drawn from his own personal experiences in the region, provided participants with a compelling and thought-provoking perspective.

This was followed by group sessions in which the Western Balkan youth delegation and Sophia University students were divided into mixed groups to engage in active discussions. From multiple perspectives, participants explored topics such as how past wars are conveyed in post-conflict education, as well as the processes of peace and reconciliation. The sessions were marked by participants listening attentively to one another’s experiences and backgrounds and exchanging frank and meaningful opinions.

During the group presentations that followed, a wide range of themes were addressed, including lessons learned from past conflicts and challenges facing peacebuilding efforts today. Through these presentations, participants demonstrated a shared commitment to deepening mutual understanding beyond differences in national borders and perspectives.

After the sessions, participants enjoyed lunch together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The event concluded with a campus tour, during which the group visited notable sites such as Kulturheim Chapel and Kioi-tei Hall. Learning about the history of Sophia University and aspects of Japanese architectural culture made the experience particularly memorable for the visiting youth.

This event provided a valuable opportunity for young people from diverse cultural and historical backgrounds to come together and engage in meaningful dialogue on peace. Many participating students commented that the exchange helped them reaffirm the importance of considering peace education from the perspectives of countries that have experienced war, while also allowing them to recognize both the commonalities and differences in peacebuilding efforts across nations.

Sophia University will continue to actively support initiatives that contribute to deeper mutual understanding and peacebuilding through international exchange programs such as this.