Surabaya Consulate-General of Japan to visit Pesantren Darul Ulum

Jombang, NU Online
Japan Consulate-General in Surabaya, Shijo Sato, visited the Darul Ulum Islamic Boarding" Pesantren" school in Jombang, East Java, over the weekend. He was accompanied by one of his deputies Yushi Suzuki to observe an educational institution for children with autism.

Formerly, he attended a meeting taking up issues on cultures of Japan and information dealing with education scholarships in Japan.<>

At the meeting held at Darul Ulum University (Unipdu), Sato explained more about anything related to his beloved country, starting from its culture, kind of clothing, religious rituals, sports, fashion trends, latest advances in technology and so on.

So far, he has four times visited the pesantren under the supervision of KH M As'ad Umar. First, it was conducted at the early time of his post. Second was coinciding with the delivery of medical assistance for the University Hospital. Present also on the occasion was General Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Hasyim Muzadi.
 
His third was conducted together with the Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information Muhammad Nuh at a cornerstone laying ceremony to construct both multimedia and Language study center building at Unipdu.

"We are really grateful for the government of Japan has given more attention to the ducation we are handling," Rector Assistant II of Unipdu, M Zulfikar As'ad who is also the alumnus of Yogyakarta's Gajah Mada University said.

Zulfikar said that Sato was of view that the Pesantren Darul Ulum could be considered as a very important educational institution for its role "in abolishing negative images and stereotypes from many Japan's people and world community dealing with pesantren." (sbh)