On July 21, a delegation representing the Cameroonian government's reconstruction program for the country's Far North Region and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations（FAO）Cameroon office visited Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS). During discussions with President Haruna, Professor Makiko Sakai, Associate Professor Takanori Oishi, and Visiting Associate Professor Marlène Ngansop, the group explored potential collaborations in areas such as food security, the environment, and human resource development. Talks were also held regarding the dispatch of TUFS student interns to the FAO Cameroon office. Subsequently, the group moved to the Institute for Global Area Studies for a roundtable seminar focusing on the current situation in Cameroon's Far North Region and the development programs planned for the reconstruction of local livelihoods. Cameroon's Far North Region borders Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and Chad; the area's food production and infrastructure have suffered significant damage due to prolonged armed conflict. At the seminar, Dr. Nana Amadou presented the program on behalf of the delegation, followed by comments from Professor Sakai and Visiting Associate Professor Ngansop of TUFS, as well as Professor Ousmanou Adama from the University of Maroua--a partner institution of TUFS. A lively discussion ensued regarding the living conditions of people in the Far North Region and the Lake Chad area, the outlook for the conflict (which has not yet fully resolved), and the significance of and challenges facing the development plans. The seminar was attended by students of African Studies major and international students from Africa, including Ms. Ayaka Saeki, the first exchange student sent to the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon from TUFS.

Our staff member, Dr. Kana Miyamoto, presented at the Association of African Studies in Italy (Associazione per gli Studi Africani in Italia: ASAI) Conference held at Pavia University in Italy, and actively engaged with fellow researchers. Founded in 2010 (and legally established in 2011), ASAI is a nationwide academic association that brings together Africanist scholars across Italy. It is a member of AEGIS (the Africa-Europe Group for Interdisciplinary Studies), a network of African studies centres in Europe, and holds a biennial conference hosted by a different Italian university each time. Each conference is organized around a theme; this year's was "Africa and Its Waters: Flows, Fates and Frameworks." A total of 33 panels were convened, with interdisciplinary presentations delivered in Italian and English over three days, from July 1 to 3, 2026. Kana participated in Panel 15, "When Water Becomes Fuel: Sociotechnical Imaginaries and the Reconfiguration of H2O in African Energy Frontiers", where she delivered the following presentation. ◆ Date: 3 July 2026 ◆ Venue: Pavia University, Italy ◆ Title: Haunted Harbour: Hydrogen Development and Genocide Memory on Namibia's Southern Coast ◆ Presenter: Dr. Kana Miyamoto (African Studies Center, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies) ◆ Abstract: This paper examines how contemporary green hydrogen development on Namibia's southern coast unfolds within landscapes profoundly shaped by colonial genocide and its afterlives. Focusing on Lüderitz (Kakoverua, ǃNami≠Nüs) and its surrounding port and coastal infrastructures, the paper explores how hydrogen projects promoted as symbols of a green, post-carbon future are layered onto sites historically marked by the incarceration, forced labour, and death of Ovaherero and Nama people during German colonial rule. Drawing on anthropological fieldwork, archival research, and secondary sources such as documentary films, the paper traces the colonial genealogy of coastal infrastructures, including harbours, railways, and camps, and water systems, examines how these material legacies continue to shape contemporary development planning. While hydrogen imaginaries frame the coast as an "empty" or underutilised space suited for large-scale energy export, local residents, activists, and descendants of genocide survivors articulate these same landscapes as haunted, morally charged, and inseparable from histories of violence and dispossession. The paper analyses how genocide memory is negotiated, muted, or strategically mobilised in public debates over hydrogen infrastructure, port expansion, and desalination projects. It shows how processes of green industrialisation risk reproducing colonial patterns of erasure by prioritising global climate and export agendas over local histories of suffering and claims for recognition and reparative justice. At the same time, the paper highlights moments in which memory work through commemoration, storytelling, and place-based activism interrupts dominant narratives of green progress. Picture: Opening address at Aula Magna The panel was organized under the direction of Professor Naoki Naito (Tokushima University) and was made possible through funding from the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), "The Anthropology of Energy: A Comparative Study of the Impacts of Renewable Energy Development on Local Communities in Africa". Professor Marco Gardini (University of Pavia), Secretary General of the ASAI Conference, chaired the session, warmly introduced the President of ASAI and the other panel participants. In addition, during breaks between the conference sessions, Kana visited the University of Pavia History Museum and the Kosmos Natural History Museum. Curators at both institutions provided detailed explanations of the exhibition of human remains and the issues surrounding the repatriation of cultural objects collected in colonial times in the Italian context. This offered a valuable opportunity to compare these issues with the ongoing debates on restitution in her research theme in Namibia.

On July 15, 2026, a Farewell open lunch was hosted by ASC, using a room at TASC, to send off 4 exchange students who studied at TUFS during the 2025 Fall and 2026 Spring semesters. We gathered with Mr. Victor, Mr. Ade, and Ms. Aurelie, who received support through the crowdfunding campaign; Ms. Suzzy, whose exchange program was made possible through the generous contribution of airfare from ToyotaTsusho(TOYOTA Ghana); and Dr. Marlene, who had been visiting Japan as an invited associate professor. Japanese students and other African students who were able to attend that day, along with our center staff, also joined the gathering. Although the time was short, after everyone finished their lunch, we enjoyed pleasant conversations and spent a delightful moment together. They will soon return to their home countries, but there are also Japanese students from TUFS who will begin their exchange programs in Africa. We imagine they are looking forward to meeting again over there. We sincerely wish all of them continued success as bridges between Japan and Africa even after returning home.

Dr. Marlène Ngansop, our Visiting Associate Professor, gave a lecture at Kyoto University during the 23rd KU‑TUFS and 145th KUASS. She visited Kyoto and Shiga from July 16 to 19, engaging in academic exchange and delivering her invited talk as part of the KUASS program. Dr. Marlène Ngansop visited RIHN, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature and discussed the Cameroon research plan with Project Leader Dr. Hoang and Associate Professor Oishi as part of the collaborative project on ethical economies. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The report written by our Visiting Associate Professor Marlène is available here.We hope you will take a moment to read it. Kyoto Field Visit Report (July 16-19)by Dr.MarlèneNgansop Professor Takanori Oishi and I stayed in Kyoto Prefecture from July 16 to 19 as part of the mission activities. On July 16, we travelled to Kyoto and attended the Gion Festival. Upon arrival, we visited the Gion Festival, where we had the opportunity to observe the cultural activities taking place in the city. It was truly impressive to see the beautifully illuminated festival floats displayed throughout the different streets of Kyoto. Some of the floats featured symbolic representations of umbrellas, insects, and many other traditional figures, reflecting the richness of Japanese craftsmanship and cultural heritage. Throughout the festival, participants were seen offering prayers and making offerings to the deities, illustrating the deep spiritual connection and strong attachment of the Japanese people to their traditions. What also struck me was that several traditional townhouses located in the heart of the modern city were opened to the public, allowing visitors to admire symbolic cultural artifacts and decorations that have been carefully preserved despite the rapid modernization of urban life. The festival was further enlivened by lively musical parades, many of which were performed by young participants, demonstrating the active involvement of younger generations in preserving these cultural traditions. The streets were also lined with numerous traditional street food stalls and filled with residents dressed in elegant yukata/ kimono, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere that beautifully combined history, culture, and community life. We then proceeded to the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). On July 17, we participated in a working session as part of the ECOIP Project at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). The visit was guided by Dr Nguyen Hoang, who introduced us to the project team and gave us a tour of the institute's facilities, including its offices and research spaces. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the project's objectives, future directions, and planned activities. We also exchanged views on the socio-environmental impacts of commodity trade and agricultural expansion in Cameroon, with particular emphasis on the main drivers of deforestation. One of the key outcomes of the meeting was proposed a study visit to Cameroon to strengthen the project's implementation strategy and further enhance collaboration among the project partners. Following the meeting, we visited Kyoto University, where I delivered a presentation entitled Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Product value chains in Cameroon: a bioeconomy perspective on local processing. The presentation was well received by both the in-person and online participants and generated valuable discussions. Unfortunately, some participants were unable to join the online session because the registration link had not been sent to them. Following my presentation, the questions raised stimulated an engaging discussion on several key issues related to the sustainable development of processes Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) value chains. The discussion focused on the sustainability of the resource under large-scale processing, the need for certification of processed products to improve product reliability and facilitate access to national and international markets, as well as the structuring of supply basins and value chain actors. The discussion highlighted the potential of Cameroon NTFPs to support the regional bioeconomy. Participants also raised questions regarding benefit-sharing mechanisms, particularly the share of benefits received by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who constitute the primary collectors and carry out the initial stages of product processing. Many participants were surprised to learn about the wide diversity of value-added products derived from NTFPs in Cameroon. They were especially impressed that these products are processed locally by artisanal producers and small and medium-sized enterprises, demonstrating the significant potential of local industries to create value from forest resources and to support the transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy. Researchers from Kyoto University, who possess extensive experience with Non-Timber Forest Products, their processing, and the improvement of local livelihoods, particularly in Eastern Cameroon, participated in this conference. Among them were Professor Mitsuo Ichikawa and several other Japanese researchers. I also met Dr Towa Olivier William Kamgaing, who is currently a researcher at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). I began my master's research with him as part of the Forest Savanna Sustainability (FOSAS) project in Eastern Cameroon, funded by JICA and the Government of Cameroon. On 18 July, we visited the Lake Biwa Museum. I was particularly impressed by the museum, which presents the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of Japan's largest freshwater lake. The museum explores several interconnected themes. The Aquarium Zone features freshwater fish and other aquatic organisms from Lake Biwa and freshwater ecosystems around the world, highlighting the lake's unique biodiversity. The Lake Biwa and Its Formation section explain the geological history and evolution of Lake Biwa, one of the world's oldest lakes, through fossils, rocks, and interactive displays. The Nature and Ecosystems section presents the lake's habitats, flora, fauna, and ecological processes, emphasizing biodiversity conservation and environmental change. Finally, the Human Life and the Lake section illustrates the long relationship between local communities and Lake Biwa, including traditional fishing practices, agriculture, transportation, and daily life. It also showcases the region's cultural heritage through historical artefacts, traditional tools, crafts, and exhibitions demonstrating how people have adapted to and benefited from the lake over time. The museum has an impressive collection, including a wide variety of fish specimens, as well as extensive botanical and zoological collections. Many animal specimens are taxidermied and displayed in highly realistic natural settings that faithfully recreate their original habitats. The museum also features remarkable collections of plant and fish fossils, among other paleontological specimens. The aquarium section showcases a rich diversity of fish species and provides information on their ecology, biology, and scientific classification, offering visitors a deeper understanding of aquatic ecosystems. What impressed me most was the strong involvement of local communities. Many of the museum staff are residents of the Lake Biwa area, and local people actively contribute to specimen collection and documentation. The museum even includes a dedicated exhibition space showcasing collections gathered by community members, highlighting specimens and materials collected by local communities. This demonstrates the important role of community participation in scientific research and conservation. The close collaboration between scientists, museum professionals, and local communities makes the museum an outstanding example of community-based conservation and environmental education. On July 19, we visited the Kyoto Botanical Gardens before returning to Tokyo. Due to the hot summer season, the museum opens early in the morning to allow visitors to enjoy the exhibits during the cooler hours of the day, whereas the botanical garden's conservatory opens later. I was immediately impressed by the remarkable diversity of the gardens, which feature beautifully maintained landscapes, an impressive collection of flowering plants, artistic elements such as bear sculptures, and a large conservatory housing plant species. During my visit, I had the opportunity to observe a remarkable diversity of flowering plants, including hibiscus, sunflowers, Torenia hybrids, Petunia 'Sakura Sakura', Salvia splendens, and Senecio candicans, distinguished by its attractive silvery-white and green foliage. I also observed the fruiting stage of Camellia japonica as well as Castanea crenata (Japanese chestnut) and Vernicia fordii (kalo nut tree), Beyond its rich plant diversity, the botanical garden offers a picturesque and peaceful environment. Its beautifully landscaped grounds provide an ideal setting for relaxation, observation, and appreciation of plant diversity, making it an inspiring place for both visitors and researchers. During the visit, I observed visitors engaging with the gardens in different ways. While many people were simply enjoying the scenery, others were carefully observing and sketching plants in their natural surroundings. This highlighted the botanical garden's role not only as a recreational space but also as a center for education, scientific observation, and artistic inspiration.