Speech by a Former Ukrainian International Student: What Can We Do?

2023/04/13

On January 12, a speech was given at Mita Campus by Kateryna Novytska, a former Ukrainian international student. After studying Japanese at Kyiv University, Kateryna studied at Keio University for one year starting in the fall of 2017. She currently serves as a program production director at NHK.

This speech was held for students currently enrolled in "EU-Japan Economic Relations," an English-taught course that Kateryna herself took during her time as an international student. On the day of the event, an audience of over 100 people, primarily undergraduates and exchange students, gathered, and Room 532 in the West School Building was filled with enthusiasm.

A portion of the event was featured on February 26 in the NHK BS1 Special "Deliver the Cries of Ukraine."

The speech began with happy childhood memories spent with her parents and younger sister. Her interest in Japanese anime and cosplay eventually led her to study Japanese and study abroad. During her time as an international student, her dreams came true as she immersed herself in the Japanese culture she loved. On the other hand, she was not very interested in domestic or international politics. Even after starting work at NHK, her responsibilities mainly focused on introducing Japanese history and social conditions through international broadcasting.

However, everything changed on February 24, 2022. Looking back, Russia occupied the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and the presence of pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine had caused continued instability thereafter. She expressed deep regret for not being interested in politics during that period and for not speaking out while in Japan, even though she could have. She felt that by doing so, she might not have lost the university professors and friends she had studied with.

After the invasion, some close friends returned to Ukraine from Japan. She felt that the only thing she could do while remaining in Japan was to continue accurately conveying the daily reality of Ukraine. This sentiment became the starting point for her subsequent activities.

Furthermore, the speech touched upon the current situation in Ukraine. The severity of the war remains unchanged. Her parents, who remain in the country, live amidst frequent sounds of bombing while facing electricity shortages and inadequate heating. Her younger sister, who fled to Japan to seek her help after the invasion, continues to study Japanese.

However, she is very concerned that despite the situation not changing, media coverage regarding Ukraine in Japan is decreasing. Regarding the content of such coverage, she noted that the phrasing "Russia and Ukraine were once one country and are brothers" is nothing more than Russian propaganda.

While it may be difficult to understand in Japan, where peace has become a daily routine, for Ukrainians, winning this war and peace have the same meaning. There are opinions that a ceasefire should be reached quickly to avoid further casualties. However, peace will not come through easy compromise. For that reason, citizens in Ukraine are voluntarily taking up arms and fighting.

She urged everyone to continue their support. It does not have to be just weapons; it can be hand warmers or batteries. Ukrainians are encouraged by the feelings behind such items. She asked everyone to remain interested, to look directly at the reality happening now, and to speak up if they feel it is necessary. By doing so, the world will know how wrong Russia's actions are.

The above is a summary of the speech. How did the students react to it?

First, most students were deeply moved by hearing directly from someone with friends and family on the ground that a war is actually continuing in this world right now.

On the other hand, during the speech, few students raised their hands when asked, "Would you fight if your country were invaded?" Japanese students in particular are accustomed to peace being a daily routine, as mentioned earlier, so the idea that "winning the fight leads to peace" may be somewhat difficult to understand.

This is likely a question that one can only answer when actually placed in that situation. One Japanese student stated that rather than trying to force themselves to agree with the Ukrainian perspective now, they should strive to understand the position and feelings they are in.

Among the attendees were many South Korean students, some of whom expressed that Ukraine is not someone else's problem, based on their experiences of serving in the military while feeling a real threat or living apart from family members who were detained for long periods. Additionally, a student from Taiwan stated that not only military power but also soft power, such as economic strength, is useful for protecting one's country.

In response to these points, many students from Europe, who feel a closer connection to Ukraine, expressed that the current situation is not just about rising energy prices affecting daily life, but a fight to protect human dignity. There were also sharp observations that in Japan, there is a tendency to avoid not only topics regarding soldiers and weapons but also issues that are difficult to conclude or that will inevitably lead to debate.

After listening to Kateryna's speech, the message that even from far-away Japan, simply remaining interested in Ukraine and speaking up if necessary can be a form of support likely reached everyone.

The course "EU-Japan Economic Relations," where this speech took place, is a Faculty of Economics subject that the author took over from Professor Sahoko Kaji of the Faculty of Economics in 2005. Furthermore, Professor Emeritus Toshiro Tanaka and Professor Yuichi Hosoya of the Faculty of Law have provided various forms of cooperation for a long time. It was only with such support that we were able to arrange an opportunity like this. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in both faculties.