Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan visited Columbia University on September 22 to give an address at the World Leaders Forum. Registration open to the general university community was full within minutes of its release, and his talk was extremely well received by the audience. Click here to see his speech. In his speech, he also mentioned the importance of Japanese Studies and gives an honorable mention to Professor Patrick and CJEB. Please see the excerpt below from his speech (in Japanese and English). 「また日本研究は、両国の深遠な理解の出発点であります。この分野でコロンビア大学は優れた業績があり、日本との特別なつながりがあります。大学には、1980年代に設立された、日本経済経営研究所、日本法学研究所があり、長らく日本研究に携わられてきた素晴らしい教授陣という資産があるからであります。特にここにおられます、ジェラルド　カーティス教授、ヒュー　パトリック教授の長年にわたる日本研究の功績を改めて称えたいと思います。 今後とも、コロンビア大学を含め、世界の各拠点における日本研究の進展を強く期待し、私もできる限りの協力を行っていきたいと考えています。」 安倍総理大臣　2014年9月22日のコロンビア大学でのスピーチより “For Japan and the US, Japanese studies is the starting point for establishing a deep mutual understanding between the two countries. Columbia University is well-recognized in this field and has many special ties with Japan. This is because Columbia University has institutes like the Center on Japanese Economy and Business and The Center for Japanese Legal Studies, where both were founded in the 1980’s and have outstanding  professors who have been involved in Japanese Studies for a long time. I would like to take this opportunity to honor especially two professors, Professor Gerald Curtis and Professor Hugh Patrick, for what they have achieved over the years. I strongly hope Japanese Studies will continue to flourish in every part of the world as well as within Columbia University, and I hope to continue to support this field for as much as I can.” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , September 22, 2014 at Low Memorial Library, Columbia University