【Photo Diary】(3) Visit to France, Monaco and Albania

Published on July 22, 2025
I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my three-nation European tour which brought me to France, Monaco and Albania from June 7 to 13, 2025, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation.

[June 12, Tirana, Albania]


Photo of Associate Professor Ermal Xhelilaj of Vlora University and Yohei Sasakawa.
With Associate Professor Ermal Xhelilaj of Vlora University, who studied at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden under the Sasakawa fellowship program.
Since 1987, The Nippon Foundation has given fellowships to more than 730 fellows from about 80 countries to study at WMU under the Sasakawa fellowship program.


Photo of Western Balkans University President Ferdinand Gjana and Yohei Sasakawa.
Receiving a doctor honoris causa from Western Balkans University President Ferdinand Gjana.
I was awarded the honorary doctorate in recognition of my “visionary leadership and extraordinary contribution to global well-being, social inclusion, and human dignity,” the university said.
 


Photo of Yohei Sasakawa.
In my speech accepting the honor, I recounted my life journey from a childhood marked by loss and postwar hardship to a lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes and the protection of human dignity.

Photo of attendees at the function.
About 50 faculty members and students at the university attend the function.

(End)