Alfredo Rocafort receives the Diploma of Merit by the Japanese Government from the Japanese consul and honorary academician Naohito Watanabe
Mr. Naohito Watanabe and Dr. Alfredo Rocafort
Alfredo Rocafort, full academician and president of the Governing Board of the Royal European Academy of Doctors-Barcelona 1914 (RAED), received on 28 February at the hands of the Japanese general consul in Barcelona and honorary member of the RAED, Naohito Watanabe, the Diploma of Merit offered by the Government of Japan “for his remarkable contribution to promote academic exchange, mutual understanding and promotion of the friendly relationship between Japan and Spain in the conjuncture historic of an approach between both peoples”, as it appears in the diploma itself. A recognition that Rocafort extended to the Royal Academy during the solemn act of delivery, which was held at the official residence of the consul in Barcelona.
In his speech, Watanabe highlighted the academic and teaching career of the president of the Royal Academy, making special emphasis on his work as a researcher, supported by the publication of more than fifty books and numerous scientific articles. He also influenced his active participation in support of the acts that the consulate held throughout 2018 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Spain.
“The honouree has made several conferences possible and has promoted academic exchange on the occasion of the visit of the Japanese professors as well as divulging the commemorative events through their communication network -the consul pointed out-. I would also like to express my profound gratitude to the Royal European Academy of Doctors, a prestigious institution with a long history and a bastion of the interdisciplinary intellectuality that contributes to the progress of humanity and unifies knowledge, chaired by Alfredo Rocafort, with his outstanding dynamic leadership, his wisdom and an open vision has promoted academic internationalization”.
Rocafort, on the other hand, thanked the tribute so much in his name as in the name of Royal Academy and recalled his first contact with Japan, precisely in the development of his first doctoral thesis. “My first contact with Japan goes back almost 40 years, to when I was first there to analyse the organization of Japanese companies, the central theme of my first doctoral thesis. Where I had the opportunity to visit the most important companies and universities in Japan” -he remembered-. “It was there that I first came to know the values of the Japanese people, whom I admire so much, a country with millenary traditions in which many other peoples have been inspired”.
About Watanabe, the president of RAED praised his involvement with the institution. “Naohito Watanabe and his wife have made us the honour of having joined the Royal European Academy of Doctors. He has been a person who since he entered as honorary academician has participated actively, constantly”, concluded Rocafort.
