On Friday 31 January 2025 at 6pm we will have our 2025 shinnenkai – new year meeting – in central Tokyo.
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Friday 24 January 2025. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
On Friday 20 December 2024 at 6pm we will have our 2024 bonenkai – year end meeting – in central Tokyo.
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Friday 13 December 2024. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
Trinity Japan member and prolific film director John Williams (Professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo) will show two of his recent films in Tokyo, and we are planning Trinity Japan discussion dinners with John Williams in the New Year 2025 on John’s films.
『北鵜島』North Cormorant Island
“North Cormorant Island”, Director John Williams, will be shown on Saturday 30 November 2024 at 12:40, and on Monday 9 December 2024 at 14:20 at the Tokyo Documentary Film Festival 2024 at Tokyo Shinjuku K’s Cinema
“Tabi/Another Time” (film in Japanese with English subtitles), Director John Williams, will be shown on Saturday 14 December 2024 at 18:00 (doors open at 17:30) in Library, Room 911, Sophia University, Tokyo. Film followed by Q&A with the puppets and a Live Tanuki.
A young woman travels to a remote village on Sado Island in Japan to photograph the local puppets, but when she arrives there, she learns that the puppets do not perform anymore and the village is abandoned and haunted by ghosts, one of which may be herself in a previous tragic life. The film is shot entirely in the village of Kitaushima on Sado Island.
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
On Friday 15 November 2024 at 6pm we will have our dinner in central Tokyo.
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Friday 8 November 2024. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
Trinity Japan dinner with Dame Carol Black (Chair of The British Library Board) and Sir Roly Keating (Chief Executive of The British Library) on Thursday 31 October 2024 in Tokyo.
Professor Stephen Toope (Trinity 1983), President and CEO of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) on his recent book “A Rule of Law for Our New Age of Anxiety” and thoughts of a Vice-Chancellor
Kazumi Nishikawa, Principal Director, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry (METI), “latest developments of METI/GOJ’s economic security policy and Japan’s innovation policy”
Location: central Tokyo, I will inform registered participants of the location and other details
Tuesday 8 October 2024 at 17:00 in Tokyo
5:00pm – 6:00pm moderated discussion with Professor Stephen Toope on his recent book “A Rule of Law for Our New Age of Anxiety” and other topics, moderated by Gerhard Fasol. Participants who like to contribute to the discussion, are requested to send a short outline of their question or contribution to Gerhard Fasol until about one week before the event
6:00pm – 6:30pm Kazumi Nishikawa, Principal Director, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry (METI), “latest developments of METI/GOJ’s economic security policy and Japan’s innovation policy”
6:30pm – 9:00pm dinner
followed by nijikai (not included, costs shared by participants)
All Trinity Fellows, alumni, members, students globally are welcome to join us.
Fee to include drinks party, dinner and unlimited drinks (from a limited menu): to be advised. (nijikai will be extra)
Registration and prepayment: required until Thursday 5 September 2024. For registration please use the form below.
Professor Stephen Toope (Trinity 1983)
Professor Stephen Toope is currently the 5th President and CEO of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)
From 2017 – 2022, Professor Toope was the 346th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
Professor Toope (Trinity 1983) graduated with a PhD in arbitration law from Trinity College Cambridge in 1987, and on 21 October 2016 was elected Honorary Fellow of Trinity.
Professor Toope graduated with an A.B. degree in English Literature and European History from Harvard College, and graduated with law degrees in common law and civil law from the McGill University Faculty of Law in 1983.
Professor Toope has served in a long list of leadership positions including Dean of McGill University Faculty of Law, Head of the Trudeau Foundation, 12th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, Director of the University of Toronto Munk School of Global Affairs, 346th Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, and now President and CEO of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), as well as a sequence of distinguished Professorships, and honorary positions and distinctions.
Mixed international Arbitration, author: Stephen J Toope, Cambridge University Press, 1990
Legitimacy and Legality in International Law: An Interactional Account (Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law, Book 67), authors: Jutta Brunnée, Stephen J Toope, Cambridge University Press, 2010
After the Paris Attacks: Responses in Canada, Europe, and Around the Globe, editors: Edward M Iacobucci, Stephen J Toope, University of Toronto Press, 2015
Register, enquiries
all Trinity Fellows, alumni and members are very welcome. Please state your connection to Trinity.
Ivan Sorrentino (Trinity 1988), Head of Regional Marketing, Northeast and Southeast Asia Pacific Cambridge University Press and Assessment, will talk on “Japan and the English language”
and Michael Banner to give an update on the College
We founded Trinity in Japan on 5 September 2014 – we will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Trinity in Japan with an event in Tokyo on Friday 6 September 2024.
Highlight of our 10 year celebration will be Ivan Sorrentino addressing one of the most charming and puzzling aspects of Japan – the general level of English in Japan. Ivan read Chemistry and Maths at Trinity, and for the last 30 years in the English language teaching industry in Japan, most in leading roles at Cambridge University Press.
All Trinity Fellows, alumni, members, students globally are welcome to join us.
6:00pm – 7:00pm Ivan Sorrentino: “Japan and the English language”. Talk and discussion
7:00pm – 9:00pm dinner, with Michael Banner to give us an update on the College
9:15pm – nijikai (attending nijikai only is also a possibility)
Registration and prepayment before Friday 30 August 2024. I will send prepayment details to those who register with me.
Trinity in Japan – Mission (English version)
トリニティ・イン・ジャパンの目的・ミッション(日本語版)
Trinity in Japan mission (Japanese language version)
“Japan and the English language” – summary
Why is the general level of English in Japan so low? Is this an intrinsic problem with the system of education or an unrealistic expectation from outside. Many factors are involved in determining how easy specific language learning is in any given country, and Japan is no exception. These factors include motivation, teaching styles, assessment types, recognition and washback. Given this backdrop, what are the possible ways forward for Japan?
Ivan Sorrentino (Trinity 1988)
Head of Regional Marketing, Northeast and Southeast Asia Pacific Cambridge University Press and Assessment
Ivan is the Head of Regional Marketing for the English language teaching and learning materials and exams at Cambridge University Press and Assessment, based in Tokyo. Although his current geographical remit covers countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Australia, the earlier part of his career was focused on Japan promoting materials and teaching methodologies aimed at prioritizing communicative competence and active learning over rote memorization.
In addition, his remit includes Recognition, where companies, educational institutes, ministries, and immigration departments recognize Cambridge exams as one of the key admission criteria.
Ivan Sorrentino (Trinity 1988) graduated with a BA in Chemistry and Mathematics from Trinity College and Cambridge University.
The Revd Dr Michael Banner
Dean of Chapel and Fellow, Director of Studies in Theology, Chair of Alumni Relations and Development, Trinity College
At the 10 years Trinity in Japan event, Founder and Chair, Gerhard Fasol, talked about mission and aims of Trinity in Japan. Trinity in Japan is the Japan organization and alumni organization of Trinity College Cambridge. Trinity College is Cambridge University’s largest College with 34 Nobel Prize winners and much impact on the world, including of course Japan:
Why is the general level of English in Japan so low? Is this an intrinsic problem with the system of education or an unrealistic expectation from outside. Many factors are involved in determining how easy specific language learning is in any given country, and Japan is no exception. These factors include motivation, teaching styles, assessment types, recognition and washback. Given this backdrop, what are the possible ways forward for Japan?
Ivan Sorrentino (Trinity 1988)
Head of Regional Marketing, Northeast and Southeast Asia Pacific Cambridge University Press and Assessment
Ivan is the Head of Regional Marketing for the English language teaching and learning materials and exams at Cambridge University Press and Assessment, based in Tokyo. Although his current geographical remit covers countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Australia, the earlier part of his career was focused on Japan promoting materials and teaching methodologies aimed at prioritizing communicative competence and active learning over rote memorization.
In addition, his remit includes Recognition, where companies, educational institutes, ministries, and immigration departments recognize Cambridge exams as one of the key admission criteria.
Ivan Sorrentino (Trinity 1988) graduated with a BA in Chemistry and Mathematics from Trinity College and Cambridge University.
Reyhan Silingar (Trinity 2021), member of Trinity in Japan and regular participant in our meetings here in Tokyo, and PhD candidate at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, is currently working in Japan researching the role of the Japanese Emperor in Japan’s diplomacy both before and after the critical year 1945.
Reyhan Silingar’s PhD thesis topic: Mobilising Monarchy: Emperor Hirohito and Japan’s Imperial House Diplomacy, 1921-1975
Based on her immersion into researching Japan’s Emperor and Imperial Household, Reyhan recently published some of her views on the Japanese Imperial Majesties visit to the UK in June 2024.
Read Reyhan Silingar’s article here:
Reyhan Silingar, “Monarchical Diplomacy in Japan-UK Relations – A recent state visit by Emperor Naruhito recalls the long history of monarch-to-monarch relations in Japanese and British foreign policy”, The Diplomat, August 15, 2024,
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
On Friday 23 August 2024 at 6pm we will have our dinner in central Tokyo.
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Friday 16 August 2024. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
Michael Maclay (Trinity 1972), Executive Chairman of the strategic consultancy Montrose Associates on “Strategic Intelligence”
On Monday 22 July 2024 at 6pm Michael Maclay (Trinity 1972) will discuss Strategic Intelligence at our Trinity in Japan dinner in central Tokyo.
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
6:00pm – 7:00pm Michael Maclay on Strategic Intelligence
7:00pm – 9:00pm dinner
9:15pm – nijikai
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Monday 15 July 2024. I will send location details, payment and account details for prepayment to those who register.
Michael Maclay (Trinity 1972), Executive Chairman of the strategic consultancy Montrose Associates
As a UK Foreign Office diplomat Michael was career diplomat for eight years in Lagos, the British Mission to the United Nations, and in the Foreign Office. He worked at the Foreign Office as a special adviser to the foreign secretary, Douglas Hurd, dealing mainly with the politics of the European Union and the Balkans. Michael worked with Swedish politician Carl Bildt, High Representative for Bosnia, as his special adviser and chief spokesman. Michael also worked as Journalist and television producer.
Montrose Associates provides its clients with the strategic intelligence, insights and perspective to help them to take the best possible decisions.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
Jason James, Director General of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation will talk about Trinity alumnus Keiichi Kurosawa (黒澤敬一), early Western music pioneer
Video event (zoom, link will be sent to all registered in advance)
17:00 Tokyo time, Thursday 18 July 2024 start
9:00am UK time, Thursday 18 July 2024
17:15 – 18:00 (Tokyo time) James Jason: “Keiichi Kurosawa (黒澤敬一, Trinity), Japan’s early Western music pioneer” (zoom)
9:15am – 10:00am (UK time)
18:00 – (Tokyo time) discussions
10:00am – (UK time)
Prior registration required until Wednesday 17 July 2024. For registration you can use the form below.
Keiichi Kurosawa (黒澤敬一, Trinity 1925)
Eldest son of a wealthy Japanese industrialist, Keiichi Kurosawa (黒澤敬一) (Trinity 1925) took his Bachelor’s degree in Moral Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the late 1920s. He was deeply involved in the music scene at Trinity during his time there, and through something of an accident came to discover the joys of madrigal singing. On his return to Japan he founded a madrigal group (Tokyo Madrigal Singers, 東京マドリガル会) and a string orchestra, and he and his circle played a key role in introducing Western ‘early music’ to Japan.
Keiichi Kurosawa matriculated at Trinity in October 1925, and graduated with a BA degree in June 1928.
Speaker: Jason James
Jason James OBE is Director General of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation.
Having been fascinated by Japan on a choir tour at the age of 13, he chose to read Japanese Studies at King’s College, Cambridge, where he was a double scholar (academic and choral), graduating with a “starred first” (only the third time this accolade had ever been awarded by Cambridge’s Japanese Department) in 1987. Subsequently he worked in the financial industry, mostly specialising in Japanese equities, becoming Head of Research in the Tokyo office of HSBC Securities, and eventually Head of Global Equity Strategy at HSBC in London. From 2007-2011 Jason was Director of the British Council in Japan, during which time he also served as Chair of the European Union National Institutes of Culture Japan cluster, a Board Member of the Japan-British Society, and a Board Member of United World Colleges Japan. In London, in addition to his day job he was a Trustee of the Japan Society for six years, and a member of the Japan Season of Culture Action Committee. Jason is currently a member of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group and a Governor of King’s College School, Cambridge.
Jason’s interest in Japan is broad, covering the economy, financial markets and tax, as well as Japanese literature, art and history, and the relationship between the UK and Japan. Publications range from ‘The Political Economy of Japanese Financial Markets’ (co-author, Macmillan 1999), to ‘Edmund Blunden and Japan’ (Asiatic Society, 2010). Jason received an OBE for services to UK/Japan relations in The King’s Birthday Honours 2023.
Registration and enquiries:
Anonymous registrations are not accepted, please introduce yourself briefly when you register.
We will upload the recording to the Trinity in Japan Youtube Channel – by participating you agree to the upload of the recording:
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
On Friday 21 June 2024 at 6pm we will have our dinner in central Tokyo.
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Cost of this meeting will be YEN 11,000 per person including Kaiseki banquet-style dinner and unlimited drinks from a fixed list, nijikai is extra.
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Friday 14 June 2024. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
On Friday 31 May 2024 at 6pm we will have our dinner in central Tokyo.
Dominic Lieven is planning to join us.
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Cost of this meeting will be YEN 11,000 per person including Kaiseki banquet-style dinner and unlimited drinks from a fixed list, nijikai is extra.
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Friday 24 May 2024. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
On Friday 10 May 2024 at 6pm we will have our dinner in central Tokyo this time with Kanazawa College of Art alumni
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Cost of this meeting will be YEN 11,000 per person including Kaiseki banquet-style dinner and unlimited drinks from a fixed list, nijikai is extra.
Registration and prepayment until one week before on Friday 3 May 2024. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity members – Fellows, Past Fellows, students, alumni very welcome
On Friday 29 March 2024 at 6pm we will have our お花見 🌸 dinner in central Tokyo.
6:00pm – 8:30pm dinner
8:45pm – nijikai
Cost of this meeting will be YEN 11,000 per person including Kaiseki banquet-style dinner and unlimited drinks from a fixed list, nijikai is extra.
Registration and prepayment until Friday 22 March 2024. I will send location details and account details for prepayment to those who register.
To register:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
Mr Andreas Demetriades, Consultant Neurosurgeon and Spinal Surgeon, outgoing President at European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (Trinity 1997)
On Saturday 3 February 2024 in central Tokyo.
Mr Andreas Demetriades video event with Trinity Japan
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
Professor Sarah Teichmann FRS (Trinity 1993), Head of Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge
Professor Sarah Teichmann (Trinity 1993), Head of Cellular Genetics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, Director of Research at the Cavendish Lab, and alumna of Trinity, has kindly agreed to give us a video talk and discussion on her work.
Professor Sarah Teichmann’s principles: Be Bold. Be Brilliant. Be Kind.
17:00 Tokyo time, Tuesday 3 Oct 2023 start
9:00am UK time, Tuesday 3 Oct 2023
17:15 – 18:00 (Tokyo time) Professor Sarah Teichmann “Mapping the human body: one cell at a time” (zoom)
9:15am – 10:00am (UK time)
18:00 – (Tokyo time) discussions
10:00am – (UK time)
Prior registration required until Monday 2 October 2023. For registration you can use the form below.
Professor Sarah Teichmann FRS
Sarah heads Cellular Genetics / Teichmann Lab at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, is Director of Research at the Cavendish Lab in Cambridge, and visiting research group leader at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), and Senior Research Fellow at Churchill College Cambridge.
From 2005 to 2015, Sarah was Teaching Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity.
In 2020, Sarah was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
Sarah completed her Natural Sciences Tripos at Trinity with a first class BA in 1996, followed by her PhD at the LMB (Laboratory of Molecular Biology).
All Trinity members, Fellows and students globally are very welcome to pre-register, and I will send a registration link if there are still places available.
In “Your message” box please state:
which event(s) you are interested to attend,
your full name, briefly introduce yourself if this is your first time to attend a Trinity in Japan event,
your affiliation with Trinity College Cambridge – Trinity students, PhD students are especially welcome
If you are not associated with Trinity College Cambridge, you may still attend as a guest in certain cases – in this case please write a short sentence why you are interested to attend and participate in the discussion,
Thank you – we ask for your understanding that “anonymous” participation (eg name unknown to us, a free email eg hotmail / gmail / yahoo etc) is not possible. We cannot answer “anonymous” requests.
All Trinity College Cambridge Fellows, students, alumni or members living in or visiting Japan are more than welcome to join us. To register, or for any enquiries contact us here:
Tobias Wolff (Trinity 1995) has kindly agreed to join us for a zoom discussion on his work as Intendant (director) of the Opera House Leipzig.
16:00 Tokyo time, Tuesday 11 July 2023 start
9:00am Germany time
8:00am UK time
16:15 – 17:00 (Tokyo time) Tobias Wolff, Intendant, Opera House Leipzig (zoom)
9:15 – 10:00am Germany time
8:15 – 9:00am UK time
17:00 – 17:30 (Tokyo time) discussions
10:00-10:30am Germany time
900 – 9:30am UK time
Intendant Tobias Wolff
Tobias Wolff (Trinity 1995) studied for his MA in Music at Trinity College, Cambridge University, 1995-1998.
Tobias Wolff studied music at Trinity College, Cambridge from 1995 to 1998, and viola at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf. He gained initial professional job experience at the International Beethoven Festival in Bonn and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. Since 2002 Tobias Wolff has been living in Leipzig, where he initially worked as a freelance musician, concert promoter and music journalist, e.g. for the Leipziger Volkszeitung and MDR Kultur. In 2006, Tobias Wolff joined the Theater Altenburg-Gera as Chief Dramaturg and Marketing Manager. For the 2010/11 season, he took over the management of the five-branch theatre as Administrative Director and successful crisis manager. He concurrently completed an MBA at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management in 2011, and in the same year was appointed Managing Director of the Göttingen International Handel Festival, one of the world’s longest-standing festivals for baroque music. The cultural manager re-positioned the festival internationally, introduced unconventional formats, and strategically promoted young talent and music education – receiving e.g. no less than two Helpmann Awards, the Music Education Award of the State of Lower Saxony, and EU funding for the eeemerging scholarship programme, which he co-initiated. In the Covid year 2020, Tobias Wolff was engaged in cultural politics as co-founder and spokesman of the Forum Musik Festival, an alliance of over 100 festival organisations throughout Germany.
On August 1, 2022, Tobias Wolff took over the post of the artistic director of Leipzig Opera House. He opened his first season with »Future: Now!«, an open-air spectacle in cooperation with Theater Titanick with the participation of over 220 children and students from Leipzig. Together with his management team, he initiated a consistent course of sustainability that has been awarded, among other things, funding from the Fonds Zero of the Federal Cultural Foundation, the Next Stage Grant of the Fedora network and the eku – Zukunftspreis 2023 of the Free State of Saxony. Oper Leipzig is the pilot institution of a climate calculator specially developed for the cultural sector, an innovation project of the cities of Leipzig and Dresden. Together with the National Opera of Iceland, Oper Leipzig is investigating the life cycle of costumes in the Sustainable Costumes project and will present its first climate-neutral opera production in December 2023 with Mary Queen of Scots. Oper Leipzig is currently striving for a DIN 20121 certification for its entire operations.
Leipzig Opera is the third oldest civil music theatre in Europe, founded in 1693, following the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice and the Oper am Gänsemarkt in Hamburg.
All Trinity members, Fellows and students globally are very welcome to pre-register, and I will send a registration link if there are still places available.
In “Your message” box please state:
which event(s) you are interested to attend,
your full name, briefly introduce yourself if this is your first time to attend a Trinity in Japan event,
your affiliation with Trinity College Cambridge – Trinity students, PhD students are especially welcome
If you are not associated with Trinity College Cambridge, you may still attend as a guest in certain cases – in this case please write a short sentence why you are interested to attend and participate in the discussion,
Thank you – we ask for your understanding that “anonymous” participation (eg name unknown to us, a free email eg hotmail / gmail / yahoo etc) is not possible. We cannot answer “anonymous” requests.
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