日本台灣交流協會昨(8/20)公布今年我國獲得日本「外務大臣表彰」團體與個人得主，其中文化大學校長徐興慶以長年致力台灣與東亞各國的日本研究獲得個人表彰，他同時也是台灣第一位以日本研究獲得個人表彰的學者，對此他表示，台灣與日本同為島國，文化背景相近之處甚多，未來會繼續為提升台日關係、深化日本研究。
日本「外務大臣表彰」是為表揚長年對於促進我國與日本友好關係具有貢獻的個人或團體。台灣自2016年起陸續有團體獲得表彰，今年度外務大臣表彰由徐興慶、居留問題研究會及滅火器獲獎。徐興慶同時也是台灣第一位以日本研究所做的貢獻獲得個人表彰的學者。
日本台灣交流協會官網指出，徐興慶獲得「外務大臣表彰」的功績概要為「促進日本與台灣之相互理解」，官網表示徐興慶於2013年在台大創立日本研究中心並擔任首任中心主任，提倡同時著重人文科學領域與社會科學領域的日本研究。2018年就任文大校長後，於該校創設日本研究中心並成立東亞人文社會科學研究院，促進強化該校日本研究的基礎。另於2019年11月主導首次於台灣舉辦的「東亞日本研究者協議會第四屆國際學術大會」，對培育台灣的知日派人士貢獻卓著。 (原新聞出處為蘋果日報)
Dr. Shing-Ching Shyu of Chinese Culture University (CCU) was awarded Japan’s Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2021 for his promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and Taiwan, according to Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. Dr. Shyu was the first Taiwanese scholar to be awarded for his dedication to Japanese studies. Dr. Shyu attributed his achievement to the similar background of Taiwan and Japan. Dr. Shyu has been promoting international relations between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas. The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for the activities of the recipients. Since 2016, groups in Taiwan have been awarded; for 2021 two groups and one individual from Taiwan are awarded.
On its website, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association indicated that Dr. Shyu established the Japanese Center for Japanese Studies at National Taiwan University and has devoted his effort to Japanese Studies. After taking office as the president of CCU, Dr. Shyu established the Institution of East Asian Humanities and Social Science to foster research in Japanese Studies. The association praised Dr. Shyu for holding the Fourth International Scientific Meeting for the East Asian Consortium of Japanese Studies in Taiwan in November 2019, which aimed to deepen academic exchange in Japanese Studies across national borders.
