Back in Japan for the First Time in 6 Years! Castalia to Open Free “TICAD9 Cafe Castalia” for Visitors and Host Africa-Focused Seminars in Osaka and Tokyo as an Official TICAD 9 Partner Project

 In Osaka on August 5, a talk by the first Japanese person to board South Africa’s hospital train; in Tokyo, an August 19 session on the musical connections between Africa and Japan, followed by a public seminar on Japan’s responsibilities in Africa on August 21.


In conjunction with the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), hosted by the Government of Japan and scheduled to be held in Yokohama in August 2025, Castalia Co., Ltd. (CEO: Satoshi Yamawaki; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “Castalia”) will organize three interactive seminars as official side events.

These sessions will feature speakers from diverse fields—including healthcare, philosophy, journalism, education, and music—who will engage in open dialogue on the future of the relationship between Africa and Japan. Through these conversations, the events aim to explore new possibilities for mutual understanding and co-creation.

In addition, during the conference period, Castalia will open a free café lounge called “TICAD9 Cafe Castalia” in the basement of the Landmark Tower adjacent to the Minato Mirai district, the main venue area. This welcoming space will offer Kenyan coffee and tea, serving as an open hub for interaction where visitors can drop in freely, exchange ideas, and connect with others.

■ Event Overview


Event 1｜

Lifeline on Rails: A Japanese Participant’s Firsthand Account of South Africa’s “Hospital Train”



    - Date & Time
        Tuesday, August 5, 2025｜19:00–20:30
    - Venue
        Osaka University Nakanoshima Center, 5th Floor “Hiroba of Life”
        https://www.onc.osaka-u.ac.jp/access/
    - Address
        4-3-53 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
    - Access
        Approx. 5-minute walk from Keihan Nakanoshima Line “Nakanoshima Station”
        Approx. 15-minute bus ride from JR “Osaka Station”
    - How to Join
        On-site (limited to 30 participants) / Online streaming
    - Admission
        Free

Speakers:

  • Mikiya Takeuchi
    Senior Manager, Government & External Affairs, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.
  • Takuo Doume
    Professor, Osaka University / Economist
  • Satoshi Yamawaki
    CEO, Castalia Co., Ltd.

Overview:

Mikiya Takeuchi, the first Japanese volunteer on South Africa’s mobile medical facility known as the “Phelophepa Train of Hope,” will share his frontline experiences of delivering vital medical care to underserved regions. His talk will be accompanied by rare and powerful footage from the field.

He will be joined in conversation by Satoshi Yamawaki, CEO of Castalia, who leads education and healthcare support initiatives across African nations through digital learning, and Professor Takao Domon of Osaka University, a philosopher and scholar in ethics and public philosophy.

Together, the speakers will explore the meaning of “cross-border care” in today’s world from multiple angles.
This 90-minute session offers a unique opportunity to rethink the future of Africa–Japan relations—through stories from the ground, visual narratives, and philosophical insight.

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  Advance registration is required for both on-site and online participation.
  If you wish to join, please register via the Peatix site below.
  https://byouinressya.peatix.com/
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Event 2｜

Japanese Songs and the “Distant Continent” of Africa: Representations of Africa in Japanese Popular Music


    - Date & Time
        Tuesday, August 19, 2025｜19:00–21:00
    - Venue
        iU - Professional University of Information and Management for Innovation,
        Sumida Campus
        https://www.i-u.ac.jp/access/
    - Address
        1-18-13 Bunkah, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
    - Access
        Approx. 7-minute walk from Omurai Station (Tobu Kameido Line)
        Approx. 13-minute walk from Keisei-Hikifune Station (Keisei Oshiage Line)
        Approx. 14-minute walk from Hikifune Station (Tobu Isesaki Line)
        Approx. 15-minute walk from Oshiage Station (Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line)
    - How to Join
        On-site (limited to 30 participants) / Online streaming
    - Admission
        Free

Speakers:

  • Satoshi Yamawaki
    CEO, Castalia Co., Ltd.
  • Taro Matsumura
    Professor, iU – Professional University of Information and Management for Innovation
  • Toshiki Miyauchi / Koshiro Nakojiro
    Music Writers
  • Masataka Yoshikawa
    Dean, Faculty of Media Creation, Kyoto Seika University

Overview:

In the lyrical world of Japanese popular music, Africa has long served as a fascinating and multifaceted theme. Often distanced from its real geographic and political identity, Africa appears instead as a symbolic mirror—reflecting the inner world and zeitgeist of the Japanese people.

How has Africa been represented in Japanese music?
This public discussion will explore those portrayals and imaginative connections from the perspectives of pop culture, music criticism, and academia. Through the lens of music, we will uncover little-known points of contact between Japan and Africa.

─────────────────────────────────────────
  Advance registration is required for both on-site and online participation.
  If you wish to join, please register via the Peatix site below.
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Event 3｜

Envisioning the Future with Africa: Japan’s Potential and Responsibility


    - Date & Time
        Thursday, August 21, 2025｜19:00–21:00
    - Venue
        iU – Professional University of Information and Management for Innovation,
        Sumida Campus
        https://www.i-u.ac.jp/access/
    - Address
        1-18-13 Bunkah, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
    - Access
        Approx. 7-minute walk from Omurai Station (Tobu Kameido Line)
        Approx. 13-minute walk from Keisei-Hikifune Station (Keisei Oshiage Line)
        Approx. 14-minute walk from Hikifune Station (Tobu Isesaki Line)
        Approx. 15-minute walk from Oshiage Station (Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line)
    - How to Join
        On-site (limited to 30 participants) / Online streaming
    - Admission
        Free

Speakers:

  • Satoshi Yamawaki
    CEO, Castalia Co., Ltd.
  • Taro Matsumura
    Professor, iU – Professional University of Information and Management for Innovation
  • Yoshihiro Tanikawa
    Philosopher, Lecturer at Kyoto City University of Arts
  • Taku Sugakawa
    Journalist, former TBS Television News Correspondent
    *One additional speaker from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to join.

Overview:

What must we learn, and how should we engage, in order for Africa and Japan to build a sustainable future together?

This event brings together speakers from diverse fields—including education, philosophy, and journalism—who each address the challenges of contemporary society. Through this multifaceted dialogue, we will explore the realities of Africa and the untapped potential of Japan.

The session features a practitioner involved in educational projects in Africa in collaboration with JICA and UNESCO, a philosopher who questions the role of humanity in the age of technology, and a journalist who has long reported from the front lines of global issues. Each will share insights on responsibility and the possibilities for co-creation in the future.

This is a crossroad of “knowledge and perspective” leading up to TICAD9.

─────────────────────────────────────────
  Advance registration is required for both on-site and online participation.
  If you wish to join, please register via the Peatix site below.
─────────────────────────────────────────


Connection Corner｜

TICAD9 Cafe Castalia


    - Dates:
        Wednesday to Friday, August 20–22, 2025
    - Hours:
        10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    - Location:
        BUKATSUDO BOOTH
    - Address
        B1F, Landmark Plaza, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
    - Access:
        3-minute walk from Minatomirai Station (Minatomirai Line)
        5-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station (JR & Yokohama Municipal Subway)
    - Access Info

As part of TICAD9, “TICAD9 Cafe Castalia” will open as a free rest lounge for conference visitors.

The café will offer aromatic Kenyan coffee and hand-picked tea directly sourced from farms. Equipped with Wi-Fi, the space is designed to provide a relaxed and open environment for visitors to connect, reflect, and recharge during the event.

Please note: Due to limited space, long stays may not be accommodated.

■ About TICAD9

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is a summit-level international conference organized by the Government of Japan in collaboration with African nations and international organizations. TICAD9, scheduled for August 2025, marks the first time in six years that the conference will be held in Japan. Set in Yokohama, it will be held under the theme “Toward a Future of Growth with Africa,” with the aim of strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors including industry, education, healthcare, and culture.

Through exhibitions, panel discussions, and citizen-participation events, TICAD9 will serve as a platform for co-creation and dialogue that connects Africa with the rest of the world.


■ About Castalia Co., Ltd.

Castalia Co., Ltd. operates with the mission of “solving social issues through education and IT.” The company develops and provides the mobile learning platform Goocus, along with original programming education materials. Its operations extend not only across Japan, but also in regions such as the Middle East and Africa, contributing to the creation of a sustainable society through expanded educational opportunities and ICT human resource development.