In early 1990s, there was only one Nepalese student in Ehime University, but in late 90s, the number increased to four to six. When I arrived here in 1997, we were six and including family members, there were about 14 Nepalese in Matsuyama. Now, in about eight years, the number of Nepalese students has increased to 14, and including the family members it goes well beyond 20, which clearly indicates that the rate of increase of Nepalese students at Ehime University has remained one of the highest in Japan. In the last 15-16 years, 18 individuals along with their family members have already returned to Nepal, and the total number of Nepalese that have come to Ehime University and Matsuyama has reached 60 (excluding the kids). This is a significant network of people to begin something for the nation!
A rough estimate indicates that there are about 300 university or graduate school Nepalese students in Japan, and 50-100 graduates of Japanese universities have been working in Japan itself. The number of Nepalese students at Ehime University probably comes in second or third place among the universities in whole Japan although the exact ranking is yet to be confirmed. Especially after Ehime University began involving in Nepal activities, the name of Ehime University among the Nepalese has been known in one way or other.
Now, although the efforts to begin a formal network of Nepalese in Shikoku are yet to come into effect, the beginning of Ehime University Alumni Association Nepal (EUAAN) website (http://www.soil.cee.ehime-u.ac.jp/euaan2007/) and the beginning of this blog are surely going to publicize the activities of Nepalese residing in Matsuyama (Japan). In my capacity as the senior most Nepalese at Ehime University (at present), I salute the efforts of the friends who have begun this blog and will time and again post messages, articles, pictures, and audio/video news of general interest.
Thank you.
Netra Prakash Bhandary
Ehime University
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