The Japanese and Australian national anthems commenced the ceremony, followed by a roll call of the inaugural class of 39 students, and addresses by all special guests of honor, including: Professor Andy Kleynhans, head of the department of chiropractic, osteopathy and complementary medicine, at RMIT University; Terry White, representing the Australian Ambassador Ashton Colvert; Dr. John Sweaney, vice president of the World Federation of Chiropractic; Dr. Sadanobu Toriyama, honorary professor of Nippon University, School of Medicine; and Dr. Akio Sato, well-known neurophysiologist and vice director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology.
In his address, Professor Kleynhans emphasized the university's long-time development of its international programs, and the crucial role the RMIT Chiropractic Unit-Japan will play in that regard. RMIT University already has more than 5,500 overseas students.
Professor Kleynhans announced a number of staff appointments by the RMIT Chiropractic Unit-Japan:
- Dr. Hiroaki Takeyachi: chief of operations
- Dr. Kazuyoshi Takeyachi: program coordinator
- Dr. Masahiro Yoshihashi, chairperson, course advisory committee
- Dr. Brian Budgell: liaison between RMIT Melbourne and Japan
- Dr. Nobuyoshi Takeyachi: subject coordinator
- Dr. Yoshihiro Murakami: unit executive officer
- Atsushi Suzuki: administrative officer
Professor Kleynhans noted that university-level chiropractic education in Japan would not have been possible without the crucial and arduous task of translating textbooks, journals, and other publications into Japanese by the Japanese Chiropractic Association.
The ceremony included a tribute to Dr. Joseph Janse (1909-1985), a chiropractic pioneer of research, education, and licensure, and president of National College of Chiropractic for 38 years, which focused specifically on the influence Dr. Janse had on the development of chiropractic in Japan. (See also in this issue, "Historical Perspective on Joseph Janse in Spine Journal.") Professor Kleynhans dedicated the day to Dr. Janse, citing the tremendous influence he had on both himself and Dr. Kazuyoshi Takeyachi. He described Dr. Janse as a man of great vision, and as one of the truly great chiropractic educators of the century.
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