To All Exchange Students, Families, and Partner Universities Information in regards to the Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake

You may be deeply worried about the situation after the earthquake and tsunamis. A lot of lives were suddenly lost; it deeply shocked people in Japan. However, the disaster did not affect our area at all, and life goes on quite normally in Kobe.

Your chief concern at this moment must be about the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, northeast of Tokyo. As you know, Kobe is located far west of the plant, 770 km or 480 miles away. Kobe is quite safe, and there is no need to evacuate.

For further information, please refer to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Website: http://www.meti.go.jp/english/index.html

If you are considering leaving the country for the moment or for good, please contact your home university and the office at Kobe University. For more information, please refer to following URL: http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/international-students/urgent/u2011_03_17_01.htm

Our academic calendar is valid, and the new semester starts on April, 11th.

Thank you.

Tomokazu SAKANO
Dean
Faculty of Intercultural Studies
Kobe University