Mr. Kaname Tajima meets with students of TUM & LMU

The Member of the House of Representatives of Japan from the Chiba constituency, Mr. Kaname Tajima of the Constitutional Democratic Party, visited the students of TU Munich and LMU Munich in Germany on 4 September 2025.

The event was organized by JACC.
I had the chance to join the meet-and-greet with him, along with some other students who regularly take part in JACC activities.

Mr. Kaname Tajima was warm and cordial with us. He greeted each one of us individually, asking what we study and where we come from.

It was a truly international group:
while I am from India, others came from Germany, Indonesia, and Peru.
He seemed genuinely impressed and happy to talk to everyone.

He explained that he came to understand how the university system works in Germany, how the studies are structured, whether admission is competitive, and how tough the examinations are.

We shared our experiences with him, and in turn, he described the system in Japan. This sparked discussions about education and the economy across Europe and Japan.

Mr. Tajima came across as very open to new ideas and eager to implement what he learned in his role back in Japan. He also showed particular curiosity about German culture—especially Bavarian traditions: their food, lifestyle, and future opportunities for us as students.

What struck me most was how open and inclusive he was in his conversations.
He patiently answered all our questions and even did one-on-one interviews with each of us.
For example, I asked him about India-Japan relations and the possibilities of India–Europe–Japan trilateral cooperation in the fields of economy and infrastructure.

He gave me thoughtful and encouraging answers. He also fondly recalled his Indian friends from his time at Wharton and shared stories about his travels in India. His cheerful nature made the entire exchange very engaging.

Some German students who were preparing to go to Japan also received valuable advice from him. He was clearly impressed by their strong command of the Japanese language.

Toward the end, he surprised us all by singing “An die Freude” by the German poet Friedrich Schiller, flawlessly in German.

Everyone was awestruck listening to him. Although the conversations with him could have gone on forever, time was limited. Before leaving, he posed for photos with us and invited everyone to join him later in the evening for a beer at Hofbräuhaus.

It was truly an amazing experience to meet such a kind, approachable, and inspiring politician from Japan.

Author: Himel Ghosh, TUM