Sikyong Sangay to visit Japan for series of public talks and dialogues to highlight Tibetan issue

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, Feb 1: The political head of the Tibetan people, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay will visit Japan to deliver series of public talks and dialogues to highlight the Tibetan issue.

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay will visit Japan from Feb 4th- 18th for a series of public talks and to engage in dialogue on issues concerning Tibet, Asia and the world, reports Tibet.net, the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.

“The Office of Tibet in Japan will organize a welcome reception in honour of Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay’s visit in Tokyo on Feb 11. Distinguished guests including long-time Japanese supporters of the Tibetan cause will attend the event,” the report added.

Sikyong Sangay’s itinerary includes meeting with the members of the Tibetan community and to address them at the Office of Tibet in Tokyo on Feb 12. A public talk is also scheduled in the evening on the same day on the topic, ‘Tragedy in Tibet: What is the Way Forward’. The talk is organised by Super Samgha, a Tibet support Group based in Japan.

On Feb 13, Sikyong will engage in a dialogue with Ms Yoshiko Sakurai, President of Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, a think tank that takes keen interest in the issue of Tibet. Sikyong will then speak to journalists at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in the afternoon.

Sikyong’s further engagement includes visit to Osaka to deliver a public talk on the current situation in Tibet, way forward to resolve the issue of Tibet and why Tibet matters for Asia and the world. The event is organised by Fire Under the Snow, a Tibet Support Group.

On Feb 17, Sikyong will visit Tamagawa University in Tokyo.

This will be Sikyong Sangay’s third official visit to Japan. Earlier, he visited the island nation in 2012 and 2016.