A Chinese professor at Kobe Gakuin University in Japan, Hu Shiyun, who had returned to China for a visit over a year ago, has returned to Japan, the university spokesperson announced today (March 14th).
According to Agence France-Presse, Hu Shiyun is a professor of Chinese literature and linguistics at Kobe Gakuin University. He disappeared after returning to his hometown in the summer of 2023, sparking concerns about his personal safety.
University spokesperson Yoichi Takamura told Agence France-Presse that Hu Shiyun’s family in Japan first notified the university in September 2023 that he had lost contact since August or later when he went to China. “Then he told us that he returned to Japan on January 24th (this year).”
Takamura also stated that the university asked Hu what he had been doing during his time in China but did not receive any answers.
According to the Kobe Gakuin University official website, Hu Shiyun has been teaching Chinese, Chinese culture, and Chinese society at the International Exchange College since 2015.
Takamura mentioned that the university is making arrangements for his teaching position starting from the next academic year in April.
In recent years, as Beijing authorities have increased their attention on overseas Chinese nationals, several Chinese scholars studying in Japan have gone missing during their return home, with Hu Shiyun being one of them.
Last April, the Japanese government stated that they are closely monitoring reports about Chinese professor Fan Yuntao, who teaches international law and politics in Tokyo. Since returning to China in 2023, there has been no information about him.
In 2019, Professor Yuan Keqin from Hokkaido University in Japan disappeared after returning to China for a funeral. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs later stated that he admitted to engaging in espionage activities and was detained.
(Source: Central News Agency)