During a visit to Kansas University, representatives from a university in one of Lawrence’s sister cities on Monday called for strengthened ties between the two schools.

“It provides an opportunity for students to learn English and to have international experiences,” said Michio Nakajima, president of Kanagawa University in Hiratsuka, Japan. “It has another meaning to us; that is to say, experience abroad — experience detached from your own country — strengthens motivation for students.”

The delegation from Kanagawa University was visiting KU during a tour of three American universities and two Canadian universities over a two-week span. While here, they met with people in several departments at KU, including the Applied English Center, the chancellor’s office and the Office of Study Abroad.

KU has enjoyed a relationship with Kanagawa University since 1991. Kanagawa University regularly sends students to KU to learn English for a semester, and KU students travel to Japan to learn Japanese.

Nakajima said he was impressed with American students, many of whom greeted him with “konichiwa” — Japanese for “good day” — as he walked around the KU campus.

Nakajima’s favorite part of the KU campus? The dining areas.

“I envy American students,” he said. “That’s a very lively place.”