Romanian Ambassador to Japan Ovidiu Raetchi (left) speaks with a TUJ student following his special lecture at the university.
Romanian Ambassador to Japan Ovidiu Raetchi visited the Japan campus of Temple University (TUJ) on October 22, 2025, to meet with students and faculty. During his visit, he delivered a lecture titled “NATO’s Eastern Flank and EU Values in an Age of Challenges: A Romanian & Black Sea Perspective.”
Speaking to a packed classroom in the late afternoon, Ambassador Raetchi addressed an audience of students, faculty, and administrative staff. His lecture covered a wide range of topics, including Romania’s long and complex history, its diplomatic relations with neighboring countries, and the strategic significance of the Black Sea region.
The ambassador discussed Romania’s path to joining NATO, tracing the nation’s modern history from the establishment and fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s dictatorship to its post-revolution efforts to strengthen ties with the West and the European Union. He also touched on the ongoing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia, examining NATO’s role and the regional implications.
Raetchi highlighted the evolution of Romania–Japan relations, noting early diplomatic exchanges dating back to the Meiji era. He also spoke about the more recent strategic partnership signed in March 2023, through which both governments agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as economy, science, technology, innovation, and people-to-people exchange.
Observing Japan’s Discipline and Daily Life
During the question-and-answer session following the lecture, the audience showed great enthusiasm, posing a steady stream of questions. Topics ranged from the history behind Romania’s national flag and perspectives on the ongoing Ukraine–Russia conflict to the qualities needed to become an ambassador and broader issues in international diplomacy, including relations among countries such as the United States and Japan.
When asked about his impressions of Japan since taking office a year ago, Ambassador Raetchi expressed his admiration for the country’s sense of order. He noted, for example, how Japanese people patiently wait in line without cutting ahead, a reflection, he said, of the nation’s respect for discipline and social harmony.
Commenting further on how he learns about the country, Ambassador Raetchi said he takes a simple approach, by walking through various streets in his neighborhood to observe daily life. Through these explorations, he said, he discovers not only elements of traditional Japanese culture but also the diversity that characterizes today’s Japan. He added that watching Japanese animation and reading manga are also enjoyable and insightful ways to learn about the country.
What impressed the ambassador most, however, was the level of order and politeness within Japanese society. Sharing one of his experiences traveling between Romania and Japan, often via Istanbul, he noted how he immediately senses this order upon arriving at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. “When you arrive in Tokyo, everyone respects the line and nobody tries to cut in,” he said.
He described this as a wonderful experience and a defining feature of Japanese culture. The ambassador added that he appreciates this sense of order, explaining that when people understand and follow the rules, outcomes become predictable. He said that maintaining such an attitude can be quite challenging in the Balkans.
Academic and Professional Background
Raețchi has served as Romania’s Ambassador to Japan since June 2024. He holds doctorates in history and political science, along with master’s degrees in Arabic culture and Hebrew civilization. Before his diplomatic appointment, he was president of the Euro-Atlantic Center for Resilience and a member of the Romanian Parliament.
An accomplished academic, Ambassador Raețchi has taught university courses such as History of Diplomacy, History of European Integration, Conflicts and Diplomacy: Mediation and Resilience Strategies, and Institutions and Bodies in the Architecture of the European Union. He also lectures for the Romanian Diplomatic Institute and the National Defense. College on topics including the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Holocaust, and hybrid warfare, reflecting his deep expertise in diplomacy, history, and international security.
Ambassador Raetchi’s visit marked the third by a foreign ambassador to TUJ in 2025, following Ghanaian Ambassador to Japan Genevieve Apaloo in June and Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George in February. In July, TUJ also hosted representatives from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, offering students a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the importance of peace and humanity.
TUJ regularly welcomes high-level diplomats, government officials, and representatives from international organizations to provide students and the TUJ community with valuable opportunities to engage in discussions on global affairs and gain insights from their professional and personal experiences.
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