MUNCIE, Ind. - A nine-member delegation from Tokyo Gakugei University visited Ball State campus this week to learn more about Ball State and facilitate further exchanges between the sister schools.

"I would really like to encourage more faculty to come to our university," said Nobuyasu Katayama, a biology professor and member of Gakugei's international exchange program committee. "Right now we have student exchanges. I hope to show we have an open door for all kinds of exchanges."

Attending with Katayama were his wife, Kyoko, a modern dance teacher; Kumiko Sata, an administrator of the international student division; and six students from various disciplines.

Located about an hour and a half from downtown Tokyo, Gakugei has about 5,000 students of which most are undergraduate students. Like Ball State, it began as a teacher training school and now has grown to include 40 divisions.

"We are known as the flagship school in Asia for education," said Sata.

The group's trip was coordinated by Sung-Jae Park, physical education professor and director of the Far East Asia Exchange Program.