The University of Keele came into existence in 1962, succeeding the previous University of North Staffordshire, England. It occupies what was once the extensive estate of the Sneyd family, 19th century landowners and industrialists. Extensive grounds surround a magnificent 16th century hall that is still in use, and younger university buildings. The Keele countryside spreads around in grassland, cornfields and meadows that support cattle and sheep.
"Every year about 30 students go for one month's stay from my university to Keele. They become Anglophiles. What are they charmed by? I think they are fascinated by the beauty of the campus surrounded by vast pastures. When it is fine and there are white clouds in the blue sky, you feel you are a child of nature," said Yoshikazu Uehata, professor at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.
Uehata was instrumental in forging these links between the universities. He said: "About 20 years ago I happened to read a book, 'Lawrence, Hardy, and American Literature,' by Dr. Richard Swigg. I was impressed by his crisp and compact expressions, and the density of the book's contents. Dr. Swigg was teaching English literature at Keele. I wrote to him asking if I could stay at his university for one year and study English literature under him. He replied that he was very delighted to know that his book was read in a far country, and he invited me to Keele. My wife and I went there in 1986."