Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

At the invitation of Mr. Takuya Tsumura, Governor of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, the Provincial Department of Foreign Friendship and Exchange organized a delegation of 20 people consisting of teachers and students from three schools—Affiliated Senior High School of Yunnan Minzu University, Affiliated Senior High School of Kunming University of Science and Technology, and Kunming Runcheng School—to visit Iwate Prefecture for a friendly exchange visit from July 15 to 22, 2024. The delegation received a warm reception and meticulous arrangements wherever they went. The visit itinerary was compact, the content was rich, and the results were significant, achieving the goals of deepening mutual understanding, building friendship, and broadening horizons.

Vice Governor Sasaki presents "Iwate Friendship Ambassador" certificates to youth in Yunnan Province.

During their visit to Japan, Vice Governor of Iwate Prefecture, Sasaki, met with the delegation and presented "Iwate Friendship Ambassador" certificates to 16 students, encouraging them to grow into young ambassadors who will carry on the friendly relations between Iwate Prefecture and Yunnan Province. The two student representatives spoke, expressing their hope to get to know and befriend their Japanese counterparts, and to walk hand in hand together.

The visit itinerary includes activities such as school exchanges, citizen interactions, and study tours. The delegation visits three distinct high schools in Iwate Prefecture—Kamita High School, Furaikata High School, and Kamaishi Higashi High School. Through observing classroom teaching and participating in cultural and artistic performances, the youth from both regions learn from each other and deepen their friendships through interaction. At the Citizen Exchange Center, the delegation presents traditional Chinese cultural programs with unique Yunnan characteristics to local ordinary citizens, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences of various age groups, and inspiring their boundless longing for the "South of the Colorful Clouds." They visit the Tsunami Heritage Museum of the Great East Japan Earthquake to learn about the disaster and the process of reconstruction and revival, prompting reflections on disaster self-rescue and environmental protection. They visit the World Heritage Site of Chuson-ji Temple in Hiraizumi to experience the past glory of the region and humanity's shared pursuit of peace. They visit the Southern Iron Foundry to experience the Japanese spirit of meticulous craftsmanship. They visit the Koiwai Farm to experience the charm of the integration of agriculture and farm tourism in Japan. They taste Japanese dishes such as Iwate's "one-bite soba," "cold noodles," and "mixed sauce noodles," experiencing Iwate's diverse regional cultures, including the tea ceremony, Sannai Onsen, and the Sagasu dance. In Tokyo, the delegation visits institutions such as the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Skytree, and Senso-ji Temple, personally experiencing the charm of Japanese culture.

The youth exchange program is one of the flagship projects under the framework of friendly exchange and cooperation between Yunnan Province and Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The program promotes mutual understanding and friendship among the youth of both sides. This is the seventh batch of the Yunnan Provincial youth delegation visiting Iwate Prefecture, and the Iwate Prefecture youth delegation will visit Yunnan Province in October. We look forward to the youth friends from both provinces and prefectures meeting and getting to know each other once again then, bringing their hearts even closer.