Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

From July 14th to 21st, 2025, a 20-person youth delegation, composed of teachers and students from the Yunnan Provincial Foreign Friends Association and the affiliated middle school of Yunnan Minzu University, embarked on a 8-day friendly exchange journey in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. This visit is not only a cultural encounter but also a vivid practice of the inheritance of friendship between the two places. The wind of Dianchi meets the waves of Iwate, the enthusiasm of the South of the Colorful Clouds collides with the sincerity of the Land of Cherry Blossoms, and a youth exchange story across mountains and seas unfolds warmly this summer.

The visit of the delegation has been highly valued by the Iwate Prefectural Government. Governor Takanobu Iwata of Iwate Prefecture had a cordial talk with the delegation on Sino-Japanese friendship, youthThe "Iwate Goodwill Ambassador" certificate was awarded to 16 students for youth exchanges, etc., and messages were sent to strengthen understanding, mutual learning, and common growth between the two regions. The Director General of the Village of Iwate Prefecture, Mr. Village, held a special welcome dinner to review the warm moments of many years of friendly exchanges. The two regions have shown through their actions that the seeds of friendship have already taken root and sprouted in the soil of mutual trust.

In the campuses of the three middle schools in Iwate Prefecture, the footprints and laughter of the young people from Yunnan were left. In the classroom observation of Nanchang Future High School, the first junior high school affiliated with the first high school in Yichuan, and the senior high school in Boshiki, we witnessed the collision of educational concepts, heard the voice of youth resonance in the talent show, and broke the language barrier in the game interaction. When the ethnic dance of Yunnan met the traditional instruments of Japan, and when the group photo of the school uniforms of each other was frozen in the lens, the word "friend" had the most vivid annotation.

Communicate and interact with students from Nanchang Future High School in Akita Prefecture

Participating in the Research Course of the SS Comprehensive Inquiry Group at Akita Prefecture's Bokuto High School

Experience the academic atmosphere of a world-renowned institution of higher learning at the University of Tokyo, as if you too have become a part of this intellectual exploration. Take a moment to pause at Asakusa Temple, touching the historical threads and the passage of time. Visit the Chumon Temple to appreciate the profound heritage and spiritual strength of Buddhist culture. At the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Memorial Hall, reflect on the resilience and tenacity of life, and the power of human unity in adversity. The warmth of the homestay family dispels the fatigue of the journey, as if you are a part of this family. Enter the Yawata Ironware Museum to feel the charm of traditional crafts and the craftsmanship of the artisans up close. At the Koganei Farm, immersed in the natural wildness, feel the harmony of the past and present of the century-old farm. The intangible charm of the Shoda Blue Dyeing Handicraft Village showcases the perfect fusion of tradition and life.

The 8-day exchange visit is an expansion of horizons and a metamorphosis of growth. The students said, "I never knew the world had so many different lifestyles, and learning to respect differences is the most beautiful growth." The teachers sighed, "The essence of education is to teach children to see the world, and such exchanges make 'global vision' no longer an abstract term." The story of this friendship is about to turn over a new chapter.

Iwate Prefecture related media reports

Say goodbye to the host family

In the future, Yunnan Province will continue to deepen youth exchanges and educational cooperation with Iwate Prefecture, making the handshake across mountains and seas the starting point for more people to pursue their dreams, and letting the friendship passed down from generation to generation write a more moving note for Sino-Japanese friendship.