Courtesy Visit by Participants of the Micronesia Children Exchange Program

On June 11, Ambassador and Mrs. Kagomiya welcomed 12 elementary school students from 6^th to 8^th grade visiting Japan from Pohnpei State of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) as part of the Micronesia Children Exchange Program hosted by the National Institution for Youth Education. Ambassador Kagomiya expressed his wish for the youths’ fruitful experiences during their visit to Japan, to contribute to further mutual understanding between Japan and the FSM. The Ambassador also wished for their safe trip and enjoyed the conversation with the youths. The youths performed their traditional dance for the Ambassador and Mrs. Kagomiya, which the youths have been practicing to perform during their visit to Japan.

 
This program aims to foster the youths’ growth and for them to think about global challenges such as environmental issues, through the people-to-people exchange between the youths of Japan and the Micronesian islands (Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau). This year, 48 youths (12 youths from each of the four states) will visit Japan from the FSM, while the youths of Japan will visit in July. Since the start of this program in 2002, to date, 1,309 youths have visited Japan from the Micronesian Islands (846 youths from the FSM), and 1,923 youths have visited the Micronesian Islands from Japan (1,126 youths to the FSM).