A welcome party was held at SELC on Thursday, April 6, 2023, for 22 junior high school students from Natori City who are participating in an ongoing exchange program with Souk, Canada, organized by the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
On the day of the event, everyone showed no signs of fatigue from their journey. In the main lobby of SELC, the venue for the welcome party, Chairman Sammy Takahashi gave a welcome message, followed by a self-introduction by Director Taro, who is from Natori City, reminiscing about his life in Natori City at the time and sharing an anecdote about attending school in Canada by unicycle, with tuition fees paid for through advertising. Next, the attending directors and two international students from SELC each gave their greetings, and the 22 junior high school students in attendance asked many lively questions about Canada. Finally, everyone enjoyed a delicious bento box lunch from a famous Japanese restaurant in Vancouver.
The Natori City Junior High School Overseas Exchange Program, which began in 1991, has been collaborating with Journey Middle School in Souk, Canada since the 9th exchange program in 1999. As part of the reciprocal exchange, the partner school also offers homestay programs in Natori City.
During the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Canadian Federal Government, the British Columbia and Alberta Provincial Governments, the Canadian Forestry Industry, and the Canada Wood Group launched the "Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project" to support reconstruction efforts. This project included the development of the "Yuriage Port Morning Market Maple Hall" in Natori City, as well as the "Donguri-An Everyone's Library (now the Natori City Historical and Folk Museum)." Subsequently, during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Natori City served as a host town for Canada's "Thank You for Your Reconstruction" campaign, supporting Canadian athletes, particularly in cycling.
Prior to his visit to Canada, on February 25th (Saturday), we hosted a Zoom exchange event, "Let's Connect Now: Yuriage and Canada," organized by the Nagano Seminar at the College of Industrial and Social Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, with the support of our organization. On May 4th, our chairman, Sammy Takahashi, is scheduled to speak at a lecture on "Getting to Know Canada," hosted by the International Affairs Division of Natori City.
International Exchange and Public Relations Section ☎022-724-7143
The Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce will continue to hold events that connect young people from both countries and revitalize the bonds of friendship.
Developing world friendships with Sooke, 22 junior high school students from Natori-shi were invited to a welcome party by “the City Exchange Project” by JCCOC
On April 6, 2023, a welcome party was held for 22 junior high school students from Natori City, deepening exchange with Sooke, Canada, as part of “the City Exchange Project” sponsored by the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
Despite the fatigue from the journey, the students were full of energy at the welcome party held at SELC's main lobby. Sammy Takahashi, the chairman, delivered a welcome message followed by a self-introduction from Taro, a board member who was born and raised in Natori City and shared an episode of his life in childhood and of commuting to school on a unicycle using the advertisement fee for the tuition. Two attending board members and two SELC international students also gave a courtesy. The 22 junior high school students who attended the party asked various enthusiastic questions about the topics.
Finally, everyone enjoyed a delicious Bento, provided by a famous Japanese restaurant in Vancouver.
The Natori City Junior High School Overseas Dispatch Project started in 1991. Exchange activities with Journey Middle School in Sooke, Canada began with the 9th dispatch project in 1999. As part of the exchange program, Journey Middle School students also came to Natori City and stayed with host families.
During the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Canadian federal government, the governments of British Columbia and Alberta, the Canadian forest industry, and the Canada Wood Group launched the “Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project” to support the reconstruction efforts. As part of this project, they supported the restoration of the “Yuriage Port Morning Market Maple Hall” and the “Acorn and Ann Everyone's Library (now the Natori City Historical and Folklore Museum).” Natori City was also a host town for Canada during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and cheered for Canadian athletes, particularly in cycling events.
In addition, on February 25, before their trip to Canada, the Nagano Seminar of Ritsumeikan University's Faculty of Industrial Social Sciences, which is supported by the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce, held a Zoom exchange event called “Connecting Yurage and Canada.”
On May 4th, the International Division of Natori City is holding a lecture titled “Getting to Know Canada,” and our Chairman Sammy Takahashi is scheduled to present.
Public Relations Division of Natori City
Contact:☎⁺81-22‐724‐7143
The Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce plans to continue holding events that connect young people from both countries and promote friendship between them.
