Japan-United States of America Relations
Courtesy Call on Mrs. ISHIBA Yoshiko, the Spouse of the Prime Minister, by the U.S. Winners of the National Japan Bowl
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On July 29, from 1:55 p.m. for about 45 minutes, Mrs. ISHIBA Yoshiko, the spouse of the Prime Minister of Japan received a courtesy call from a group of the ten Winners of the National Japan Bowl from the United States. Winners and prize winners of the National Japan Bowl are invited to Japan through the Kakehashi Project. The outline of the meeting is as follows.
- At the beginning of the meeting, Mrs. Ishiba welcomed their visit to Japan and expressed her hope that they would deepen their understanding of Japan during the visit. Mrs. Ishiba also told the group that she felt the foundation of relations between countries lies in the connections between people and would look forward to seeing the younger generation like them to become "Kakehashi," a bridge connecting Japan and the U.S.
Furthermore, Mrs.Ishiba posed quizzes on Japanese culture and geography to the participants, and a friendly exchange took place between the participating students in a relaxed atmosphere. - Thereafter, Mr. TAKAI Hiroyuki, a board counselor of the Japan-America Society of Washington D.C., expressed his gratitude for the support of the Japanese Government to the National Japan Bowl and the invitation to Japan. Also, the group representative described the many unforgettable experiences they had during their stay in Japan, including visits to Osaka and Tokyo, and expressed their aspirations upon returning home.
- Afterwards, a lively exchange took place between Mrs. Ishiba and the participants regarding participants’ impressions of the visit.
(Reference1) KAKEHASHI Project
The purpose of KAKEHASHI Project is to increase the interest in and understanding of Japan among outstanding young leaders in the North American region. By having them engage in activities that make the most of their visit experience, it aims to foster supporters and experts of Japan. The project promotes participants' understanding of Japan's politics, economy, society, culture, history, and foreign policy in accordance with their areas of expertise and interest, and enhances their external communication about Japan.
(Reference2) The National Japan Bowl
The National Japan Bowl is a national quiz tournament for American high school students who are studying Japanese as a foreign language. Since its inception in 1992, the National Japan Bowl has been held jointly by the Embassy of Japan in the U.S. and the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C.