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3rd August, 2015

AEON 1% Club Foundation

60th Anniversary of Japan-Laos Diplomatic Relations

International Exchange Program among Senior High School Students

LAOS ⇔ JAPAN TEENAGE AMBASSADORS JAPAN PROGRAM

PROGRAM REPORT

We have carried out the Teenage Ambassadors Program

for Japanese and Lao high school students. The achievements

of the program are summarized as follow.

I. Participants：

20 students from Kyoto Ritsumeikan Uji High School

20 students from Vientiane High School

II. Visiting places：Chiba prefecture, Tokyo, Kyoto prefecture

III. Objective of the program

This program aims to provide senior high school students of Japan and overseas the

opportunities to study diversity of culture and values of each other’s countries through the

mutual exchange.

IV. Contents of exchange program：（★ implies new program）

①Courtesy Activities

Courtesy visit to Prime Minister’s Office 14th Jul. (Tue.) in Tokyo

Welcome Reception at the Lao Embassy in Japan 14th Jul. (Tue.) in Tokyo

②Historical, Cultural, Learning, and Experience Activities

Morigasaki Water Reclamation Center 13th Jul. (Mon.) in Tokyo

Edo-Tokyo Museum 14th Jul. (Tue.) in Tokyo

Gion Festival 17th Jul. (Fri.) in Kyoto

Zen Experience 17th Jul. (Fri.) in Kyoto

Kyoto Yuzen Dyeing Experience 17th Jul. (Fri.) in Kyoto

③Exchange Program

★Discussion with Lao People live in Japan 15th Jul. (Wed.) in Tokyo

School Visit, Class Experience 16th Jul. (Thur.) in Kyoto

Homestay 17-19th Jul. (Fri.-Sun.) in Kyoto

V. Characteristic of this exchange program

①Learning how the water, the valuable natural resource, reclamation method has been

processed in Japan

②Implementation of discussion regarding cultural difference with Lao people live in Japan

↑Commemorative photo with host family

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VI. Activity Report：

【１】【Courtesy Activities】

◆ Courtesy Visit to Prime Minister’s Office 13th July

↑Speech by Lao student to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Seko

↑Encouragement speech from Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Seko

↑Presenting the object of “That Luang” (a symbolic statue of

Buddhism in Laos) to Deputy Chief Mr. Seko by Lao student

↑Presenting “kogo” (an incense case with the design of the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in) to

Deputy Chief Mr. Seko to hand out to Prime Minister Mr. Abe by Japanese student

↑Commemorative Photo

（Quote from Speech）

It is very important for students to meet each other

directly and talk about culture even though it is

easier than before for everyone to communicate

through the Internet nowadays．．．．．

（Quote from Speech）

This is our first trip to Japan, and we were looking

forward to it. I think that it is very valuable to share the

experience with Japanese students in this program. I

would like to make it memorable to be able to share it

with my family and friends when I get back to Laos.．．．．．

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◆ Welcome Reception at the Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 14th July

↑Speech by H.E. Mr. Khenthong NUANTHASING

↑Speech by Mr. Mochizuki, Minister of Environment

↑Speech by Mr. Motegi, former Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry

↑Lao students showing off traditional dance

↑Lao students dancing on the stage behind Japanese students playing song

（Quote from speech）

I would like to expect the promotion and

strengthening of educational relationships for

both countries that lead us to the bright future

through this program. I wish the further

development of the partnership between Japan

and Laos in this 60th anniversary of diplomatic

relations．．．．．

（Quote from speech）

I realized that Laos is a very amazing country by

looking at your faces. I strongly believe that the

more partnership among Asian countries is

promoted, the better the situation of world is

going to be．．．．．

（Quote from speech）

I believe that the exchange among youth would

be the basic that supports strengthening the

partnership between Japan and Laos. I would

like you all to learn culture and life, and deepen

friendships while staying in Jaapn．．．．．

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↑Speech by Lao student

↑Speech by Japanese students

↑Commemorative photo by surrounding Tetsuro FUKUYAMA, a member of the house of counsilors

↑Commemorative photo with Mr. AMARI, minister in charge of economic revitalization and H.E. Mr. NUANTASHING

↑Commemorative Photo at the Embassy of Lao People’s Democratic Republic

（Quote from speech）

I would like to challenge many new things by

learning each other’s culture through this

program. I also would like to share the

experience I will have in Japan with my family

and friends when I get back to Laos．．．．．

（Quote from speech）

I have lived in foreign country before, and I

had many valuable experiences there. There

are many things we can learn by interacting

with Lao students. I wish we can strengthen

the relationships between Japan and Laos

through this program．．．．．

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【２】【Historical, Cultural, Learning, and Experience Activities】

◆ Morigasaki Water Reclamation Center 13th July（Tokyo）

↑Lao student taking photo of water reclamation facility ↑Lao students listening to the lecture of the structure of sewage system

◆ Edo-Tokyo Museum 14th July（Tokyo）

↑Lao student asking his pair about the model of castle town in Edo period

↑Lao student trying to pull the rickshaw

◆ Gion Festival 17th July（Kyoto prefecture）

↑Lao students watching Gion festival wearing rain coat in the heavy rain caused by typhoon

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◆ Zen Experience 17th July（Kyoto prefecture）

【３】【Exchange program】

School Visit, Class Experience 16th July（Kyoto prefecture）

↑Japanese students welcoming Lao students in the hallway

↑Lao students being introduced by the principal during the ceremony of the end of semester

↑Lao students experiencing Zen

↑Lao student showing bitter smile because his legs got numb after Zen experience

◆ Yuzen dyeing Experience 17th July（Kyoto prefecture）

↑Lao students dyeing cloth at Yuzen dyeing workshop ↑Lao students showing their finished work of Yuzen dyeing

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↑Japanese student helping Lao student understand group work in English class

↑Japanese student teaching “Origami” to Lao student

↑Lao student having sweet Japanese snacks after bitter Japanese tea

↑Lao student attaching strip of paper to the branch of bamboo tree

Homestay 17-19th July（Kyoto prefecture）

↑Students from both countries walking through the gate of

“Senbon Inari” at “Fushimiinari Taisha”

↑Japanese student showing the photo album to

her pair during homestay

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Farewell Party 19th July

↑Toast proposal by principal of Ritsumeikan Uji High School

↑Lao student taking photo with host family

↑Lao student interacting with host family

↑Speech by Japanese students

↑Speech by host family

（Quote from speech）

Even though the pair of my daughter got sick a little

bit, she recovered and came to our house for

homestay. We had a lot of fun by shopping and

visiting many places in Kyoto. I hope this relationship

will last forever．．．．．

（Quote from speech）

I expect the new bond generated by the interaction

among young generation like you will get stronger in

the future．．．．．

（スピーチより抜粋）

ここ四日市で過ごした時間はとても素敵な時間でした。

また、日本の学校や生徒のことについて知ることが

できました。

これからここでできた関係が長く続く事を願って い

ます．．．．．。

（Quote from speech）

I am very glad that we can make friendships

through showing performance at Lao Embassy,

and I am excited to visit Laos in September. I really

wanted to see the life and culture in Laos, and I

thought that the experience in Japan became very

impressive for Lao students．．．．．

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↑Students from both countries singing along by crossing shoulders

↑Japanese students singing while playing guitar

↑Students from both countries watching short movie of

Japan program with the song of「We are the world」

↑Students from both countries hugging each other at the end of Farewell Party

↑Commemorative photo with students and their host families

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VII. Comments from Participants：（Quote from feedback sheet and speech）

My pair and her family was very kind to me. I could visit historical places, and

learn many things during homestay. It was a good experience to stay in

Japan, and I would like to show my pair a lot of Lao culture in September．．．

Lao

students

School experience and homestay were very impressive in this program.

Japanese students and host family were very kind, and I could learn many

things about Japanese culture. As Teenage Ambassador, I thought that I

could play a role as bridge connecting Laos and Japan．．．

I wanted to be able to explain and deepen the understanding about Japanese

culture, history, and rules through this program, because it was not easy for

me to explain when I was asked questions by my pair while visiting many

places during homestay．．．

Japanese

students

I signed up for this program because I wanted to strengthen the English skills, widen

the field of view, and build relationships with people from various backgrounds to be

a global leader. What I learned from this program was the diversity of the way of

thinking. We can make new things out of many opinions from different background．．．

Principal of the Japanese school

I think that it is impressive for Japan and Lao students to deepen the

understanding about each other’s way of thinking and culture through this

program. This program would be the base for the future of Japan and

Laos．．．

Teachers

Teacher of the Lao school

I felt that it was very short after spending 7 days of the program.

However,Lao students could adjust themselves to Japanese culture very

quickly. Lao students learned many important things from the aspect of

time management, such as being punctual and so on. Also, Lao students

could exchange many opinions and new ideas with Japanese students．．．