Promotion of Friendship with Foreign Countries Interchange

Past Activities

List of participating cities/schools and courtesy visits

Implementation period Exchange country No. of participants Courtesy visit destination Participating cities/schools
2016
14-21 March
(Foreign-hosted)
Cambodia 20 people Cambodian Government: H.E. Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Kingdom of Cambodia Embassy of Japan in Kingdom of Cambodia: H.E. Mr. Yuji KUMAMARU, Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Cambodia Cambodia Siem Reap and Phnom Penh / CHEA SIM CHAMROEUNRATH HIGH SCHOOL
2016
12-19 January
(Japan-hosted)
20 people Mr. Hagiuda Koichi, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanagawa, Tokyo, Hokkaido Prefecture / Hokkaido Sapporo Kiyota High School
2015
7-14 October
(Foreign-hosted)
China Tokyo (45 people) Chinese Foreign Ministry: Ms. Hua Chunying, Deputy Director of Foreign Ministry Information Department of the People’s Republic of China
Beijing Municipal Government: Mr. Wang Anshun, Mayor
Wuhan City Government: Mr. Shao Weimin, Vice Mayor
Suzhou City Government: Mr. Sheng Lei, Vice Mayor

Beijing City/ The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing No.9 High School, The Affiliated High school to Beijing Science and Technology University, Beijing Huiwen Middle School, Beijing Sanlitun No.1 High School;

Wuhan City / Wuhan Foreign Languages High School;

Suzhou City / Suzhou No.3 Middle School

Chiba
(16 people)
2015
6-13 July
(Japan-hosted)
Beijing
(30 people)
Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary

Tokyo / Junior and Senior High school at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba; Tokyo Gakugei University Senior High School;

Chiba / Chiba Municipal Chiba High School

Wuhan City
(15 people)
Suzhou City
(15 people)
2015
28 September – 5 October
(Foreign-hosted)
Laos PDR 20 people Mr. Phankham Viphavanh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Ministry of Education and Sports Vientiane / Vientiane High School
2015
13-20 July
(Japan-hosted)
20 people Mr. Hiroshige Seko, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kyoto Prefecture – Ritsumeikan Uji High School
2015
16-23 March
(Foreign-hosted)
Indonesia 20 people Mr. Anies Baswedan, Minister of Education Jakarta / SMA LABSCHOOL JAKARTA
2015
12-19 January
(Japan-hosted)
20 people Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yokkaichi city, Mie Prefecture / Yokkaichi Senior High School
2014
29 September – 6 October
(Japan-hosted)
The Philippines 20 people Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sendai city, Miyagi Prefecture / Miyagi Prefecture Sendai Nika Junior & Senior High School
2014
28 July – 4 August
(Foreign-hosted)
20 people Mr. Armin Luistro, Minister of Education Manila / University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS)
2014
7-13 October
(Foreign-hosted)
China Tokyo
(45 people)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Hong Lei, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China;
Beijing Municipal Government: Mr. Wang Anshun, Mayor
Wuhan City Government: Mr. Lu Shaye, Vice Mayor
Suzhou City Government: Mr. Yu Feng, Deputy Division Chief, Protocol Division of Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office

Beijing / The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing Yue Tan Middle School, The Affiliated High school to Beijing Science and Technology University, Beijing Huiwen Middle School, Beijing Sanlitun No.1 High School;

Wuhan City / Wuhan Foreign Languages High School;

Suzhou City / Suzhou No.3 Middle School

Chiba
(15 people)
2014
9-16 July
(Japan-hosted)
Beijing
(30 people)
Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Mr. Kazuhiro Sugita, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary;
Mr. Yōichi Masuzoe, Governor of Tokyo;
Mr. Shunhito Kumagai, Chiba mayor

Tokyo / Junior and Senior High school at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo Gakugei University Senior High School;

Chiba / Chiba Municipal Chiba High School

Wuhan City
(15 people)
Suzhou City
(15 people)
2014
12-19 March
(Foreign-hosted)
Vietnam 20 people Mr. Hideo Suzuki, Minister, Embassy of Japan in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City / Le Quy Don High School
2014
19-27 January
(Japan-hosted)
20 people Mr. Hiroshige Seko, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Morioka, Iwate Prefecture / Morioka Chuo High School (MCHS)
2013
19-28 October
(Japan-hosted)
Myanmar 20 people Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary;
Mr. Hirokazu Nakaima, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture / Okinawa Shogaku High School & Junior High School
2013
21-29 August
(Foreign-hosted)
20 people Dr Mya Aye, Minister of Education Yangon, Naypyidaw / Dagon No. 1 High School, Kamayut High School
2013
7-14 October
(Foreign-hosted)
China Tokyo
(30 people)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1) Mr. Wang Tianping, Former Consul-General in Osaka (Ambassador), Committee Secretary of New Japan-China Friendship Committee for the 21st Century;
2) Ms. Hua Chunying, Deputy Director of Foreign Ministry Information Department of the People’s Republic of China

Beijing Municipal Government: Mr. Xu Xi, Deputy Secretary General
Wuhan City Government: Mr. Zhou Yuan, Deputy Secretary-General of Wuhan Municipal People’s Government
Suzhou City Government: Mr. Yu Feng, Deputy Director General of Suzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office

Beijing / The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University; Beijing Yue Tan Middle School; The Affiliated High school to Beijing Science and Technology University; Beijing Huiwen Middle School; Beijing Sanlitun No.1 High School;
Wuhan City / Wuhan City No. 6 Middle School;
Suzhou City / Suzhou No.3 Middle School
2013
9-16 October
(Foreign-hosted)
Osaka prefecture
(15 people)
2013
7-14 October
(Foreign-hosted)
Hyogo Prefecture
(15 people)
2013
8-17 July
(Japan-hosted)
Beijing
(30 people)
Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tokyo / Junior and Senior High school at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba; Tokyo Gakugei University Senior High School;
Osaka Prefecture / Ikeda Senior High School Attached to Osaka Kyoiku University
Hyogo Prefecture / Himeji Nishi Senior High School
Wuhan City
(15 people)
Suzhou City
(15 people)
2013
19-25 March
(Foreign-hosted)
Cambodia and Laos PDR 16 people Mr. Yuji Kumamaru, Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia;
Mr. Junko Yokota, Japanese Ambassador to Laos
Cambodia / Bak Touk High School and two other schools;
Laos / Neerada High School and six other schools
2013
8-17 January
(Japan-hosted)
16 people Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hokkaido / Hokkaido Sapporo Kiyota High School
2012
18-24 December
(Foreign-hosted)
China Beijing, Tianjin City, Qingdao City (100 people) Mr. An Gang, Vice Secretary-general of Beijing Municipality Beijing / The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University; Beijing Yue Tan Middle School; Beijing Huijia Private School; and other five schools;
Tianjin / Tianjin City No.12 Middle School;
Qingdao / Qingdao City No.9 High School
2012
11-18 July
(Japan-hosted)
Tokyo (100 people) Mr. Hiroyuki Nagahama, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tokyo / Junior and Senior High school at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba; Tokyo Gakugei University Senior High School; Tokyo Metropolitan Nishi High School; Ochanomizu University Senior High School;
2012
12-18 March
(Foreign-hosted)
Indonesia 20 people Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President Jakarta / Al-Izhar Senior High School
2012
15-23 January
(Japan-hosted)
20 people Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister Tokyo / Tokyo Metropolitan Nishi High School
2011
9-16 October
(Foreign-hosted)
China 39 people Mr. Cui Tiankai, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Beijing Yue Tan Middle School; Beijing Huijia Private School; and other three schools;
2011
11-18 July
(Japan-hosted)
40 people Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister Tokyo / Junior and Senior High school at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba;
Tokyo Gakugei University Senior High School
2011
4-9 August
(Foreign-hosted)
Italy 19 people Mr. Masaharu Kono, Japan Ambassador to Italy Umberto High School (Naples), Mercalli High School
2010
2-10 October
(Japan-hosted)
20 people Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister;
Mr. Hiroyuki Mori, Mayor of Kagoshima City
Kagoshima / Kagoshima Prefectural Konan High School, Kagoshima Gyokuryu Junior High School
2010
10-17 October
(Foreign-hosted)
China 40 people Mr. Jilin, People’s Government of Beijing Municipality Vice Mayor Beijing / The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University; The Affiliated High school to Beijing Science and Technology University; and four others
2010
12-19 July
(Japan-hosted)
40 people Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister Tokyo / Junior and Senior High school at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba; Tokyo Gakugei University Senior High School
2009
24 October – 1 November
(Japan-hosted)
China 38 people Mr. Yorihisa Matsuno, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tokyo / Junior and Senior High school at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba
2009
7-14 October
(Foreign-hosted)
20 people Mr. Lu Yong, Beijing City, Deputy Secretary Beijing / Beijing Yue Tan Middle School; The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University
2008
18-26 October
(Japan-hosted)
Germany 20 people Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs;
Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima
Hiroshima / Hiroshima University High School
2008
14-22 September
(Foreign-hosted)
20 people Roland Woeller, Minister of Education, State of Saxony Dresden Romain Rolland Gymnasium
2008
26 January – 2 February
(Foreign-hosted)
Vietnam 20 people Mr. Huynh Cong Minh, Director-General, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education Le Quy Don High School
2007
12-18 November
(Japan-hosted)
20 people Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister
Mr. Kazuo Miwa, Vice-Governor of Osaka
Osaka Prefecture; Miyagawa Village, Mie Prefecture / Ikeda Senior High School Attached to Osaka Kyoiku University
2007
11-18 March
(Foreign-hosted)
Australia 19 people Mr. Paul Lennon, Premier of Tasmania Rosny College, The Friends School and 10 other schools
2006
10-18 December
(Japan-hosted)
20 people H.E. Mr. Alistair Murray McLean, Australia’s Ambassador to Japan;
Mr. Suzuki, Vice Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture / Tokoha Gakuen Tachibana; Shizuoka Gakuen; Shizuoka Prefectural High School; Shizuoka Prefectural Shizuoka Higashi High School; Shizuoka Prefectural Shizuoka Johoku High School
2005
11-18 October
South Korea 20 people Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister for Foreign Affairs Miyagawa, Mie Prefecture / Subaru Gakuen High School
2004
14-21 November
China 20 people Ms. Yuriko Koike, Minister of the Environment Ota City, Gunma Prefecture / Ota Municipal High School
2004
2-9 February
Thailand 20 people Ms. Yuriko Koike, Minister of the Environment Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture / Nagoya City Meito Senior High School
2002
26 October – 3 November
Indonesia 24 people Parliament visit (Mr. Hata, Former Prime Minister) Okayama Prefecture / Okayama Prefectural Kojima High School
2001
11-19 November
Malaysia 24 people Ms. Atsuko Toyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Sapporo (Hokkaido) / Hokkaido Sapporo Okadama High School
2000
18-26 November
Cambodia 24 people Mr. Tadamori Oshima, Minister of Education Rifu City, Miyagi Prefecture / Miyagi Rifu Senior High School;
Kumiyamacho, Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto Prefectural Kumiyama High School
2000
11-18 January
Korea 24 people Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister of Education Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture / Matsusho Gakuen High School;
Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture / Anjo Gakuen High School
1999
21-27 February
Qingdao, China 24 people Mr. Soichiro Ito, Chairman of House of Representatives Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture / Uekusa Gakuen University Academy;
Showa Gakuin Shuei Junior & Senior High School;
Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture / Keiwa Gakuen High School
1998
9-24 January
Peru 24 people Mr. Keizō Obuchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister of Education
Aomori City, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture / Hachinohe High School;
Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture)/ Buntoku High School;
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto Prefectural Kizu High School
1997
28 September – 5 October
Australia 24 people Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister of Education Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture / Akatsukigakuen High School
Nara City, Nara Prefecture / Tomio High School
1996
12-25 February
Hong Kong 24 people Mr. Sukio Iwadare, Director-General of the Environment Agency Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture / Kanazawa Tatsumigaoka High School;
Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture / Matsuyamahigashi High School
1995
31 January – 11 February
Brazil 24 people Mr.Kaoru Yosano, Minister of Education Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture / Yokkaichi Senior High School;
Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture / Shizuoka Prefectural Hamamatsu Kita High School
1994
16-29 January
Bulgaria 24 people Mr. Tsutomu Hata, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ise City, Mie Prefecture / Ujiyamada Commercial High School;
Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture / Okayama University of Science High School
1993
18 April – 1 May
Thailand 30 people Mr. Mayumi Moriyama, Minister of Education Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture / Okazaki Commercial High School;
Kyoto / Kyoto Municipal Hiyoshigaoka High School;
Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture / St.Michael’s Senior High School Affiliated to Kobe International University
1992
16-24 April
United Kingdom 30 people Mr. Michio Watanabe, Minister for Foreign Affairs Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture / Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School;
Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture / Kanazawa Tatsumigaoka High School;
Nara City, Nara Prefecture / Takatori High School
1990
6-13 November
Malaysia 28 people Mr. Toshiki Kaifu, Prime Minister Akita City, Akita Prefecture;
Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture;
Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture;
Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture

In 2009, marking the 20th year of establishment, AEON 1% Club held Teenage Ambassador Reunion, where a total of 182 past participants from 11 countries including Malaysia, England, Thailand, Bulgaria and others gathered in Japan to reflect back on their youth and further deepen their long-lasting friendship.