We held a 20-year-old ceremony in 2020.

On January 8, 2020 (Monday/Holiday), a 20-year-old ceremony was held at Yomiuri Land Aurora Space, and 733 people living in the city (974 people) attended the 20-year-old ceremony in Inagi City. A total of 768 people attended, including 35 people living outside the city who requested to attend.
At the ceremony, video letters from teachers at each junior high school, a ceremonial address from Mayor Inagi, a congratulatory address from Inagi City Council Chairman, and a congratulatory video letter from Maki Nanao, former member of the Takarazuka Revue, were shown.
Additionally, we were able to hold the event on a grand scale thanks to the support we received from many companies and organizations.
A raffle was held for the first time in four years, and the venue was very lively.
We would like to introduce the companies and organizations that sponsored the 20th anniversary ceremony, as well as the impressions of the eight executive committee members.

January 8, 2020 (Monday/Holiday)

Yomiuriland Aurora Space

Reception: Ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. Target school areas: Inagi Daiichi Junior High School, Inagi Daiichi Junior High School, Inagi Daiichi Junior High School

Reception: 12:30 p.m. Ceremony: 1:30 p.m. Target school areas: Inagi Daini Junior High School, Inagi Daigo Junior High School, Inagi Daini Junior High School

ceremony

• Opening movie (video letter from each junior high school teacher)
• Silence
• national anthem
• Host speech: Katsuhiro Takahashi, Mayor of Inagi
• Congratulatory speech by the guest representative: Mr. Kenichi Kitahama, Chairman of Inagi City Council
• Congratulatory words by Maki Nanao, former member of the Takarazuka Revue (video letter)
• Introduction of sponsoring companies and organizations
• Lottery
• Greetings from the adult representative Ayuka Saito, 20-year-old ceremony executive committee chairperson

Mr. Iuoya Umezuki Mr. Otani Shoten Co., Ltd. Confectionery Mr. Miyoshi Mr. Kodomo no Mori Educational Corporation Yanokuchi Kindergarten Mr. Tokyo Aoba Gakuin Educational Corporation Aoba Kindergarten Mr. Tokyo Nashinomino Gakuen Educational Corporation Mr. Rika Kindergarten Mr. Kochan Pho Wakabadai Store Social Welfare Higashi Nursery Association Chateraise Inagi Store Starbucks Coffee Inagi Higashi-Naganuma TV Asahi Wakabadai Media Center Tokyo Verdy Co., Ltd. Tokyo Minami Agricultural Cooperative (JA Tokyo Minami) Inagi Branch Samichitonbori Inagi Store Yomiuri Co., Ltd. We received support from 16 companies and organizations, including the Giants and Yomiuri Land Co., Ltd.
The sponsored items we received were delivered to the winners through a strict lottery.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the companies and organizations that supported us.

We received impressions from the 20-year-old ceremony executive committee members who were involved in the planning and operation of the ceremony for about half a year.

Ayuka Saito (Executive Committee Chairperson, Inagi Daiichi Junior High School graduate)

　This year, we had eight members on the executive committee, and although there was a bias towards junior high schools, we were very happy to receive words of praise from so many people. We would like to thank everyone who cooperated in organizing the ceremony, including the members of the Lifelong Learning Division.
Above all, being able to work together with these members for the ceremony for half a year was a great asset to me. I want to continue to cherish the connections I have with these seven people, as well as my old friends.

Akari Okazaki (Vice executive committee chairperson and moderator, from Inagi Daisan Junior High School)

　It's already been 20 years since I was born and raised here in Inagi City, and the past six months have been the busiest period to date. Even though I knew what to expect, I accepted the role of executive committee member because I believed in the words of someone who said that the regrets of not doing something are greater than the regrets of doing it. Through my interactions with outsiders, I realized that Japanese is difficult, and I was a little nervous about speaking in front of people, but it was an important experience that I gained because I took on the challenge.
I will pass on the experience of being able to handle the dual roles of vice executive chairman and host to my grandchildren. thank you very much.

Ayana Endo (Public Relations Officer, Inagi Daisan Junior High School graduate)

　Thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of the executive committee for this turning point in my life, my 20th birthday ceremony. I am very happy that I was able to have the valuable experience of collaborating with people from other junior high schools to create something. Through the activities of the executive committee, I was able to realize once again the kindness and warmth of the local people of Inagi City.
Also, as someone who aims to become a childcare worker in the future, I want to become an adult who can contribute to society and Inagi City so that children can confidently say, ``I love the area where I live.'' .

Dai Yanagisawa (Public Relations Officer, Inagi Daisan Junior High School graduate)

　I believe that I was able to fulfill my role as a 20-year-old ceremony executive committee member and create a truly wonderful ceremony. The activities of the executive committee started in July, and I have experienced many things. I was able to visit my alma mater and say hello to the teachers who helped me a lot during my junior high school life. On that day, I was able to reunite with old friends and talk about memories.
It was a ceremony that made me realize that I had once again joined the ranks of adults. It was a very good experience. thank you very much.

Mr. Yuma Kaneko (in charge of video production, from Inagi Daishi Junior High School)

　The coming-of-age ceremony, which took more than half a year of preparation, is a lifelong memory. I am glad that I was able to have so many valuable opportunities that I would not normally have, such as meeting my mentors, filming videos, and requesting sponsorship.
I would like to continue gaining experience in management.

Yasuhiro Kitamura (in charge of video production, from Inagi Daishi Junior High School)

　First of all, I am very happy that I was able to have a very valuable experience at this once-in-a-lifetime ceremony.
At the executive committee meeting, we had a lot of fun thinking about Inagi City and junior high school, and it felt like everyone was working together to shape the ceremony one by one. I'm sure there were some parts that caused you a lot of trouble, but I think the actual ceremony was a very fulfilling one thanks to everyone's help.
Finally, we would like to thank the Lifelong Learning Division, the executive committee, companies, and teachers for their cooperation.

Yasuyo Suzukawa (in charge of video production, from Inagi Daishi Junior High School)

　I thought that through this ceremony I would be able to become a more responsible adult. In reality, things have remained the same since middle school, and I have doubts as to whether I have become the twenty-year-old I had always imagined.
However, if accumulating experiences like this is what it means to become an adult, then wouldn't it be that we grow little by little? I am very happy to be able to be involved in such an opportunity, and I would like to express my gratitude to my fellow members of the executive committee and those who cooperated.

Mr. Shuya Soeno (MC, Inagi Daishi Junior High School graduate)

　At first I thought it would be a bit of a hassle, having to make appointments at schools and companies, but as the ceremony got closer, I couldn't help but look forward to it. I was in charge of officiating on the day, and I was really happy that I was able to successfully complete the role and help create a ceremony that was perfect for celebrating 20 years old. I learned once again that there are many hardships in working together with others to achieve things, but the joy of seeing something come to fruition is exceptional.
I want to continue to keep this feeling in mind as I try new things and become a person who can find true joy beyond hardship.