No.139 Visit from the Foster City Delegation

The first overseas Sister City exchange for Inagi City began with a visit from a delegation of 33 people from Foster City (hereinafter referred to as "FC") to the "I no Machi Inagi Citizen Festival" last October. In February of this year, an 11-member delegation, including myself, visited FC as part of a tour organized by the Inagi City Sister Friendship City Exchange Association.

And this summer, the FC boys' and girls' soccer teams made their first visit to Japan, and the original purpose of interaction among the children has begun.

The visiting delegation arrived at Narita Airport on July 13 and is scheduled to return on the 25th. During this time, from the 15th to the 21st, a week-long exchange program was held in Inagi City.

On the first day, we held an orientation at Inagi First Junior High School. From the FC, a total of over 40 people participated, including 27 members from the girls' team aged 14 to 15 and the boys' team aged 11 to 12, along with accompanying coaches and parents or guardians. The elementary and junior high school students of Inagi welcomed them with a brass band performance and dance performances, and we exchanged gifts.

On the first day, we moved to Ajinomoto Stadium, toured the stadium facilities, and watched the J-League match between Tokyo Verdy and Tokushima Vortis.

On the second day, a交流会 and交流試合 organized by the Inagi City Soccer Federation were held at Nagamine Tokyo Verdy Field.

On the third day, participants enjoyed experiences of Japanese culture such as kimono dressing, calligraphy, and tea ceremony with the cooperation of Komazawa Gakuen, lectures on pear cultivation with the help of local farmers, and sightseeing in the city including the Pair Terrace.

On the fourth day, exchange classes were held at Inagi City Public Schools, where the children from the FC were divided to participate in Inagi City Dai 3 Elementary School, Inagi City Dai 7 Elementary School, Inagi City Dai 1 Junior High School, and Inagi City Dai 3 Junior High School. Each school conducted unique welcoming activities, classes, school lunch, and cleaning activities in their respective classes.

On that day, I visited Inagi City Dai 1 Junior High School and Inagi City Dai 3 Elementary School. At Inagi City Dai 1 Junior High School, each class conducted a program that included self-introductions. In the English class, Inagi students introduced themselves in English, while FC students introduced themselves in Japanese. In the physical education class, they communicated through basketball.

At Inagi City Dai 3 Elementary School, three classes participated in a game that also served as self-introductions. Similar to Inagi City Dai 1 Junior High School, the children from Inagi introduced themselves in English, while the children from FC introduced themselves in Japanese.

Elementary school students, both boys and girls, were proactive and seemed to make friends quickly, while in middle school, girls were actively engaging in conversation, but boys appeared to be shy and spoke softly. It must be that age. In any case, all the classes were a great success!

On the fifth day, a friendly match was held at Nagamine Tokyo Verdy Field in the evening.

On the morning of the sixth day, we received instruction from the coaches of Tokyo Verdy at the Tokyo Verdy clubhouse, experienced Japanese culture such as koto, dance, and tea ceremony at Komazawa Gakuen in the afternoon, and in the evening, a friendly match was held at Nagamine Verdy Field.

On the final day, the seventh day, we visited Jindaiji in the morning, had lunch, then explored the Kawasaki City Japanese Folk House Museum, and returned to Nagamine Verdy Field in the evening for the final friendly match and farewell party.

The week following the FC visiting group’s arrival in Inagi was marked by clear skies and extreme heat, but as the final day’s friendly match concluded and I was saying my farewell, it started to rain. It was as if the rain was shedding tears for the children’s parting, and many of the children were moved to tears as well, which left a lasting impression on me.

In implementing this exchange program, we received cooperation from many related organizations, including President Saito of the Foster City Sister City Association, the Inagi City Sister Friendship City Exchange Association, the Inagi City Soccer Federation, Komazawa Gakuen Educational Institution, and Tokyo Verdy.

In addition, we received the provision of goods from various sponsoring companies, including Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company, Yutaka Co., Ltd., and Suntory Products Limited.

We appreciate your efforts in making the public-private partnership exchange project a reality.

This exchange was a first experience and was carried out with some uncertainty, but it must have become an invaluable memory for both groups of children.

The economic situation surrounding Japan, such as rising prices, soaring fuel costs, and a weak yen, remains severe. However, it would be great if the children of Inagi could have the opportunity to visit the FC next.

I hope that the exchange between the two cities continues steadily and that the internationalization of Inagi's children progresses.