Highlights of JENESYS2023 Activities Reported in September 2023

30 September 2023 -

JENESYS2023 aims to promote mutual trust and understanding among the peoples of Japan, ASEAN Member States, and Timor-Leste, to build a basis for future friendship and cooperation, as well as to encourage an understanding of various aspects of Japan. The project is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). These are the highlights of JENESYS2023 reported by Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) in September 2023:

JENESYS the Philippines-Japan Basketball Exchange was held on 28 August – 5 September 2023. Twelve high school students from the Philippines with basketball experience visited Tokyo and Akita Prefectures! They enjoyed school exchanges at Daito Bunka University Daiichi High School in Tokyo and Noshiro High School of Science and Technology in Akita. They also had a weekend homestay in Akita, where they learned more about Japanese culture and lifestyle, and deepened their understanding of Japan.

JENESYS2023 Brunei-Japan Maritime Safety Exchange was held on 6-12 September 2023. A delegation of six marine law enforcement personnel from the Prime Minister’s Office in Brunei visited Japan. They spent a week in Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture and learned about Japan’s coast guard situation and policies through lectures on the theme by the Japan Coast Guard, hands-on experience of arresting techniques, and exchanges of opinions with Japan Coast Guard officials. To deepen their understanding of maritime security, they also visited the Japan Coast Guard Museum YOKOHAMA. During their stay in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture, they experienced a homestay with fun hospitality by each family. The cultural exchange included experiencing judo, kendo, and hand-rolled sushi with flower petals in a Japanese house and in the natural environment. They also enjoyed Japanese cultural experiences such as wearing yukata, tea ceremony, and pulling a float at a festival, making it a fulfilling programme.

JENESYS Thailand-Japan Agriculture Exchange for High School/ University Students (Invitation Programme for Japanese Language Learners) was held on 5-12 September 2023. Fifteen Thai high school and university students visited Japan under the JENESYS programme! They spent a week in Tokyo and Shizuoka Prefecture. In Tokyo, they visited Leaf Factory Tokyo and NTT AgriTechnology Corporation and learned new agricultural technology. Also, in Shizuoka Prefecture, they exchanged with students from Shizuoka University’s Faculty of Agriculture and host families. Not only participants are studying Japanese and have an interest in Japanese culture, but they also discovered a new part of Japan.

JENESYS Indonesia-Japan Exchange for Diplomats and Governmental Officials (Invitation Programme) was held on 6-12 September 2023. Nine Indonesian officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the Coast Guard visited Tokyo and Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture. In Kamogawa, they stayed with host families and experienced first-hand various aspects of Japanese culture, such as calligraphy and sushi making. In Tokyo, they learned a lot about the promotion of Japanese marine products at Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the importance of opening the Kaiyomaru (research vessel) to the public and exchanging opinions at the Japan Coast Guard.