Soka University student Ms. Yoshimi Sawanobori (GCP student), a second year student in the Faculty of Law, participated in the Japan-Korea Youth Friendship Exchange Program, which is an international youth exchange project sponsored by the Cabinet Office.

The purpose of this program is to promote friendship and understanding between nations through youth exchanges of Japan and various countries as well as to help them expand their international perspective and to foster youth who can manifest leadership in the international arena by nurturing their spirit for international cooperation and improving their ability to actualize international cooperation.

Approximately 25 students were selected from Japan for the Japan-Korea Youth Friendship Exchange Program. Between September 18th (Wednesday) to October 2nd (Wednesday), they visited South Korea. They visited the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, one of South Korea’s state administrative institutions. They also visited historic buildings such as Hwaseong Haenggung, held a cultural exchange meeting and discussions with local youth, and experienced homestay.

Ms. Sawanobori who participated commented: "I applied for this program with hopes to contribute to the friendship between Japan and Korea in any way I can. There was a big gap between the country of Korea that is conveyed through the media and what I actually saw and felt in Korea. Through exchanges with local youth, homestay, and all the places I've visited, I was able to interact with the warm personalities of the people of Korea. Through this program, I was convinced that even small one-on-one exchanges between people can become very helpful. I will exert myself in my daily studies so that I can contribute even a little to the friendship between Japan and Korea, using what I learned and felt through this precious experience."