On 10th of March in 2019, JICE jointly hosts the first JENESYS Alumni Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and the Ministry of Youth and Sport in Malaysia (hereinafter referred to as KBS) for the purpose of exchange among the past participants of JENESYS program (hereinafter referred to as Alumni). More than a hundred Alumini gathered across Malaysia for this occasion to renew their friendships.

At the meeting, the opening remarks were given by Mr. Hiroyuki Orikasa, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, followed by Ms. Alina Cheong, Senior Assistant Secretary of KBS. Then, Mr. Nobuaki Hirakawa, Secretary General of Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) and Ms. Keiko Omae, Directer of International Exchange Department in JICE spoke about the significance of JENESYS program that its decadelong history has given to the participants based on the data using the PowerPoint, and concluded their presentation with a message to the Alumni.

In the latter half of the meeting, the representatives of the Alumni gave a presentation to introduce not only the experience during their stay in Japan but also the outcome of the Action Plan made as part of the program and the activities to promote the understanding of Japan conducted after returning to their country. Every comment made by the Alumni proved how much JENESYS program brought benefits to them for the rest of their lives.

The Alumni also expanded cultural relations with the Japanese high school students from Nagano prefecture (Shinonoi High School) who are visiting Malaysia under the scheme of JENSYS outbound program. Their performance of Japanese traditional songs and dances at the opening and the closing of the meeting captivated an audience and brought a sense of unity at once.

Through this occasion, the participants are expected to expand and strengthen the networks among the participants of JENESYS program in order to establish the Alumni Society. We, at JICE, also continuously engage in the follow-up programs to serve the participants well for the many years to come.

Sachie Ishibashi (Ms.)
Youth Exchange Division
International Exchange Department