Foreign Minister’s Commendations Awarding Ceremony for Returning JOCV, Attended by 70 Volunteers
2024.01.05
On November 29, the awarding ceremony of the Foreign Minister’s Commendations (hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Iikura Guest House (Minato City, Tokyo), and 70 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) attended, having served their terms and returned home. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had been about four years since the last awarding ceremony was held. Guests also included members of the Diet who have supported JICA volunteer programs as well as representatives of organizations with which the incumbent returning volunteers are affiliated.
“Grassroots diplomats” addressing challenges with the local people
At the opening of the ceremony, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Komura Masahiro praised the returning volunteers as “grassroots diplomats” who have contributed to local economic and social development, as well as the promotion of mutual understanding, before individually presenting them with their commendations.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Komura awarding the commendations one by one.
Doing what we can to make the world a better place
On behalf of the returning volunteers, Mr. Hamamoto Yoshimi (originally from Hiroshima Prefecture), who had served as a community development facilitator in Paraguay, reflected on the volunteer activities and expressed his gratitude: “Our activities began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these circumstances, we were able to receive this valuable opportunity to participate in the JOCV program and complete our term of service thanks to our ever-cheerful local colleagues and friends, our fellow JOCV who stuck together through thick and thin, our friends and family who supported us from faraway in Japan, and the assistance of the numerous people involved, including those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies, and JICA, as well as the understanding of all the people of Japan.
Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Hamamoto delivering the representative address.
Looking ahead, we hope to make the most of this experience and do all we can as members of the international community to make the world a better place.”
Expectations for resolutions to domestic challenges
At the reception that followed the awarding ceremony, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Komura read Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko’s greetings on her behalf, expressing her respect for the integral role that the volunteers played in Japan’s development cooperation by serving in their appointed countries, and her hope that they will utilize the knowledge and experience gained while in developing countries as JOCV toward resolving Japan’s own issues. Following this, on behalf of the JICA Parliamentary League, Mr. Matsumoto Takeaki, a member of the House of Representatives, expressed his appreciation to the returning volunteers for their service and encouraged them in their future endeavors.
At the end of the reception, JICA Executive Senior Vice President Yamada Junichi paid tribute to the volunteers for serving during COVID-19 and voiced JICA’s commitment to the continued promotion of the JOCV program to meet the expectations within developing countries and Japan. He closed the ceremony by expressing his gratitude to the guests and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The reception that followed the awarding ceremony.
Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
<Guests> *In Japanese syllabary order
Members of the House of Representatives: Mr. Aoyagi Hitoshi; Mr. Ishii Taku; Mr. Oguma Shinji; Ms. Obuchi Yuko; Mr. Nakatani Shinichi; Mr. Noma Takeshi; Mr. Fujii Hisayuki; Mr. Matsumoto Takeaki; and Mr. Wada Yuichiro. The Secretary to House of Councillors member Suzuki Muneo and the Secretary to House of Councillors member Horii Kenji.
Mr. Inoie Toru (Director and General Manager of Sales, Head Office Sales Division, Ishikawa TV Co., Ltd.); Mr. Shibuya Nobuo (Director, Ebina Crew Office, Train Operation Division, Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.); Mr. Suzuki Shingo (Senior Manager, Software Open Innovation Corporate Headquarters, Fujitsu Limited); and Ms. Seki Natsuko (Researcher, NPO International Farmers Participation Technical Network).
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