“Despite our different languages and cultural customs, I can feel the greatest kindness simply through their smiles.”

——Student Representative from the Second High School Attached to BNU

This year, Beijing has resumed the “China-Japan Teenage Ambassador” exchange program with Japan’s Aeon after a five-year hiatus. A Chinese delegation of 40 high school students from Beijing and Hunan traveled to Japan for a week-long visit.

The 40 “Chinese teenage ambassadors” experienced Japanese history and culture by visiting local high school classrooms and staying with host families, injecting youthful energy into China-Japan friendship.

Focusing on themes such as administrative systems, sci-tech innovation, culture and history, the teenagers explored notable Japanese landmarks, including the National Diet Building, the New National Stadium, and Senso-ji Temple. Through these visits, they gained a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and its interactions with Chinese culture.

Upon arrival at the campus, the “Chinese teenage ambassadors” received a warm welcome. Approximately 2,000 Japanese students and teachers, seated on both sides of the gymnasium, gave thunderous applause to greet the Chinese guests. A student representative from Beijing National Day School delivered a speech in Japanese and presented the principal with a calligraphy piece with poetic lines that read “Though separated by a mountain, we’ll share the same clouds and rain. The bright moon belongs not to a single town.” to express their hopes for intercollegiate friendly exchanges.

Accompanied by their Japanese peers, “Chinese teenage ambassadors” participated in Japanese high school classes and tried their hand at sports such as baseball, kyudo, and kendo. They also played friendly table tennis and badminton matches with Japanese students, filling the campus with joy and laughter.

Later in the program, “Chinese teenage ambassadors” stayed with their host families to experience life in Japan. With the warm hospitality and meticulous care of the host families, they savored traditional Japanese cuisine, experienced natural hot springs, and visited Chinese restaurants. The teenagers expressed that they felt the warmth of family.

As the departure time approached, at 6 a.m., the “Chinese teenage ambassadors” prepared to board their flight, reluctant to part with their Japanese friends who came to see them off, with plans to meet again in Beijing.

“The friendships we have fostered in this short time can last a lifetime. As we parted ways, we could no longer hold back our tears, filled with eager anticipation for our next meeting,” said a student from Beijing National Day School.

Further Reading

The “China-Japan Teenage Ambassador” program serves as Beijing’s flagship initiative in public diplomacy. Launched in 1996, it has been held for 16 editions, attracting a total of 1,491 high school students from both countries. In October this year, Beijing will host 40 “Japanese teenage ambassadors” visiting China.