On October 14th, during an interview in Haikou, a second-year university student from Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, named Enka Fukumoto shared her excitement about visiting China for the first time. “China is vast and culturally diverse, with rich traditions among its various ethnic groups. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the local customs and flavors here in Hainan,” she remarked.
On the same day, a youth exchange program from Hyogo Prefecture was launched in Haikou, featuring 14 Japanese students engaging in cultural exchanges at Hainan Vocational College of Commerce. Since establishing a friendly province-to-county relationship in 1990, Hainan Province and Hyogo Prefecture have been working closely together in fields like economy, culture, and education.
As part of their program, the students participated in activities including the Li ethnic group’s unique bamboo pole dance, learning about Li culture, and experiencing traditional Chinese tea culture. Under the guidance of teachers, the Japanese students colored the Li totem—known as the “Powerful God”—using brushes, and eagerly practiced writing their names in a celebratory art booklet.
Nao Tanaka, a senior at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, expressed her appreciation for the beautiful traditional attire of the Li people and found the symbolism of the “Powerful God” to be quite intriguing. She mentioned that she had previously studied in Beijing for a year and had traveled to Inner Mongolia, Tianjin, and Hubei, developing a strong interest in Chinese theatrical arts, such as Peking opera and Sichuan opera.
Matsumoto Takeki, the leader of the Japanese delegation and president of the Japan-China Friendship Association in Hyogo Prefecture, noted that many Japanese youth have limited knowledge about China. He hopes this trip will encourage open communication among students from both countries, fostering friendship through mutual understanding.
During their five-day stay in Hainan, the Japanese students will engage in interactive activities at local universities, visit key areas of the Hainan Free Trade Port, explore beautiful rural settings, and savor local Hainanese cuisine. Tadaaki Ohno, a second-year student at Kansai University of Foreign Studies, expressed his hope that this experience will enrich his perspective, improve his Chinese language skills, and help him understand the different lifestyles of the Chinese and Japanese people.
