Tribune News Network
Doha
A distinguished delegation from Onagawa Town in Japan, comprising six students from Onagawa Junior High School, their teachers and members of the Onagawa Town Education Committee, recently visited Qatar to convey their heartfelt gratitude for the generous support extended to their town in the aftermath of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The visit, the first of 10 planned over a 20-year period to familiarise Japanese students with Qatar, aimed to acknowledge Qatar’s pivotal role in supporting Onagawa’s recovery. This assistance included the construction of a new elementary and junior high school building, as well as the Maskar Fish Processing Facility, both funded by the Qatar Friendship Fund for Development. The schools, built with Qatari support, have since become enduring symbols of hope and resilience for the town’s young students.
During their visit, the Onagawa delegation engaged with students from Ahmed Bin Hanbal Secondary School for Boys, Qatar University, and Qatar Academy-Al Khor. Students from both sides exchanged valuable insights into their school experiences, as well as Japanese and Qatari culture, cuisine, and arts, fostering a profound sense of friendship and cross-cultural understanding.
In addition to visiting schools, the delegation was warmly received by the Japanese Ambassador to Qatar, HE Naoto Hisajima, at the Embassy of Japan in Doha. The ambassador expressed his admiration for the resilience of the Onagawa community and highlighted the enduring bond between Japan and Qatar.
The visit also included a tour of the Qatar Friendship Fund for Development, where the delegation had the opportunity to personally thank the team behind the construction of their school, a project that has become a cornerstone of hope and renewal for their town.
Chiba Himeka, a student from the delegation, shared her experience interacting with female students from Qatar University, stating: “It was my first time meeting them, but they were all kind and genuinely interested in learning about us, which made it easy to interact. It was a wonderful experience.”
Onagawa Town, once devastated by the tsunami, continues its journey of rebuilding and recovery. The heartfelt gesture of gratitude from the Onagawa delegation stands as a poignant reminder of the vital role international cooperation and mutual support play in overcoming times of crisis.
