【Project Activities】

On March 11, 2023, along the Yodogawa River (gathering at Nishinakajima-minamigata Station), our staff and foreign residents living in Yao City (mainly from Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines) engaged in exchange while talking and walking a 10km round trip.

【Project Background】

We hold the Yodogawa 10km Walk every year because it is an activity that even those who are not good at sports can easily participate in, and walking together provides a great opportunity for communication.

【Project Objective】

Realization of international exchange and peace through sports.

【Project Area】

【Methods】

【Outcomes】

Even if participants only spoke broken Japanese or English, they were able to communicate effectively using smartphone translation tools. The walk allowed participation from those who couldn’t join more intensive sports like futsal or table tennis (such as the wives of participants), and walking together made it easier to converse and interact. While Japanese and foreign participants initially gathered separately before the start, they were completely mixed by the time of dismissal, which showed how the distance between their hearts had closed. Furthermore, we later heard from a Japanese participant who visited a shop run by one of the foreign participants, suggesting the event helped foster ongoing community connections.

【Voices from Participants and Partners】

【Challenges and Lessons Learned】

【URL】