[inspic=1052,right,fullscreen,400]Program One ended perfectly with a superb Arigato Evento! Attended by Tama VIPs, host families, and the local organizing committee, the event connected each person that has touched us during our short stay in Tama and celebrated all the happy memories we have created. When saying good-bye to eight of our members (David from Austria, Hasiyna from USA, Yulin from Taiwan, Matt from Canada, Xury and Kun from China, Rie from Japan, and Torsten from Denmark), we could not help but feel sadness as the program comes to an end for several members. In just a couple of weeks, our group built strong relationships and felt unity.

Now, although we will be separated from the close friends, we have also gained new ‘kizuna’. Let’s persist with such energy as the summer tour continues!

[inspic=1032,right,fullscreen,400]For the Tokyo Metropolitan tour, among many different choices, I decided to go to Ueno and Akihabara, the street of “otaku”. After a walk in Ueno Park, where we saw a Japanese person in a Scottish kilt playing a Chinese game, our stomachs needed food. So we went for lunch at a spaghetti restaurant! Japanese spaghetti is not the same as the Italian one, but I have to confess, it was not so bad!

After lunch, we went to Akihabara, where we discovered a crazy world created by manga addicts, cosplayers and cute maids. All of us wanted a picture with a sweet maid who was selling sweets, but she would not agree to unless one of us bought something. So then, one of the Chuo University students who came with us bought dorayaki for everybody and the maid cast a spell on them…kawaiiiii! Lastly, we enjoyed the Akihabara atmosphere by walking in the crowded street, going into manga and anime shops, trying cosplay costumes and visiting a nine floor shop of electronic goods… But the most important thing is that I really had a lot of fun with my new friends!! Thank you guys 🙂

(Adriana Sanzone, Italy)