We Are Tomodachi Spring / Summer 2018

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3“We Are Tomodachi” is a magazine published with the aim of further deepening people’s under-standing of the initiatives of the Government of Japan and the charms of Japan. Tomodachi means “friend” in Japanese, and the magazine’s title expresses that Japan is a friend of the countries of the world–one that will cooperate and grow together with them.ContentsG20 Japan 2019Feature:P. 8P. 24P. 28P. 30P. 32P. 6Note: U.S. dollar equivalents for Japanese yen amounts in this issue are calculated at 107 yen to the dollar, roughly the rate at the time of publication.Hundreds of Host Towns Ready for Big Sports Events 26Peace of Mind for Muslims Dining in Japan28The JET ProgrammeFrom Nostalgia to Diplomacy: The JET Programme as an Engine of Soft Power34Friends of JapanFukuoka City Fostering Innovation with the Startup Visa ProgramSowing Seeds of Peace for Japan and China3032Contributed Article: Dr. Shiro Armstrong Global Economic Uncertainty and Japan’s Leadership in the Asia Pacific 20Revolutionizing Single-Item Manufacturing22Journey through a Vibrant World of New Green4In April 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Higashiosaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka Prefecture, one of the venues where Japan will host Rugby World Cup 2019 from September to November 2019, and met with elementary school students from a local rugby school. The G20 Summit Meeting will also be held in Osaka Prefecture in June 2019.CoverJapanese Individuals Contributing WorldwideGame App Developer in Her 80s Opens ICT World for Fellow SeniorsSynchronized Swimming Olympic Medalist Performing with Cirque du Soleil68Prime Minister in Action18Discover Fukushima’s Hamadori24G20 Summit & Ministerial Meetings to Be Held for the First Time in Japan10All Nine Host Cities Represent Unique Aspects of Japan12