06 Nov 2019

Some standard three pupils from Ben Thema Primary School will get an opportunity to have their paintings exhibited at Yokohama, Japan.

The paintings will be on display at Tsuzuki Multicultural and Youth Plaza in December 2019 and at JICA in March 2020.

Speaking at the official opening of the painting exhibition at Ben Thema Primary School recently, the Japanese Ambassador, Kozo Takeda said the exhibitions were unique as they displayed paintings of Japanese and Botswana kids’ daily life so as to give people a better understanding about their cultures.

Likewise, he said paintings by some pupils from Chigasaki Elementary School would also be exhibited in Gaborone from November 9 to 10 as part of the Japan Cultural Festival.

Takeda said friendships that started from a young age and cultivated through cultural exchange would definitely develop to a deep understanding about each other and their respective cultures, which would ultimately lead to a steady foundation for strong bilateral relations.

The Japanese Ambassador said relations between countries were established based not only on political and economic partnerships but on other significant factors such as cultural exchange to deepen mutual understanding.

Takeda said the relations between Botswana and Japan were growing strong including at the grassroots level.

He said the annual event was undeniably strong evidence of how Japan and Botswana had been strengthening their ties.

In her welcome remarks, Ben Thema head of department for Special Education, Judith Kema thanked the Japanese Embassy for connecting their school with Chigasaki for pupils’ art exchange programme. ENDS