Thai and Japanese Kids Enjoyed Friendly Meeting through Rugby Games

Date: March 25/Friday to 27/Sunday, 2016

Venue: Teganooka Youths Nature House, Chiba Prefecture

Volunteer interpreter: Ms. Wasana Kida, AIRA member

Visiting Thai kids: Club members of Vajiravudh College

Japanese children: Elementary school children of rugby schools at Kashiwa, Inzai, Abiko, Chiba and Kawaguchi

The 2016 Japan-Thailand Kids Rugby Meeting was held for three days from March 25 to 27 at the NEC’s rugby ground and others, sponsored by The Kids Sports Exchange Association, an organization powerfully promoting international exchange through sports.

The friendly exchange program counts seventh this year since 2009, where Ms. Wasana Kida has been serving consecutively as an interpreter dispatched from AIRA.

The program aims to promote cultural exchange among children through playing rugby and staying together 2 nights/3days at the Teganooka Youths Nature House.

Ms Kida also stayed there and played great role in helping Thai kids in tidying room, taking meals, etc. On the first day, Mr. M. Mukoyama, chairperson of the Kids Sports Exchange Accociation stressed that through rugby children would learn how to make friends, know other culture, study other live language, and to cooperate with others.

Later, necessary explanations were given regarding rules of lodging, tiding of bedclothes, garbage sorting, etc., including a demonstration of bed-making. She did her best to move around the 4 rooms with 25 children in total to help and advice them. Some children were trying to communicate with others with a help of smartfon’s English-Japanese dictionary function.

Curry and rice was served outdoor at the first dinner. They cooked Thai rice with an advice of a Thai cook as to the proper water volume, which had been seen in Japan also when electric rice cooker was not popular.

On the second day, the children watched a real rugby match played by the NEC Green Rocket members, and learned basic rules and playing tactics.

On the third day, rugby matches among room-by-room groups were held at the ground. These matches were held after an encouraging words by the representative of the Abiko Rugby School, saying, “Do not stick to win the game but try to enjoy the whole day.”

It is meaningfull for us that AIRA could contribute to assisting promotion of cultural and friendly exchange of children between the two countries through the three days sport meeting and camping life. This precious experience will certainly give a momentum for further broad interchanges.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(No. 15-25: Translated by T. Sugano)