Japan-Africa Youth Camp Held by JICA and Saitama University Ahead of TICAD9

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Japan-Africa Youth Camp Held by JICA and Saitama University Ahead of TICAD9

Japan-Africa Youth Camp Held by JICA and Saitama University Ahead of TICAD9

2025/8/25

The Government of Japan will host the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025. Given that “Youth” has been designated as a cross-cutting theme of the conference, a partner event titled “Japan-Africa Youth Camp” was jointly organized by Saitama University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at JICA Tokyo on August 7 and 8.
The camp brought together twenty Japanese students from Saitama University and eight African international students. These African students were graduate students from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tunisia, studying at Saitama University and the International University of Japan (Niigata). Over the course of two days, participants engaged in vibrant discussions and an intercultural exchange.

Day 1 (August 7)
Following opening remarks by Mr. Kenichi KONYA, Director General of JICA Tokyo, and Dr. Susumu NONAKA, Executive Director and Vice-President of Saitama University, an overview of TICAD was presented by JICA’s Africa Department. This was followed by self-introductions and icebreaking activities among students.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Mr. Masakazu MIZOBUCHI, General Manager of the International Division at Nissaku Co., Ltd., a company with extensive experience in water development projects in Africa. He shared insights into groundwater initiatives and the social impact of water resource development. A hands-on activity simulating the challenges of water supply in rural African areas—racing while carrying 18-liter water tanks—gave participants a tangible understanding of the difficulties of water access.
During the group discussion, students were divided into teams to explore two themes: “SDGs and Development Challenges in Africa” and “Promoting Youth Exchange between Japan and Africa.” Under the facilitation of student leaders and with guidance from Professor Tetsuo KONAKA (Research and Development Bureau) and Associate Professor Makoto NAGASAWA (International Office), students engaged in thoughtful dialogue. The first group conducted a SWOT analysis of African regions and proposed co-creative initiatives between Japan and Africa. The second group identified perception gaps currently seen between Japan and Africa and presented ideas to foster future exchanges. The discussions duly reflected the students’ academic expertise and enthusiasm.
At the evening networking dinner, participants enjoyed African cuisine while learning about the dishes as explained by the international students, enhancing mutual understanding through food.

Day 2 (August 8)
The day began with a special lecture by Mr. Motoi KATO, a University Fellow at Saitama University, who shared his extensive experience in Africa, including his tenure as Ambassador to Gabon and involvement in past TICAD conferences. Each African student then gave a presentation in representation of their country, expressing expectations for TICAD and hopes for future collaboration with Japan.
Next, representatives from Meiji Co., Ltd., delivered a session on the cacao industry. Mr. Takeshi HAREYAMA from the Cacao Marketing Department discussed the process from cacao beans to chocolate and development challenges associated with cacao in Africa, such as climate change, child labor, and price volatility. An overview of the cocoa situation in Ghana and Madagascar, along with the company’s initiatives to support local farmers in these regions, was presented by Mr. Yoshinori DOI, Adviser of the Cacao Development Department, and Mr. Kento BABA of the Cacao Development Research Unit. During the lecture intermissions, participants had the valuable opportunity to closely observe demonstrations, including explanations of local cocoa farming practices using models, cocoa bean roasting, and chocolate-making. While savoring the chocolate, the students reflected on the future of cocoa and Africa, engaging in a lively and thoughtful question-and-answer session.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Kazuro SHIBUYA, Director of Partnership Program Division I at JICA Tokyo and former representative of JICA Ghana office, introduced a traditional Ghanaian cheer: “Ayekoo!” ( meaning“Well done!”) along with the response “Yaaye!”. An exchange of cheers celebrating the two-day interaction among participating students and others was held, incorporating these messages. This was followed by the presentation of certificates of completion to all participants.
Japanese students commented:
“Speaking English with African students all day was a rich and fulfilling experience for me, given that I have never studied abroad.”
“My image of Africa changed through discussions. I admire their strong sense of patriotism.” African students reflected:
“Japanese students were very friendly, and I was impressed by their ideas for cooperation,”
“I want to learn more about Japanese companies active in Africa.”
This exchange appeared to be a valuable opportunity for mutual discovery and learning for both all participants. Saitama University continues to promote its initiative to create social impact through internationalization and will actively participate in multicultural co-learning programs such as this one.