Fiji – Japan Cooperation Yields Benefits for Fijian Youths

The strengthened diplomatic cooperation and friendship between Fiji and Japan has empowered the Fijian youths with educational opportunities to build a brighter future for them and their families through pursing the academic and sports scholarships.

Through such educational exchanges, the students are able to progressively develop the best of their potentials in sports and education. One such success story can be told about the two Fijian students, 17 year old Sekonaia Bulu and 16 year old Joape Naco who are currently studying at the Oita Tomei High School in Oita Prefecture, Japan.

Sekonaia and Joape came to Japan in 2018 through the 3 years scholarship program which, has been initiated through a partnership between Fiji’s Embassy in Tokyo (FET) and Oita Tomei High School and Oita City. Initial contacts with the Oita Tomei High School started in 2017, when the Fiji Embassy Tokyo staff and Fiji`s Honorary Consul in Beppu (Oita) conducted a “Get to Know Fiji” Seminar with the school’s students and teachers.

Known as the land of the rising sun, Japan has become the second home to these two Fijian students who have made a remarkable impression through demonstration of the friendly Fijian culture, values of hardwork and unity.

Sekonaia and Joape are grateful to the students and teachers of Oita Tomei High School for their tremendous support in helping them adjust to their new life in Japan. The two students are proud that they are now able to communicate in the Japanese language and they are appreciative of the friendly and respectful Japanese culture that makes them feel at home.

The general syllabus at the school comprises of English, Japanese, History, Maths, Social Studies, Chinese, Health Science and Science. Apart from pursuing their academic goals, Sekonaia and Joape are also part of the schools rugby team and both the boys are recognised as the rugby stars among their peers. Their teacher, Mr Satoshi Iyota commended the efforts of Sekonaia and Joape for their academic achievements and their impressive efforts towards rugby. In recognition of their talents, few universities in Japan have expressed interest to recruit the two Fijian students.

Sekonaia Bulu, who hails from Oneata, Lau is grateful for the opportunity given to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional rugby player and to pursue his career into engineering. The former Marist Brothers High School student is appreciative of the Japanese culture, Japanese language, and wonderful Japanese hospitality. Sekonaia regards, Japanese dishes as delicious and healthy with Ramen, Sushi being his favorite Japanese delicacies.

Growing up in Nakasaleka, Kadavu, Joape Naco believes that sincerity and hardwork is the key to one’s success. The former student of Queen Victoria School is thankful for the once in a lifetime opportunity to transform his dreams into reality by becoming a great sportsman to represent Fiji at the international tournaments in the future.

Through his academic experiences and passion for rugby, he hopes to inspire youths that they have the power to change the world, by being focused on achieving their goals and by reaching out for educational opportunities that are available locally and abroad. Both the students are grateful to the almighty for all the blessings in their life and they have acknowledged their families in Fiji and their new friends, teachers and coaches at Oita Tomei High School for their wonderful support.

The Fijian students attending Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and Oita Tomei High School also benefit through the on-going reciprocal exchanges between Fiji and Oita. These education exchange programs emanates through the Sports Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) which was signed in 2017 between the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) and the City of Oita. The Fiji Embassy in Tokyo has expressed gratitude to Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Oita City Rugby Football Association, Oita Tomei High School, sports and education governing bodies in Oita for their support in the strengthening of sports and educational exchanges between Fiji and Japan.