Consul-General’s Attendance at the Opening Ceremony of the TOYOHASHI Global Youth Challenge 2026
2026/7/27
On July 25th, Mr. Shinya Machida, Consul-General of Japan in Penang, attended the opening ceremony of the “Japanese Student Exchange Programme／TOYOHASHI Global Youth Challenge 2026,” held at Campus Two of Heng Ee High School.
The programme is organised by the Toyohashi International Association with the cooperation of the JAGAM Northern Branch and Toyohashi University of Technology. This year, sixteen junior and senior high school students from Toyohashi are participating in school activities, homestays, company visits, and exchanges with students, teachers, and host families connected with Heng Ee High School.
In his remarks, Mr. Machida expressed his appreciation to the Toyohashi International Association, the JAGAM Northern Branch, Toyohashi University of Technology, Heng Ee High School, the host families, and all those involved in organising the programme. He stated that the true value of international exchange lies in meeting people, sharing aspects of daily life, and trying to see the world through the eyes of others. He also expressed his hope that the programme would build lasting friendships between Toyohashi and Penang and between the young people of Japan and Malaysia.
Following the ceremony, Mr. Machida and the other participants were guided by the school’s teachers and students on a tour of its facilities, including a music room and classrooms used for extracurricular activities involving drones and robotics. The Consulate-General will continue to strongly support such youth exchanges, which deepen the friendship between Japan and Malaysia and between Toyohashi and Penang, and which will also contribute to the further development of scientific, technological, and business exchanges in the future.
The programme is organised by the Toyohashi International Association with the cooperation of the JAGAM Northern Branch and Toyohashi University of Technology. This year, sixteen junior and senior high school students from Toyohashi are participating in school activities, homestays, company visits, and exchanges with students, teachers, and host families connected with Heng Ee High School.
In his remarks, Mr. Machida expressed his appreciation to the Toyohashi International Association, the JAGAM Northern Branch, Toyohashi University of Technology, Heng Ee High School, the host families, and all those involved in organising the programme. He stated that the true value of international exchange lies in meeting people, sharing aspects of daily life, and trying to see the world through the eyes of others. He also expressed his hope that the programme would build lasting friendships between Toyohashi and Penang and between the young people of Japan and Malaysia.
Following the ceremony, Mr. Machida and the other participants were guided by the school’s teachers and students on a tour of its facilities, including a music room and classrooms used for extracurricular activities involving drones and robotics. The Consulate-General will continue to strongly support such youth exchanges, which deepen the friendship between Japan and Malaysia and between Toyohashi and Penang, and which will also contribute to the further development of scientific, technological, and business exchanges in the future.
