Courtesy Call on the Penang State Government by the Delegation of the Japan Junior Chamber’s “Global Kids Collective Project”
2026/8/5
On August 5th, Mr. Shinya Machida, Consul-General of Japan in Penang, accompanied a delegation visiting Penang as part of the Global Kids Collective Project, organized by the Japan Junior Chamber, and paid a courtesy call on YB Wong Hon Wai, Penang State EXCO Member for Tourism and Creative Economy. The project aims to provide Japanese parents and children with opportunities to develop a global perspective through exchanges with advanced industries, schools, and local communities in Penang, Malaysia.
YB Wong introduced the history of Japanese investment in Penang since the 1970s, the contribution of the Japanese community to the local economy, the achievements of Malaysians who studied in Japan under the Look East Policy, and the influence of Japanese business practices such as 5S and Kaizen on Malaysian companies. He also emphasized that Japan is an important tourism market for Penang and expressed his hope for further strengthening economic, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between Penang and Japan.
The two sides also exchanged views on cultural cooperation through Japanese cultural events, including the Penang Bon Odori Festival and the Yosakoi Parade. YB Wong explained that the Bon Odori Festival began as a small gathering organized by the local Japanese community and has since grown into one of Penang’s signature international cultural events, attracting tens of thousands of participants with the cooperation of the Japanese Association of Penang, Japanese-language organizations, alumni of Japanese universities, the Penang State Government, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Penang. He also noted that students learning Japanese throughout Malaysia participate in the Yosakoi Parade, demonstrating the steady expansion of youth exchanges through Japanese culture.
Consul-General Machida highlighted that the visiting delegation had been deepening mutual understanding through exchanges with local schools, companies, and communities during their stay in Penang. He expressed his hope that such people-to-people exchanges would serve as a foundation for even closer economic and cultural ties between Japan and Penang. The Consulate-General of Japan in Penang will continue to support the further development of friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Malaysia, particularly Penang, through a wide range of people-to-people exchanges, including youth exchanges.
YB Wong introduced the history of Japanese investment in Penang since the 1970s, the contribution of the Japanese community to the local economy, the achievements of Malaysians who studied in Japan under the Look East Policy, and the influence of Japanese business practices such as 5S and Kaizen on Malaysian companies. He also emphasized that Japan is an important tourism market for Penang and expressed his hope for further strengthening economic, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between Penang and Japan.
The two sides also exchanged views on cultural cooperation through Japanese cultural events, including the Penang Bon Odori Festival and the Yosakoi Parade. YB Wong explained that the Bon Odori Festival began as a small gathering organized by the local Japanese community and has since grown into one of Penang’s signature international cultural events, attracting tens of thousands of participants with the cooperation of the Japanese Association of Penang, Japanese-language organizations, alumni of Japanese universities, the Penang State Government, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Penang. He also noted that students learning Japanese throughout Malaysia participate in the Yosakoi Parade, demonstrating the steady expansion of youth exchanges through Japanese culture.
Consul-General Machida highlighted that the visiting delegation had been deepening mutual understanding through exchanges with local schools, companies, and communities during their stay in Penang. He expressed his hope that such people-to-people exchanges would serve as a foundation for even closer economic and cultural ties between Japan and Penang. The Consulate-General of Japan in Penang will continue to support the further development of friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Malaysia, particularly Penang, through a wide range of people-to-people exchanges, including youth exchanges.