The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Sardul Marwa MBE JP, welcomed a group of Japanese exchange students to the Council Chamber during their visit to the UK.
The students are mainly from the Kansai region of Japan, with a small number from the Tokyo and Aichi regions.
They are visiting England as part of CHE Intercultural Exchange, an organisation founded in 1991 that delivers educational programmes for Japanese high school students and individuals travelling to the UK and Ireland.
During their visit to the Council Chamber, the students had the opportunity to ask the Mayor a range of questions, including what he likes most about Solihull, which football team he supports and the charities he works with.
In return, some of the students introduced the Mayor to traditional Japanese games and cultural activities, including shogi and origami.
The students also had the opportunity to try on the Mayor’s robe while visiting the Parlour, taking photographs and learning more about Solihull’s history and civic traditions
Following the question-and-answer session, the group visited the Mayor’s Parlour, where they spoke about their experiences in England so far and their time in Solihull.
The students, aged between 12 and 18, are spending 11 nights in the UK. Having already visited London, they were also due to visit Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Christ Church College in Oxford during their stay.
The Mayor highlighted the importance of cultural exchange programmes:
“Cultural exchange plays an important role in bringing people together and creating greater understanding between communities across the world.
“It was wonderful to welcome these students to Solihull, answer their questions and learn more about their culture.
“I was particularly pleased to talk to them about the role of local democracy in our communities and to hear their views on the trip so far.
“Opportunities like this help young people broaden their horizons, develop confidence, and gain a greater appreciation of the world around them.
“I hope they enjoyed their time in Solihull and take home happy memories from their visit.”