The Japan Inter Culture Foundation (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Akemi Shimomura) held the Ishikawa Prefecture Kaga visit day as a part of the Miss International Beauty Pageant contestants' friendship activities, where they visited the Kaga area of Ishikawa Prefecture and experienced Japanese culture such as staying at a hot springs ryokan, wearing kimonos, and trying "Ozashiki" games.

The "Miss International Beauty Pageant" (hereinafter "Miss International") is one of the world's three largest beauty pageants, along with Miss World and Miss Universe. It started in 1960 and celebrates its 59th anniversary this year. The aim is to deepen exchanges among beautiful and high-willed women who want to contribute to the international community, such as international friendship and world peace.

From October 31st (Thur) to November 1st (Fri), 20 of the 82 Miss International Beauty Pageant contestants visited the Kaga area of Ishikawa Prefecture. They participated in activities to experience Japanese culture such as staying at a hot springs ryokan at Kaga Onsen, the “Akiko-style dyeing experience”, a traditional dyeing technique that has been passed down in Katayamazu, walking around the town wearing a kimono, and trying  "Ozashiki" games.
Miss Japan Tomomi Okada also participated and experienced Japanese traditions with the other Miss contestants from around the world.

<Overview of Kaga visit day>
■ Date: October 31st (Thur)-November 1st (Fri), 2019
■ Overview:
[October 31st  (Thur)]
・ 11:40-12:40 Courtesy visit to the mayor of Kaga
・ 13:00-14:00 Lunch
・ 14:10-15:10 Kaga parfait-making experience
・ 15:10-16:10 Akiko-style dyeing experience
・ 18:00-19:30 Welcome party
[November 1st  (Fri)]
・ 9:20-10:00 Visit to Kaiyo Nursery School
・ 10:20-12:30 Kimono experience Walk around Yamashiro
・ 12:50-13:50 Lunch
・ 14:00-16:00 Walk around Yamashiro Onsen
(Yamanaka Geisha appreciation and "Ozashiki" experience)

Photo from Kaga visit day

■ The 59th Miss International World Pageant

■ About “Miss International”
Miss International, officially called “Miss International Beauty Pageant”, started in the United States in 1960. Although it was held in the United States for the first seven years, the right to hold the event was transferred to Japan in commemoration of the Japan World Exposition (1970 / Osaka). The world pageant where representatives of each country wishing for international peace gather as “goodwill ambassadors of beauty and peace” is held every year with a purpose to broadcast "prayers for peace" and the beauty of Japan to many countries around the globe. Also, Miss International conducts international exchange activities at the individual level. Through social contribution activities such as “Greening Promotion Campaign” and “Miss International Forum” as well as “Charity Events”, we are deepening friendship and goodwill between Japan and the rest of the world. “Miss International” official website: https://www.miss-international.org/jp/

■ About the "Japan Inter Culture Foundation”
In April 1969, the Japan Inter Culture Foundation was authorized and established as an external organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cultural Exchange Department) for the purpose of "friendship and goodwill with countries around the world" through the exchange of world culture and art. Since then, as an international contribution project, we have been developing a wide range of interchange of people based on the slogans of "realizing world peace through mutual understanding" and "correct understanding of Japan in the international community."