The Japan Inter Culture Foundation (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Akemi Shimomura) held the Tobu Railway visit day as a part of 2019 Miss International Beauty Pageant contestants' friendship activities, where they visited Tochigi Prefecture and its historic sites - Ashikaga School and Ashikaga Flower Park, experienced wearing a kimono, and made Japanese sweets.

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.

On November 5th (Tue), 40 of the 82 contestants from the Miss International Beauty Pageant visited the Ashikaga area of Tochigi Prefecture. At Ashikaga School, a historic site, they wore kimonos and strolled around the facility and Banna-ji Temple. They also experienced Japanese sweets making, where many were intrigued by delicate techniques of Japanese sweets that Japan is proud of. In the afternoon, they visited facilities where they enjoyed with the charm of the Ashikaga area, such as Coco Farm Winery, which has been making wine in Ashikaga for more than 50 years, and Ashikaga Flower Park, where amethyst and sage flowers were in full bloom.

Although Ashikaga area was heavily damaged by heavy rain, they seemed to be making steady progress toward reconstruction. Officials said the social media buzz created by the Miss contestants would be great support for reconstruction and future tourism in the area.

<Overview of Tobu Railway Visit Day>
■ Date: November 5th (Tue), 2019
■Overview
[November 5th (Tue)]
・ 9:15-12:30 Visit to Ashikaga School, Banna-ji Temple, and Ashikaga Machinaka Yugakuen
・ 13:00-15:30 Visit to Coco Farm Winery
・ 16:00-17:30 Visit to Ashikaga Flower Park

Tobu Railway 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."