The Japan Inter Culture Foundation (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Akemi Shimomura) held Saitama Visit Day as a part of the friendship activities for the 2019 Miss International Beauty Pageant where the contestants visited Saitama, socialized with the students of Saitama Municipal Urawa Junior and Senior High Schools, participated in a welcome party with other citizens, and visited the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.

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 Tuesday, November 5, participants from the Miss International Beauty Pageant visited Saitama City. At Saitama Municipal Urawa Junior and Senior High Schools, they socialized with students and ate the school lunch together. A welcome party was held for the purpose of socializing with the citizens of Saitama, as well as a visit to the Saitama City Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Omiya, one of Japan's most important bonsai producing areas. At the party venue, the Miss International Beauty Pageant contestants tried on yukatas and experienced Japanese culture such as bonsai and yukata.
In addition, Japan's representative, Tomomi Okada, participated in Saitama Visit Day and took pictures with her favorite character, "Nu-kun".

<Overview of Saitama Visit Day>
■ Date: November 5, 2019 (Tue)
■ Overview:
・ 10:30-13:15 Visit to Saitama Municipal Urawa Junior and Senior High School
(Calligraphy class visit, exchange meetings with students, school lunch experience)
・ 13:55-15:15 Visit to Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama City
・ 18:30-20:30 Welcome Party
(Interaction with citizens and trying on yukatas)

Photos from Saitama 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."