Haiku to Vilnius from eleven youngsters from Japan

This week Vilnius was visited by the good will mission of the Japanese youth. During the visit eleven young people from various cities of Japan were introduced to the programme for Vilnius as Europe's capital of culture 2009, took interest in youth projects and created haiku to Vilnius.

This week Vilnius was visited by the good will mission of the Japanese youth. During the visit eleven young people from various cities of Japan were introduced to the programme for Vilnius as Europe's capital of culture 2009, took interest in youth projects and created haiku to Vilnius.

“The goal of our mission is to enhance mutual understanding between the youth of Japan and the Baltic countries. For many of us this is the first visit to a European country. We are happy that despite the distance between our countries, while communicating with Vilnius residents we have found many common things uniting us and felt a firm connection”, the head of the Japanese delegation Teruyuki Wakabayashi said.

The youth group from Japan was pleasantly surprised by the Capital of Culture project Haiku to Vilnius. “It is wonderful and unbelievable that residents of Vilnius write poetry for their city! I used to write haiku a very long time ago – while still at school. I would never think I would it here in Vilnius, thousands kilometres away from home!” Miki Kitamura working at Kanagawa University was speaking with unconcealed astonishment.

The head of the Ambassadors programme of Vilnius Europe’s Capital of Culture Rūta Jurgilaitė invited the members of the Japanese youth delegation to become ambassadors of Vilnius and spread the news about Vilnius in their home country.

“The invitation to become ambassadors of Vilnius means that our visit has been really successful and will have meaningful continuation. Upon return to Japan, we will not lose the link with Vilnius and constantly receiving news from you about the projects and events of the Capital of Culture we will be able to spread news about Vilnius to our friends at universities, youth organisations and workplaces and to encourage them to come to Lithuania”, the head of the Japanese delegation Teruyuki Wakabayashi said.