Friends of Japan Series: Caribbean Journalist - Richard Lord

It took almost 19 hours to travel from Trinidad and Tobago to Japan and I only stayed eight days but the memories will last forever.
 

I was among five Caribbean journalists who visited Tokyo in November 2014 to cover events marking the Japan - CARICOM Friendship Year in 2014.
 

The packed itinerary for the eight day visit included attending meetings between CARICOM Foreign Affairs Ministers and their Japanese counterparts. It should be noted that at these meetings an agreement was reached to promote ties between Japan and CARICOM.
 

We also visited many popular tourist sites in Japan. Some that stood out to me was the Amitabha Tathagata Buddha Statue where our group had the pleasure of meeting the Chief Priest Takao Sato. He informed us that the Great Buddha Statue in Kanakura was constructed in 1252!
 

Another was the thrill of riding the world famous Bullet Train. This was another highlight of the Japanese experience. I remember the former Jamaica Observer journalist, Donna Hussy saying that she was "totally excited about the Bullet Train and would not have missed it for the world."
 

I also had the pleasure of visiting the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, which is said to be the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world and stayed at the New Otani Hotel where scenes from the James Bond movies was filmed there several years prior. That was special to me.
 

Other cities we visited included Osaka and Yokohama.
 

The cleanliness of Tokyo and other cities did not go unnoticed during my visit and the warmth of the people we met was also appreciated beyond description.
 

The Sake and sushi were among the "new friends" I met in Japan and ARIGATO was one of the most used word during my visit.
 

I believe Japan and T&T can benefit from each other culturally and in other areas. I believe cultural exchanges should be encouraged between the two countries.
 

ARIGATO JAPAN.

Friends of Japan Series: Caribbean Journalist (Japanese Embassy Facebook)


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