Five international students were selected as Honorary Friendship Ambassadors of Kyoto Prefecture for the 2025 academic year, and on Thursday 19 June attended a ceremony marking their appointment. These students were Mr Huang Duncan (3rd year, Faculty of Economics), Ms Kim Yoonkyung (3rd year, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies), Ms Ng Shan Yi (3rd year, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies), Ms Zhang Xinjie (2nd year, Master's Program, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies), and Ms Zhang Yuchun (1st year, Doctoral Program, Graduate School of Letters). The event was held at Kyoto Prefectural Hall as part of the Kyoto Prefectural Foundation Day Commemorative Ceremony.
The Kyoto Prefecture Honorary Friendship Ambassadors are appointed each year from among international students studying in the prefecture who are eager to serve as a ‘bridge’ between Kyoto and other parts of the world. Mr Huang, who is from Taiwan, spoke on behalf of the nine students selected for the current academic year. He stated that becoming a global citizen requires achieving mutual understanding with others through international exchange, and that as a Friendship Ambassador, he would endeavor to expand opportunities for such exchanges in Kyoto while working with his peers to explore ways to practice good global citizenship.
The students are expected to play an active role in promoting the internationalization of Kyoto prefecture through a variety of activities, including those hosted by municipalities as well as elementary and junior high schools, and programs run by the prefectural government with its friendship regions.
Related link
Kyoto Prefecture Honorary Friendship Ambassadors / Kyoto Prefecture Official Website (in Japanese)
