<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif"><span style="color:red">Friendship between Osaka and São Paulo people </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">The sister city relationship between Osaka and São Paulo, established on October 27, 1969, has facilitated over 50 years of vibrant exchanges across various fields. This partnership has included events such as Portuguese speech contests and futsal workshops in collaboration with the Brazilian soccer club Corinthians, held in Osaka. These activities have strengthened cultural ties and fostered mutual understanding between the citizens of both cities.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Recent Cultural Exchange Visit</span></b></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm">[unscaled1]</p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">In 2024, as part of Osaka City's grant program commemorating the 55th anniversary of the sister-city relationship, Paula Hirama visited Osaka. She engaged in cultural exchanges with local citizens and <a href="https://gc-volunteer-guide.jimdosite.com/">student interpreter volunteers </a>during her visit. </span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">On November 16, guided by two student interpreters, she visited Osaka Castle and Hokoku Shrine. Paula was particularly impressed by the history of Osaka Castle, which was originally built by the samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi and later reconstructed through public donations after being destroyed twice. The student guides, Madoba (a high school first-year student) and Ueno (a university second-year student), provided bilingual tours in Japanese and English.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Cultural Insights and Activities</span></b></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">The warm weather in November made Paula's exploration of Osaka Castle and Hokoku Shrine enjoyable. She learned about the Shinto belief in "Yaoyorozu no Kami," which suggests that gods reside within oneself and in nature, such as plants and animals. This concept intrigued Paula as she listened to the student guides. </span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Although she had visited Japan at age 16, this was her first time in Osaka, and she was delighted to see a Japanese castle for the first time.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">During her visit, Paula also noticed a platform for <a href="https://www.brasilnippou.com/iminbunko/Obras/129.pdf">"Radio Taiso"</a> exercises, which sparked a conversation about cultural continuity. She recalled participating in these exercises within the Japanese-Brazilian community as a child in Brazil. </span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">This shared cultural heritage was appreciated by both Paula and the Japanese students, highlighting the enduring influence of Japanese culture among Japanese descendants abroad.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Experiencing Traditional Japanese Arts</span></b></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm">[unscaled2]</p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SOpsfqRil8w?si=ibNmpxvYafZeUQzu" title="YouTube video player" width="460"></iframe></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">After visiting historical sites, Paula and her group headed to Shinsaibashi for a workshop on traditional Japanese dance (Nihon Buyo) with the <a href="https://ougibaihou.com/">"Ougi-ryu" school.</a> They were joined by additional participants: Omachi (a university fourth-year student), Yamashita (a high school second-year student), Fujimoto (a high school third-year student), and Mori (a working adult). </span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">After changing into yukatas, they learned basic dance postures and fan techniques before experiencing a group dance session.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Paula also had the opportunity to try playing traditional instruments like the drum and shamisen, which added to her satisfaction with the cultural experience. </span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">The workshop provided a relaxed environment where participants could enjoy learning together. The Dance Master Mr.Ougi expressed delight at seeing everyone engage enthusiastically and mentioned plans to promote international exchange through accessible traditional arts like Nihon Buyo.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Culinary Delights and Cultural Discussions</span></b></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">The group later moved to Nagahoribashi to enjoy <a href="https://amafuku.net/">Osaka's famous takoyaki at "Amafuku." </a>Conversations about music preferences among peers and comparisons between Brazilian and Japanese societies enriched this cultural exchange experience. </span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Such interactions underscored the importance of grassroots citizen exchanges in fostering mutual understanding.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">Looking Ahead to Expo 2025</span></b></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">With Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai approaching, there is an expectation of increased visitors from Brazil to Japan. The Expo will serve as a significant platform for furthering grassroots exchanges like those experienced by Paula Hirama. </span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="Default" style="text-align:justify; margin:0mm"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:&quot;ＭＳ ゴシック&quot;"><span style="color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:&quot;BIZ UDP明朝 Medium&quot;,serif">These interactions are crucial for expanding opportunities to understand each other's cultures deeply and enhancing global cooperation and friendship between Brazil and Japan.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

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