We left the National Youth Memorial Centre in Yoyogi at 8.45 and travelled across Tokyo by coach to Edogawa ward where we went up the Funabori Tower and visited Gyosen park before visiting Edogawa City Office to be welcomed by mayor Tada and officials from Edogawa city. After lunch in Funabori we went to the Kyoiku Plaza – an educational establishment for the community of Edogawa until 5.00pm. Ity rained heavily on the way to the Green Palace Hotel where the students met their host families at a matching ceremony. Most families live within an hour of Kanto Daiichi Senior High School and the students were taken home by car for their first night. They are now with their host families and we all meet up again tomorrow in school at 8.00am.
Josh, Beth, Sarah and Maddie in the observatory at the top of Funabori tower in Edogawa ward (10.00am Thursday)
The boys at Gosen Park in the Japanese gardens
The girls enjoyed the walk round the gardens
Lawrence admiring the carp
In front of the traditional tea house
At 13.00 – we were all a bit nervous before the arrival of mayor Tada
Sarah, Beth and Maddie presented the mayor with our gifts
Jamie receiving his Edogawa top from the mayor
Beth thanked the mayor who said he is hoping to experience going to Tavistock sometime soon
Tom received a birthday present from the mayor
Jack gave an excellent self-introduction
Josh with mayor Tada
Peter acted as our representative and gave an outstanding speech in perfect Japanese
Group photo in the reception room
Outside the city offices
Lawrence and Beth in the ball pool at the Kyoiku Centre for mothers and toddlers
Will showed off his building skills
Final group photo of the day with students from the Kyoiku Centre
Beth and Maddie were a match for the Japanese at ping-pong
Josh, Lawrence, Charlie and Peter made lots of friends and impressed with the quality of their Japanese
Tom on his way home with Atsuki Murakami and his younger brother. Atsuki came to Tavistock this summer
