International exchange event in Osaka | Make friends with foreigners, beginners welcome, solo participants welcome | International exchange event in Osaka where you can make friends with foreigners | Beginners welcome
Tuesday, November 18, 2025: Baking with Swedes and a potluck party
This time, we held an international exchange, cooking and dining event that also served as a welcome party for Swedish tourists visiting Osaka.
Alva (a Swedish woman) learned about our organization through the GPT chat, and it was great to meet her in person.
We also tried our hand at making traditional Swedish sweets.
We all ate the butter-based dough with cocoa, which we sprayed with colored spray paint.
It was very delicious and very well received.
I also learned more about Sweden after seeing photos of their hometown in the north of the country.
As expected, we were shown beautiful scenery and images of the country that is ranked 7th in the world for happiness (Japan is ranked 55th in the world and its ranking is dropping every year).
Looking at the photos of the stunning scenery blessed with the lush green land, I actually wanted to go to Sweden.
Thank you so much for coming out even though it was a weekday night.
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Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
I highly recommend this organization if you are looking for some social exchange and networking.
Name: Alva Ellman (20) Occupation: Social Worker Hometown: Sweden I accidentally stumbled over this website and started with email conversations with this wonderful organization. When we finally had the chance to meet up we met the most amazing and friendly people. We had such a great time and we felt truly welcomed and got the best care. We tried a famous Japanese dish for the first time and also a homemade Japanese stew
I highly recommend this organization if you are looking for some social exchange and networking. It was a great way to learn about Japan and its people and also to find some new friendships We are forever grateful for the opportunity and hopefully more people will join and share their experiences and stories.
A special thanks to Hayashi for making our experience the absolute best
Girl's Voice
We had a lot of fun chatting and it was a valuable opportunity and experience to learn about Swedish language and culture!
Name: Akari Kurosaki (17) Occupation: Second year high school student Hometown: Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture I was able to chat a lot and have a lot of fun. It was a valuable opportunity and experience to learn about Swedish language and culture! It also inspired me to study English. Thank you for letting me participate🙇🏻♀️I would definitely like to participate again if I have the opportunity!!
Held on Saturday, May 2025, 11: Make real-life foreign friends and have fun together to improve your English skills and international exchange. An international English conversation event.
Of the five participants in this international event, only one was Korean.
This event marked the end of our activities for 2025.
We hope to continue holding unique international exchange events next year, in 2026, where people can meet wonderful people and build friendships between Japanese and foreigners alike, so we appreciate your continued support.
Foreign friends you can meet in real life in Osaka.
We will do our best to ensure that everyone who participates feels that they have grown as a person and that they are glad they took part.
I am already looking forward to meeting wonderful foreigners again next year.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated.
And if you haven't joined yet, please feel free to come along.
We look forward to welcoming you.
📷 Event Photo Gallery
Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
It was a good opportunity for me, who is interested in overseas.
Name: Miri Ogaki (17) Occupation: Second year high school student Hometown: Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture Impressions: It was my first time participating, so I was very nervous. I had little experience in volunteering, and I was participating alone, so I was worried about what to do if it was a dangerous place, but when I actually got there, it wasn't dangerous at all, and the organizers were very kind. The organizers were very responsive to the needs of the volunteers, and asked me what kind of activities and events I would like to do in the future. When I attended, all the participants were Japanese except for one Korean person, but it was a good opportunity for me, who is interested in overseas countries, to meet people with similar ideas that I would not normally meet and to learn how to study English. I definitely want to participate again!
Girl's Voice
I was able to grow as a person, improve my skills, and broaden my worldview.
Name: Mio Watase (17) Occupation: High school girl Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture Impressions: I am a high school student in Osaka Prefecture. My favorite subject is English, and I wanted to make foreign friends, so I found the NPO International Friendship Club on Activo. I decided to take part in an international exchange event as it was a public organization approved by Osaka City and they would issue me a "Certificate of Volunteer Activities". I'm a timid and reserved person and not the type to speak up, so at first I was very worried about whether I would fit in. However, the event started with a one-on-one free talk with other participants, which also served as an introduction, and I was able to open up naturally. I'm glad I decided to participate. I was able to grow as a person, improve my skills, and broaden my worldview.
Girl's Voice
Even though it was our first meeting, there was a welcoming atmosphere.
Name: Ai Kobayashi (15) Occupation: Female junior high school student Birthplace: Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture Impressions: I hadn't participated in many international exchange events in the past. That's because I had always wanted to interact with foreigners and make friends from all over the world. Then my mom happened to find this NPO International Friendship Club online, an organization for junior and senior high school students that operates freely, in a fun, safe and secure environment. She recommended that I participate for the first time. At first, I was filled with anticipation and anxiety about what it would be like and whether it would suit me, but the atmosphere was welcoming and easy to get along with, even when meeting for the first time. I ended up exchanging LINE and Instagram accounts with the Korean participants, and made some truly wonderful foreign friends for the first time. It broadened my world and my horizons, and it was a very meaningful experience.
Monday, October 13, 2025: International Girls' Gathering
Of the eight participants in this international event, three were Chinese.
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about ethnic conflict, discrimination against foreigners, and Japanese people first, but our organization would like to respect the human rights, individuality, and ethnicity of each individual and strive for mutual understanding.
On social media, there are many posts that discriminate, slander, and libel against Chinese and Korean people, but in reality, these may simply be stealth marketing.
To be honest, I don't care about political pressure or ethnic ideologies.
We continue our activities with the hope that everyone can get along well and have fun together.
I hope that by actually getting to know Chinese people and becoming friends with them, you will be able to eliminate the stereotypes you have about yourself, discover a new side of yourself, and continue to grow.
It would be great if we could spend happy time together as fellow human beings, being ourselves, without any distinctions of superiority or inferiority.
This time too, many people came to participate after seeing Activo.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated. Thank you very much.
📷 Event Photo Gallery
Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
It was a very beneficial experience! I would definitely like to participate again in the future!
Name: J-san (16) Place of birth: China Occupation: High school sophomore I had a lot of fun talking with new friends and people with the same roots as me! I also learned new information from various seniors, so it was a very beneficial experience! I would definitely like to participate again in the future!!
Girl's Voice
It was truly an international event where many different connections and bonds were formed.
Name: Mami Yuki (16) Hometown: Suminoe Ward, Osaka City Occupation: High school sophomore This time, after seeing "Activo," I, a shy person, decided to take the plunge and make my event debut. Upon arriving at the venue, participants first filled out a self-introduction sheet and then engaged in a one-on-one talk for approximately 10 minutes, promoting friendship and interaction between participants who were meeting for the first time. We talked based on the self-introduction sheet, or just had a conversation of our own volition. We enjoyed our conversation until the very last moment. Many of them are fluent in Japanese and very friendly. Even though I don't speak English, I had a great time meeting everyone for the first time. Also, time flew by while we were chatting happily, and many of us felt that this international girls' get-together was not enough. Even after the group disbanded, there were still people who were sad to leave the Osaka Station Building. They were still basking in the afterglow of the event. Many people exchanged contact information, saying things like, "Let's meet again next time," or "Let's chat on LINE," and made plans to go out on their own. As we left, we exchanged firm handshakes, making this an international event where we were able to make a variety of connections and bonds. Inspired by the Chinese people, I started to think about studying Chinese. I'm really thankful to you.
Girl's Voice
I think this is a wonderful initiative that will also promote intercultural exchange for us Japanese people!
Name: Eri Kanno (15) Birthplace: Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture Occupation: High school sophomore It was a wonderful time meeting not only my classmates but also people of different age groups. I think it was a wonderful opportunity for international students to make new friends and for us Japanese to have cross-cultural exchange! I would definitely like to participate again next time.
Girl's Voice
We were able to share a common interest and deepen our relationships at the same time.
Name: Kanami Mori (21) Birthplace: Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture Occupation: Third-year university student With the number of foreign tourists coming to Osaka through inbound tourism increasing, even during the Osaka Expo there are few opportunities for international interaction and exchange, so I am very happy to have been able to participate in such an international event. Interacting with people who share the same goal of "studying English" and "studying Japanese" raised my waning motivation, and I was also able to learn about different cultures, which was very stimulating. My favorite memory in particular was making my first Chinese friends. Through individual talks and group discussions, we were able to find common ground and deepen our connections at the same time. I would definitely like to participate again next time.
Girl's Voice
It was a special event where students could make friends with each other.
Name: Shiori Kawamura (16) Hometown: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Occupation: High school sophomore This was my first time participating in an international girls' get-together. Before attending, I assumed everyone there would have extensive overseas experience, and I was worried about whether I'd be able to keep up with the conversation. However, there were people around my age, and some who were studying languages with the goal of studying abroad or on a working holiday, so it was very easy to talk to them. I realized that rather than simply learning English, if your goal is to make friends with people from different countries and live abroad, you can become more interested in learning. Furthermore, rather than just talking to each other, we all had lively conversations about common topics, which I think made it easy to become friends, even though many of us were meeting for the first time. Just as Japanese people have few opportunities to learn about the real lives of people overseas, I think people from overseas also have few opportunities to interact with Japanese people as friends. This was a special gathering where students like me could make friends.
International Exchange Event: Sunday, September 7, 2025
This is a talk-focused international exchange and international event that is held regularly once a month in a conference room at the Osaka General Lifelong Learning Center.
This time, we had people with roots in China and Korea, as well as a Korean girl who was in Japan on a working holiday, come to visit us.
I hope that this will become one of your fond memories during your limited time in Japan.
There are many countries to choose from on a working holiday, and we want to treat foreigners who have taken the time to choose Japan and come to Japan with kindness and gentleness.
It would be great if neighboring countries could get along with each other and lay the foundation for world peace.
On the other hand, we are also happy when the local people in a strange country treat us kindly and with kindness.
This time too, as in the last time, a Korean child came to visit and showed great leadership skills.
Many of the Japanese girls came to the event after seeing Activo.
We all had a great time, respecting each other as individuals, regardless of whether they were Japanese or foreign, and sharing our ethnicities, national characteristics, and international worldviews.
📷 Event Photo Gallery
Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
I was able to discover a new side of myself through this international event.
Name: Nao Kojima (16) Birthplace: Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Occupation: High school sophomore After participating for the first time, I realized that I have more stamina (adaptability, communication skills) than I had imagined. Before signing up for this NPO International Friendship Club girls' international exchange get-together, I was very anxious and worried, wondering, "Will this really be an international exchange/event that I'll enjoy?" and "Will I be out of place?" However, when I actually participated, I felt much better than I expected, and everyone had a great time together. I realized that this event has really helped me grow in terms of learning about Korea, language exchange, and improving my English skills. I'd like to participate in the next event as well, where I can communicate more in English with the people around me, improve my English skills at a student-centered international event, exchange useful information about English, studying abroad, and working holidays, and make more real friends from all over the world in Osaka.
Girl's Voice
I discovered a new good thing about Korea.
Name: Rina Takemura (15) Birthplace: Tondabayashi City, Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school sophomore Thoughts: I like English and it's my strong subject. I wanted to make friends with native English speakers (Westerners) if possible, but this time the participants were Korean, so I was able to make some Korean friends. I didn't have a very good impression of Korea, but I made some wonderful foreign friends, changed my strange stereotypes (preconceptions), broadened my horizons, and erased my racial discrimination. I was able to discover new and good things about Korea.
Girl's Voice
I was able to grow as a person, improve my skills, and broaden my worldview.
Name: Kumi Umeda (16) Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: It was my first time participating in an international exchange event alone. I'm a shy person, but for some reason I was able to talk to many people without feeling nervous or anxious. On the day I went, there was only one foreigner, but there were many high school students participating. I felt their eagerness to talk a lot. I think that's the atmosphere that was created. It was really fun! Thanks to all of you, I was able to hear some valuable stories and laugh the whole time. Thank you very much╰(´︶`)╯♡
Girl's Voice
It was fun and we all had a great time talking about our common topic of international exchange.
Name: Yurie Shiota (16) Occupation: High school girl Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture Impressions: I first learned about this organization when I was looking at a volunteer portal site called "Activo" and saw that they actively held international exchange events. I became interested and contacted them to apply. Before joining, I thought there would be more foreign participants, but in reality most of the participants were middle-aged or older women. However, we had a lot of fun discussing common topics such as "international exchange," "improving language skills," and "studying abroad and working holidays."
Held on Sunday, March 2025, 8: Make real-life foreign friends and have fun together to improve your English skills and international exchange. An international English conversation event.
Thanks to you, the NPO International Friendship Club has reached its 10th anniversary.
When I think about it, the people who participated today founded the organization when they were in kindergarten or elementary school, and it's amazing how quickly time flies.
Under the name of the International Friendship Club, we have been independently developing international exchange events that serve as a bridge of friendship between foreigners and Japanese people.
This time, the only participants were Japanese, except for two girls with Korean nationality.
As multicultural coexistence continues to grow in the future, I feel like I can contribute to the local community in some small way, I feel excited when I come here, and participating in the events here leads to new discoveries and personal growth, bringing me closer to my hopes, future goals, and dreams.
We hope to continue to hold such heartwarming, comfortable and enjoyable international events for all participants.
For Japanese people too, we all had fun talking about new cultural differences about Korea and the differences in ethnicity even though we are a close country.
The participants listened with great interest to hear stories about Korea directly from a native speaker.
I learned a lot because there were things I thought I knew but didn't.
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Reviews from volunteer staff
Girl's Voice
The age range was not so wide so it was easy to find common ground and make friends, and since it was a women-only group I was able to participate with little worry or anxiety.
Name: Noa-san(19) Birthplace: Wakayama Prefecture Occupation: First-year university student Impressions: The reason I participated in this volunteer program was because I could receive a volunteer participation certificate and make real friends with people from overseas in Osaka. In my everyday life, I don't really have much opportunity to interact with people from other countries, so I thought the only way to make foreign friends was to study abroad. However, studying abroad requires a lot of money, and it was difficult for me as a second-year high school student. That's when I found this volunteer program. I think the good thing about this program is that you can interact with people from overseas without having to study abroad. In addition, this volunteer program is organized by an NPO, so I feel at ease because the names are familiar to me, and the age range is not so wide, so it's easy to talk to and make friends, and because it's a women-only group, I was able to participate with less worry and anxiety. After we all gathered in the meeting room, we wrote self-introduction cards and told each other our names and hometowns. We talked a lot about each other's career paths, our personal lives, our favorite idols, and so on. I had a lot of fun hearing stories that were very useful to me and talking about our common idols! We exchanged Instagram accounts and became good friends, so I want to participate again! It was my first time volunteering and I enjoyed it, so I want to continue doing it. Thank you all!
Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
I was able to grow as a person, improve my skills, and broaden my worldview.
Name: Aoi-chan (17) Occupation: High school girl Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture Impressions: I am a high school student in Osaka Prefecture. My favorite subject is English, and I wanted to make foreign friends, so I found the NPO International Friendship Club on Activo. I decided to take part in the international exchange event to be held on August 2025, 8, as it is a public organization approved by Osaka City and they will be issuing "volunteer activity certificates." I am a timid and reserved person by nature, and I'm not the type to speak up, so at first I was very worried about whether I would fit in. However, the event started with a one-on-one free talk with other participants, which also served as an introduction, and I was able to open up naturally to the group. I'm glad I participated. I was able to grow as a person, improve my skills, and broaden my worldview.
Girl's Voice
It was fun and we all had a great time talking about common topics such as "international exchange," "improving language skills," and "studying abroad and working holidays."
Name: Takae Uemura (16) Birthplace: Hyogo Prefecture Occupation: High school girl, first year student in the Department of General Culture, Faculty of Letters This was my first time participating in an international exchange event held by the non-profit organization, International Friendship Club! As someone who plans international exchange events in Kobe, I learned a lot and found it very helpful. The international events I organize are mainly aimed at students, but the last event I attended was attended by everyone who was a high school student, so I was quite nervous. However, I felt that it was a great experience to be able to have fun and communicate with foreigners living in Osaka about the differences between Korea and Japan through cross-cultural communication. I look forward to participating again next time.
Girl's Voice
At the end, the atmosphere was as if we had all been friends for a long time.
Name: Mayu (17) Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl This was my first time participating in an event, and I was able to make friends with people who were interested in international exchange events. At the beginning, we had one-on-one time. We switched pairs every 10 minutes, so I was able to get to know almost everyone who attended the event. In addition, during group discussions, we exchanged information on love culture and cooking culture. It was refreshing to hear stories from people of the same generation, and it was very exciting and interesting. I have studied abroad in the past, and that experience led me to develop an interest in international exchange. This was my first time attending this event, but we had plenty of time to hear detailed stories about Korea and get to know each other, and by the end, everyone felt like they'd been friends for a long time. It exceeded my expectations! I'm glad I participated. I'm looking forward to the next event!!
Saturday, July 2025, 7: International Girls' Gathering
Although the number of participants this time was small, people of a wide age range, from 12 to 29 years old, participated.
First, the timetable was explained, and then each participant introduced themselves one-on-one.
By communicating one-on-one with each participant, even participants who were initially nervous, shy, or timid were able to adapt to the atmosphere.
Afterwards, we gave a presentation using a computer screen about Korean geography, language, customs, and Korean culture that is different from Japan.
This time, there were two Chinese guests, so they told us about things that surprised them about coming to Japan.
During the free talk that followed, we were able to learn more about each other's countries and cultures.
We also took a group photo and gave out souvenirs of popular snacks in Korea.
Through interacting with people from different cultures, I was able to see a world I didn't know and broadened my horizons.
I am grateful for the valuable experience each time.
📷 Event Photo Gallery
Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
I'm really glad I participated in this event. I would love to participate again next time!
Name: Ito-chan (15) Birthplace: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Occupation: First year high school student 💧 This was my first time participating in an international exchange event like this. I'm so glad I was able to participate in this activity! For the first 5 minutes, we talked one-on-one, introduced ourselves, asked each other questions, and chatted, deepening our relationships with each person👍🏻 💖 After that, I had a lot of fun listening to a presentation about Korea💻 and playing games🎮 ^_ _^❤︎ I was able to learn about cultural differences and similarities while talking to people from various countries, which was a very good experience. In the end, we spent the remaining time taking TikToks and talking about things we like, and in just 4 hours we became really good friends 🎵 I'm really glad I participated in this event. I'd definitely like to participate again next time! 😆✋🏻
Girl's Voice
The other people were very friendly and I had a great time.
Name: Nomura Asuka (16) Birthplace: Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture Occupation: High school girl This was my first time participating in an international exchange event organized by the non-profit organization, International Friendship Club. I studied abroad in New Zealand for a year last year, and I also want to study abroad in the United States for four years at university, so I decided to participate in this event because I wanted to have an international exchange experience. It was my first time, and I was a little nervous before entering the room, but once I got in, the other people were super friendly and I had a great time. I'd love to participate again if I get the chance!!!
Girl's Voice
It exceeded my expectations! I'm glad I participated. I'm looking forward to the next event!!
Name: Mayu (17) Birthplace: Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: I participated in the "International Girls' Gathering" event held on Saturday, July 7th, and made friends with girls from various countries, including Chinese, Korean, and girls with foreign roots. At the beginning, we had one-on-one time. We switched pairs every 5 minutes, so I was able to get to know almost everyone who attended the event. In addition, during group discussions, we exchanged information on love culture and cooking culture. It was refreshing to hear stories about each country's culture, and it was very exciting and interesting. I studied abroad when I was a student, and that experience led me to develop an interest in international exchange. This was my first time participating in this event, but we had plenty of time to get to know each other, and by the end, it felt like we had all been friends for a long time. It was better than I expected! I'm glad I participated. I'm looking forward to the next event!!
June 2025, 6 (Sunday): Japan-Korea Friendship International Exchange Girls' Gathering
For this international event, we focused on "Korea" and asked a native Korean girl to give a presentation.
For this international event, we also recruited participants through "Activo", and we received 25 applications to participate, including those made through our official website.
Our original plan was to connect the computer to the projector and project the image onto a large screen, and then proceed with the lecture while watching it. However, there was an incompatibility between the computer and the projector, and we ran into an unexpected mishap where we were unable to use the equipment that we had borrowed from the Osaka General Lifelong Learning Center.
As for the participants, out of the 25 people who applied to participate, only about 10 people actually showed up.
In essence, it was an emergency situation in which more than half of the participants were unable to attend, but we are extremely grateful to those who still took the time to participate despite the heat.
Among the foreigners, some Chinese people also came to play.
At first, everyone looked nervous as they were meeting each other for the first time, but we started with one-on-one self-introductions, and in the second half of the event we learned useful information about Korea.
It was a valuable learning opportunity that could not be learned from textbooks or at a school desk, and the Q&A session after the presentation was filled with lively discussion of various topics related to "Korea."
The Korean girl who helped us as a volunteer staff member this time was an incredible language expert who was fluent in Japanese, Korean, and English.
He was a child who was skilled in understanding different characters, such as Hangul in Korean, Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji in Japanese, and the alphabet in English.
It was good that the number of participants was not so large. I was worried that it would be too crowded and we wouldn't be able to find a seat, but having a small number of people made it easier to deepen friendships, and I think it was an opportunity for everyone to have fun memories, to communicate with different cultures, to understand each other different countries, and to grow as individuals.
At first, even those who are shy or don't like meeting new people found it easy to open up to the atmosphere at this international event, as we all shared common topics and interests such as international exchange, language improvement, studying abroad, and working holidays.
Thank you so much for all the fun memories, meeting wonderful people, and spending your precious time with us.
I believe there was a lot we learned through this international event.
Continue to believe in yourself and keep moving forward towards your goals and dreams.
NPO International
At Friendship Club, we continue to support the dreams, goals, and infinite possibilities of the younger generation.
Name: Sleigh (16) Hometown: Osaka prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: This time, many people applied and participated with their friends, which made for a very comfortable environment. First, we did a simple self-introduction. After that, we had a one-on-one free talk while playing K-POP. This one-on-one free talk helped us to deepen our friendships and allowed everyone to be themselves. The 10 people there talked with each other and then gave a presentation. In the presentation, we talked about Korean geography, language, and Korean culture that is different from Japanese culture. There was also a question and answer session regarding the presentation. After that, we split into groups for a free talk session and gave everyone a gift containing Korean packs, Korean seaweed, snacks, and more. Originally, we had nearly 30 people planning to participate this time, so we prepared plenty of souvenirs. However, since there were only 10 participants, we gave each person three souvenirs. Afterwards, we all took a commemorative photo.
This was a very valuable experience for me. I had never been the central figure in anything before, so it was a very good experience. If I have the opportunity, I would definitely like to volunteer again.
I had a lot of fun today. Thank you for all your support. We look forward to seeing you again next time.
Girl's Voice
It was refreshing to be able to have fun conversations in English with foreigners, and it was a good experience!
Name: N,A (16) Origin: Nara Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Thoughts: Although today's social gathering was the first time I met most of the people, I felt like I was able to get to know everyone through free talk and other activities, and it was a lot of fun. There were many people in attendance who love Korea, and we were able to have fun sharing common topics! The presentation that Mr. Kim prepared was very easy to understand and I learned a lot from it. Thank you very much.
Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
I love Korea, so it was a fresh and fun experience for me to try using some of the Korean I know.
Name: Reina Yano (16) Hometown: Osaka prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: I am interested in international relations and have always wanted to interact with people from various countries, so interacting with the Korean people this time was a very good experience. I love Korea, so it was a fresh and fun experience for me to try using some of the Korean I know. I was also glad that I was able to learn many other things and words that I didn't know, and talk a lot about Japan. It's not often that you get to encounter people from different countries, so I want to cherish this experience.
Girl's Voice
The international volunteer event was very casual and provided a good opportunity to take the next step.
Name: Aika Hirakawa (16) Hometown: Osaka prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: This was my first time volunteering at an international exchange/event, and I was able to see a new world. Although I cannot understand Korean at all, I was able to communicate using gestures, English, Japanese, etc. I originally participated because I was interested in languages, but I realized that language is not the important thing here. I was happy to be able to get along with people from different countries and make many friends. The first international volunteer event I participated in was very friendly, so it was a good opportunity to take the next step.
Girl's Voice
It was a satisfying and fulfilling international exchange event that allowed me to grow as a person and improve my skills.
Name: Yuna Miyamoto (17) Hometown: Osaka prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: This was my first time participating in an event organized by the NPO International Friendship Club. I studied abroad in Seoul for a year when I was in middle school, so I was very interested in international exchange. I also like K-POP, Korean dramas, Korean stars, and Korean food, so I participated! When I actually participated in the event, I found that there were not only Koreans but also Chinese people in attendance, and although I was nervous at first, I was able to interact with everyone in a friendly manner. It was the first time I met everyone (some were repeat visitors), but we quickly became friends because of our common interests of loving international exchange, having studied abroad, planning to travel abroad in the future, improving our language skills, taking qualification exams, and wanting to make friends with people from various countries. We had a great time talking about what was popular in Japan and China (Korea). I had a truly wonderful time and was able to grow as a person, so it was a satisfying, fulfilling international exchange event that helped me improve my skills. I am also interested in volunteering, and would like to meet many different people through the international exchange program organized by the NPO International Friendship Club! I am looking forward to participating in the regular events, such as barbecues, that I have heard will be held in the future.
Held on Saturday, May 2025, 5: Make real-life foreign friends and have fun together to improve your English skills and international exchange. An international English conversation event.
Due to Golden Week, the Osaka City Lifelong Learning Center will be closing completely at 17pm, so the event started at around 16:45pm.
This time, the event started with seven people, including volunteers, but halfway through, Emilia's friend from Ukraine and another Japanese high school student joined, and the event eventually had nine people.
This was my second time participating. Last time, I was a little disappointed that it ended much earlier than expected, and even though it was my first time, I felt that I could have done a better job.
So this time, I discussed with the Japanese volunteer staff who had participated with me in advance how we could make the exchange better and came up with the content.
After introducing themselves, the participants first played a word chain game in English, and then they were divided into small groups of two or three people and talked in English about a number of themes, such as "What is your dream?"
At the last event, there were many occasions when everyone spoke at the same time, and all the participants were Japanese, so the conversations were inevitably centered in Japanese. However, this time, there were two participants from Ukraine, so there was a natural awareness of "communicating in English," and I felt that the atmosphere was much more "international exchange-like" than last time.
By having the conversations in groups, everyone was able to speak comfortably, there were no silences, and before we knew it, time had passed by quickly.
Along the way, I was also taught a little about the letter structures of Ukrainian and Korean, giving me an opportunity to be exposed to languages other than English.
For Ukrainians
"How did you learn Japanese?"
"How did you study?"
We made time to hear about tips for language learning and what it's like living in Japan for several years. It was very stimulating to not only get study tips, but also to learn about the differences in thinking and values.
What was especially meaningful to me was hearing everyone's stories about their experiences abroad.
The other participants and volunteers had ample experience of traveling and studying abroad, and not only talked about Japan, Korea, and Ukraine, but also about other countries, such as "That food in this country was delicious" or "If I were to study or travel, this country would be good," and they had many conversations that broadened their perspectives in a more global way. As I listened to their conversations, I felt like my own world was expanding rapidly.
I have never been anywhere overseas before, but after listening to everyone's stories, I have seriously thought for the first time that I would actually like to go to a foreign country, rather than just having a half-dream plan like, "I want to go to Disneyland in the US!" I want to experience different cultures, different values, and what it means to be a "foreigner."
In fact, Shiga Prefecture, where I live, is looking for high school students to visit its sister city, Hunan Province in China, in November with the Governor of Shiga Prefecture and others for a four-day, three-night visit, with all travel and accommodation expenses covered by public funds except for passports, and I had been considering applying.
However, today, after talking to people from different countries and with overseas experience, I began to think, "I want to muster up the courage to see the world on my own two feet," so I decided to go ahead and apply.
I don't think I would have been able to make that decision if I hadn't participated in this event.
I once again felt that today's international exchange volunteer experience was not just a chance to volunteer or help out, but also an opportunity to receive a lot of inspiration and a chance to move towards a new future.
📷 Event Photo Gallery
Reviews from volunteer staff
Girl's Voice
It's okay if you're not confident or good at English.
Name: Mikuru (16) Origin: Shiga Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Thoughts: This was my second time participating, but it went by so quickly and I had so much fun that before I knew it I was thinking "Is it over already?" What was memorable about this trip was that I was able to talk in depth with a small group of high school students from Ukraine and Korea. I was able to learn not only English but also a little bit of Ukrainian and Korean, and the conversation expanded to include each other's cultures and future plans, which was very stimulating! It was also refreshing to talk to people my age from all over Kansai, and I was happy to realize that just living in a different place can make all the difference in the scenery you see! I made some like-minded friends and would love to come back again. It's ok if you're not confident or good at English 👌 As long as you have the desire to communicate, your message will be conveyed, and the feeling that it becomes more and more fun as you talk is what I think is the charm of this event!
Girl's Voice
It was refreshing to be able to have fun conversations in English with foreigners, and it was a good experience!
Name: R-chan (16) Birthplace: Suita City, Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school student Impressions: Six Japanese, one Korean, and two Ukrainians participated!
After introducing ourselves in English, we played a word chain game in English to ease tension, and had one-on-one English conversations based on a theme. Because we regularly switched members for English conversations, we were able to speak with a variety of people, which I think helped improve our communication skills! Since many participants came from other prefectures and countries, we were able to learn about various regions both in Japan and overseas. By the way, this English conversation was lively right up until the end of the time, so I would like the next volunteer to continue this English conversation! I think it will be fun even if only Japanese people participate!
In addition, participants were given explanations of Ukrainian and Korean phrases and grammar!
I'm really glad I participated in this event because I was able to speak English for a long time! It was a refreshing experience to be able to have fun conversations in English with foreigners!
Participant reviews
Girl's Voice
This international exchange was an invaluable experience for me.
Name: KS-sama. (18) Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: This was my first time participating in the event, but I was able to experience different cultures and learn more about the world. There were people from Ukraine at the event and we talked about the Ukrainian language and traditional cuisine. It was my first time interacting with Ukrainian people, and it was a very refreshing experience. We also played English word chains together, which helped us to become closer, and there was a lot of free talk, which helped us to become even closer! This international exchange was an invaluable experience for me. Thank you very much.
Girl's Voice
They were kind enough to teach me and treated me with a smile and in a friendly manner.
Name: AN-sama (16) Birthplace: Nara City, Nara Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Thoughts: This was my second time participating in an international volunteer program, but I felt I was able to talk to everyone more freely and proactively than last time. The participants from Ukraine spoke Japanese very well, and were kind enough to help me out when I didn't understand English, and they were all friendly and smiley-faced. I also found it very easy to talk to the Korean people and had the opportunity to learn Korean from them, which was a very valuable experience.
Girl's Voice
It was very fresh and exciting.
Name: YC-chan (17) Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: This was my first time participating in this event, and I was quite nervous at first because I was worried about my English ability and I'm quite shy. However, through self-introductions and games in English, we quickly became friends with everyone and had a great time. I don't have many opportunities to converse in English with people my age, so it was a very fresh and stimulating experience for me. I also learned a lot from learning greetings and expressions in Ukrainian and Korean. If there is another opportunity, I would definitely like to participate. Thank you very much.
Girl's Voice
My motivation to study English has increased!
Name: Koko-chan (16) Origin: Nara Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: It was my first time participating in an event, and it was a foreign language event, so I was very nervous at first. However, as I introduced myself, I gradually began to feel more relaxed. I used English with Japanese and foreign people, playing word chains and other games. I also had a lot of time to talk and made some friends, which was a lot of fun! It also boosted my motivation to study English!
Held on Sunday, October 2025, 4: Limited to people in their teens and twenties! Let's improve our English skills by speaking in English! International event
Nine people attended this international exchange event.
Unfortunately, there were no foreigners there, but the Japanese girls had fun introducing themselves to each other in English and playing games like hangman, using a lot of English.
They also shared stories and memories of their experiences studying abroad in the past, events that occurred there and cultural differences, as well as information on improving their language skills such as for the Eiken test, and many other useful information, which made for lively conversation.
We were all around the same age, 16 or 17 years old, so we had a lot of fun talking to each other!
Most of the participants this time were high school girls (2nd year), so they were all around the same age and everyone seemed to have fun.
Although only one of us was a third-year high school student, we had a lot in common and had great conversations!
It was a great experience and I was able to make some friends!
Name: AN-chan (16) Origin: Nara Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Thoughts: This was my first time participating in an event so I was very nervous at first, but as soon as I entered the room, everyone greeted me cheerfully and said "Nice to meet you", and my tension was instantly relieved! Due to circumstances, no foreign guests were able to attend, but we had fun playing English-related games such as English word chains. We were also able to make friends, which was a great experience!
Girl's Voice
If you are interested in international volunteering, I encourage you to take the first step.
Name: Hi-chan (17) Birthplace: Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: I participated in an intercultural exchange event where I could talk directly with people from overseas. I had been hoping for an opportunity to use English, so even though I was a little nervous, I was really looking forward to it.
At the event, participants from various places were split into groups and enjoyed free conversation. The topics were casual, such as self-introductions, cultural differences, and hobbies, so even those who were not confident in their English could participate with ease.
When I actually spoke to them, I was able to communicate not only with words but also with gestures and facial expressions, and the conversation went much smoother than I had imagined. What particularly impressed me was how patiently the other person listened to what I had to say. I realized that even if my English isn't perfect, I can still get my point across. If you are interested in international volunteering, I highly recommend taking the first step. It's a great opportunity that will also help you grow as a person.
Girl's Voice
I was able to enjoy casual conversation and hear about the volunteer experiences of other participants!
Name: R-chan (16) Birthplace: Suita City, Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Thoughts: I participated in this exchange event because I wanted to talk to people from overseas in English. I was a little confused when it suddenly became a Japanese-only event, and I was a little worried because I'm not very good at talking to people. But everyone was kind, and I was able to enjoy casual conversation and hear about the volunteer experiences of the other participants! Above all, I was able to make friends who I could have dinner with, so I'm really glad I participated!
Held on Sunday, March 2025, 3: Make real-life foreign friends and have fun together to improve your English skills and international exchange. An international English conversation event.
Today, Liam, who is half Canadian and half Japanese, told us about Canada (stories related to his hometown) and we asked him questions about different cultures and the differences between the two countries. All the participants then introduced themselves, easing the tension and creating a friendly atmosphere.
After that, we played the Nanjamonja card game, and then split into two groups to play charades and drawing games.
It was a very exciting and fun international exchange event.
Everybody was very cooperative and we had a very happy time.
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Staff reviews
Girl's Voice
My impression is that most people are very friendly.
Name: M-chan (16) Birthplace: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: This was my third time participating. Each time the atmosphere was different, but I got the impression that most people were very friendly. People of all ages participated, from junior high school students to working adults. This was the first time that someone from overseas participated, so I was very nervous, but I feel like we became good friends! I'm not confident in my English, but I was very happy when I was able to get my point across. When there are no overseas people around, we often speak in Japanese, so I think I should have created more opportunities to speak English. If I have the opportunity again, I would like to become more fluent in English.
Girl's Voice
It was a very fulfilling day, with a fun and warm atmosphere.
Name: R-chan (15) Birthplace: Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture Occupation: High school girl Impressions: This international event was a great learning experience for me as I was able to hear many topics about Canada and international exchange events, and I learned a lot of new information that made me think about intercultural communication. It was a day that made me feel like I grew as a person! We all played the games we played during the event and enjoyed ourselves in a fun and warm atmosphere, making it a very fulfilling day✨
