(Asahi: January 16, 2015 – p. 16)

 From Yuki Yoshida, junior high school student (15 years old) in Tokyo

 There are five years left before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Expectations are rising. Under such circumstances, I learned that the Tokyo metropolitan government is considering measures to support young people and students who wish to study abroad. Against the background of talk that there are many inward-looking young people in Japan, the Tokyo metropolitan government reportedly aims at developing personnel capable of functioning in a global environment. I think this is very important and worth doing.

 In a globalizing world, many Japanese people and companies are making inroads abroad. In order to compete in the international arena, it is significant also to study in foreign countries.

 I lived in America for four years from the fourth grade in elementary school. No attention is paid to which country you were from in America. I learned there a lot of things while studying alongside students from various countries. There are many things that we learn in foreign countries, including the place of Japan in the world.

 I think investment in the next generation will benefit Japan greatly because human resources are the most important treasure of Japan and because nurturing young people will lead to a bright future for Japan.

 I hope that there are moves to support opportunities for young people from Tokyo as well as other prefectures to study abroad.