AWARDS | CHILDREN | JAPAN 

KAMAPALA - Japan's ambassador to Uganda, Fukuzawa Hidemoto, has awarded five children for their exceptional artwork.

Out of the 400 pieces of drawings submitted to the Japanese Embassy during the children’s drawing contest for the year of the Rabbit, five children from Mbarara Preparatory School emerged as the best.

The children are Zion Mugambwa Mbuga, Trisha Asasira, Joshua Musinguzi, Shane Keanan Siima and Max Ethan Ajuna.

According to the Hidemoto, this contest was organised to give Ugandan children first-hand experience of the Japanese New year's culture aimed to promote an understanding of the Japanese way of life and to further nurture the friendly relations between Uganda and Japan.

Trisha Asasira plays the traditional Japanese games as Fukuzawa Hidemoto, Ambassador of Japan in Uganda looks on during the luncheon at the Japanese Residence in Nakasero on February 25, 2023. (All Photos by Juliet Kasirye)

 “I am happy to welcome you to my residence because your participation in the contest is a clear indication of your keen interest in Japan-Uganda relations,” Hidemoto said.

The theme for this year’s drawing contest was Rabbit. According to Japanese culture, there is a 12-year cycle to which an animal is allocated each year.

“Last year was represented by the tiger. This year is represented by the rabbit. We use it to identify ourselves like we do with birth months. For instance, if you are six years old, you are a monkey year baby and if you are 7 years old, you are a sheep year baby. If you are turning 12 years old this year, that means you are a Rabbit year baby,” he added.

He made the remarks during the awarding ceremony held at the Ambassador’s residence in Nakasero, Kampala on Saturday.

The awards are the social media prize, the Embassy prize, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre prize, the Friends of Japan prize and the Ambassadors prize.

At the luncheon, the children got an opportunity to experience some of the Japanese traditional culture through food, cultural dressing and traditional Japanese games.

A child enjoys a meal during the luncheon.

While interacting with the winners and their parents, Hidemoto said in Japan, the new year is the biggest holiday of the year, adding that, as a child, he always looked forward to this holiday where he could spend time with family, draw the animal of the year on his new year greeting cards, eat special Japanese food and play traditional Japanese games.

Great bilateral relations

Besides the contest, the ambassador also shared some of the bilateral relations Japan has had with Uganda since the Embassy’s establishment in 1997 through education and infrastructural support.

“For instance, in collaboration with the education ministry, each year, the embassy nominates Ugandan students to study in Japanese universities on fully funded scholarships. So far, 100 students have benefited. I hope one day, the children who are here today will visit Japan and experience the rich culture and history,” Hidemoto said.

Award winners speak out

Trisha Asasira, the winner of the embassy prize, commended her friends who encouraged her to participate in the contest. Noting that their support helped her to be among the top five.

“I was happy because when God wants something for you, you will get it. When my name was selected, I remembered all the people who laughed at my picture,” Asasira said.

Joshua Musinguzi, the winner of the UWEC prize, appreciated the embassy for hosting them for the luncheon.

“Dining with the Japanese ambassador made me feel important and I feel like going to Japan. I won the prize because I drew a rabbit, with its two young ones with the background of the Uganda flag and the Japanese flag,” Musinguzi said.