"Shunran-no-Sato", a group of farmer’s guesthouses located in Noto-Town, Ishikawa Prefecture was recently chosen as one of the 12 finalists of the BBC World Challenge 2011, among more than 600 entries from all over the world. This project is an initiative of the British BBC World News and started 2005 for the purpose of commending grass-root projects from all over the world.

 This is the remarkable achievement because it is the first time a Japanese project was chosen as one of the finalists.

The voting is now open to the public on the internet and it closes at midnight on November 11th. Access the following address to vote: (http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/).
The three winners will be announced after counting the votes.

If the "Shunran-no-Sato" project wins, it will bring many opportunities to the Ishikawa Prefecture, such as recognition of Ishikawa in the international society and increase in the number of overseas travelers.

Please vote for the Ishikawa’s project! We would appreciate if you could ask to the people of your company, family and friends to vote too!

* It is very simple! See the leaflet reverse for more details.
http://iaa.ifie.or.jp/j/highlights/pdf/Shunran-no-Sato_en.pdf
* After voting, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to your e-mail address.

Thank you.
Warm regards,

Inquiry:
Ishikawa Alumni Association
email:doso@ifie.or.jp
Telephone: 076-262-5932, Fax:076-222-5932

The Ishikawa Prefectural Government is held a ceremony of the scholarships to privately financed international students study hard in universities and other higher education institutions in the prefecture, on July 8 at prefectural office.
Governor Masanori Tanimoto handed a grant certificate about 120 international students registered at university, junior college, the special vocational school of nine within the prefecture.

A qualified student of the scholarship must receive the president recommendation and expects graduation (completion) or in admission studies the first year or the next fiscal year. The monthly amount of 20,000 yen is granted.

The Governor Tanimoto expressed to the international student “exchange with a citizen of the prefecture and well filled studying abroad life" in the ceremony.

Mr. Li Guo Zhengs (from China) represents international students who studies at Seiryo University “to study hard and contribute to Ishikawa's ambassador of good will” he made a speech about his plan.

Ishikawa prefecture privately financed international student scholarship program:
Amount of the grant per person monthly 20,000 yen: 240,000 per year
Application: once a year: June
Applicants: privately financed international student about 120 students

Inquiry:
Registered universities or institutions
Ishikawa prefecture tourism exchange bureau international exchange division.
email:e200500@pref.ishikawa.lg.jp
Telephone: 076-225-1382, Fax:076-225-1383

More Info:
Japan student services organization
email:ij@jasso.go.jp
Telephone: 03-5520-6111, Fax:03-5520-6121

A business community of hotels in Kanazawa City launched a multilingual website for tourists from abroad.
Reports of experiential activities in the sightseeing tours by foreigners living in Kanazawa City are put in the website. It also contains the introduction of tourist
spots with their experience, stories and plenty of photos.
  They run the website in English this year on a trial bases, but they have a plan to run it in Chinese, Korean and French for next year.
 
http://experience-kanazawa.com

Ishikawa Alumni Association in cooperation with Ishikawa Pref. Museum of Art, Ishikawa Pref. History Museum, Hanrou Honda Pavilion, Exchange Shikou Memorial Museum and Traditional Arts&Crafts Museum, offers to alumni members free admission to the 5 museums. However, only alumni members themselves, their family members and friends can apply. The number of applicants is limited to the first 150 persons. Ticket are delivered at: Rifare 3F, 1-5-3 Hon-machi, Kanazawa, 920-0853, Japan

More info: Tel: (+81) 76-262-5932, Fax: (+81) 76-222-5932 doso@ifie.or.jp