AOTS Journal 2017 AUTUMN No.11 （ENGLISH)

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11No. 11 AUTUMN 2017 NEWSI am Hidenobu Toda. I began my new post as Senior Deputy Representative at the Bangkok Ofce on July 1.I just arrived in Bangkok two weeks ago, but I have already faced plenty of issues; the safety box in my serviced apartment room could not be opened, I had to have an incision made to my eyelid at a hospital because I had suddenly got a sty on it, and I could not enter my room because of a broken electric lock and had to get another room arranged last night.As I have spent many years working in general affairs and have been more interested in domestic affairs in the recent years, this is my rst time abroad in approximately 10 years, and my last visit to Thailand was 13 years ago. Bangkok City, which I saw for the rst time in many years, impressed me as the capital city of a leading ASEAN nation, which continues to grow further, as depicted by buildings being constructed all over the city. I have only looked at Thailand and its neighboring countries from a Japanese point of view in the past. I think I should make the most of this opportunity to feel these countries with my own ve senses and take a fresh, close look at Japan from an Asian perspective.The AOTS has continued to provide six-month training, mainly Japanese language training, to Nurse and Care Worker Candidates coming to Japan from Indonesia and the Philippines since FY2008, in accordance with the Economic Partnership Agreement.This year, 324 and 305 candidates have come to Japan from Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively, and have been divided into four groups, each of which began to learn Japanese and receive other training in one of four training centers, namely, TKC, KKC, Chubu Ofce, and an external facility (in the outskirts of Yokohama), in June.On July 13, H.E. Prof. Dr. Nila Moeloek, Minister of Health of Indonesia, visited TKC. First, she exchanged views with AOTS President Shinya Kuwayama on the system of this project and how the candidates from Indonesia were doing. After this, she personally interacted with 29 Indonesian nurse candidates who were participating in the training at TKC. She told them about her own experiences in Japan and gave them a message of encourage-ment, saying that although living in an unfamiliar foreign country could entail some difculty, she hoped that they would make the most of this opportunity in building successful careers in the future. This was followed by numerous conversations between the minister and candidates about procedures involved in making the use of various systems in Indonesia, future of medicine, and so on. Those words of warm encouragement from the minister are sure to support them during the remaining days of their stay in Japan.News from Bangkok OfceH.E. Prof. Dr. Nila Moeloek, Minister of Health of Indonesia, Visited TKC and Talked with the Nurse and Care Worker CandidatesThe staff members at the Bangkok Ofce join forces as one.Mr. Yamamuro, Representative (fourth from left in the back row) and Mr. Toda, Senior Deputy Representative (second from right in the back row): General managementMr. Taguchi (right in the front row) and Mr. Ikeda (right in the back row): AMEICC ProjectsMr. Ide (left in the back row): General non-AMEICC workMr. Nagoya, former Vice Representative (third from left in the back row)With the Minister of Health (fth from left in the front row). President Kuwayama of the AOTS is the sixth from left in the front row.Message on Returning HomeMr. Yoshitaro Nagoya, General Manager, in charge of AMEICC Secretariat Support Department (former Vice Representative)The day has nally come to leave Bangkok and I express my gratitude to all those people who have helped me a lot during my stay in the city. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt grati-tude to everyone who has supported me in Bangkok. Looking back on my days in Bangkok, I always felt a little apprehension throughout the two years because of the excess convenience available to me in the city, for example, I could get almost all the Japanese things that I might need despite being outside Japan, which sometimes nearly made me forget the fact that I was away from home.As the Vice Representative of the Bangkok Ofce, I received many opinions from parties related to the AOTS. I am thinking of doing my utmost to reect these voices on overall activities of the AOTS in the future. I look forward to your continued support. Thank you very much.