Meet the APCC's Executive Director, Mr. Masaomi Fuji
1.Please introduce yourself.
Hello everyone; my name is Masaomi Fuji. I became the Senior Executive Director this year on April 1stSo, let's do our best together; thank you.
2. Could you tell us about your own experience at APCC?
I think I was around 10 years old when I first got involved with APCC. A year before the first APCC, I went on a homestay in Busan. Later, when I was 30 years old, I joined Junior Chamber International Fukuoka and toured the marine house, managed charity golf events, and was involved in the 25th-anniversary event. Then when I was 40, Junior Chamber After serving as Operating Director in BRIDGE KIDS PROGRAMS in 2019 and then Managing Director, I was recently appointed as Executive Director.
3. What are your plans for the BRIDGE Summer Camp, which will be held face-to-face for the first time in four years?
I am very much looking forward to it! I sincerely hope that many kids will visit Fukuoka and interact with the children here. Moreover, after four years, we have many new volunteers, and I think it will take time for the program to evolve in positive and ambitious ways. This is our long-awaited restart. I hope to create new BRIDGE KIDS programs together with everyone.
4. Please share any interesting stories about yourself.
When I think of APCC, one of the first things that comes to mind is when the 2009 H1N1 flu epidemic canceled the Junior Ambassador homestays. I was the person that drove the first JA infected with H1N1 to the hospital. I can laugh about it now, but my heart was pounding very hard. However, while I was concerned about the JA's safety, their sparkling eyes left quite an impression on me, and it was a very memorable experience. Also, that year, the BRIDGE CLUB (“BC”) was having activities at the Global Arena (GA) in Munakata City, and I suddenly had to go to the GA to assist them. It was tough dealing with the H1N1 influenza, but I had a lot of fun talking with BC members about various topics and watching their activities closely.
I want the children of APCC to picture Fukuoka when thinking about Japan after returning home – not Kyoto or Tokyo, but Fukuoka. I hope that after returning to their countries, because of APCC, they will be able to accept differences in skin color, language, and culture as global citizens and develop into adults who respect one another.
5. Please give us a few words for our readers.
APCC is celebrating its 35th anniversary, a significant milestone for us. I would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the years. The past few years have been more challenging for APCC than we could have imagined, but we have made the most of our challenges. And this year, as a restart, our business will be revitalized for the first time in many years. I am excited to meet all the JAs and hope this will be an invaluable experience for the children of Fukuoka. Our yearly 11-year-old exchange is our foundation program, which is very important, so I would like it to continue. However, I would like to support the connection between the kids who come when they are 11, are involved in the homestay program, the Challenge Trips and other such events. I believe that the BRIDGE CLUB (BC) will play an important role in the future. The oldest members are now about 46 years old, but they have contributed to the BC since its foundation and will continue to support us with dedication. I hope the next generations follow in their footsteps and do their best.
Moreover, how can we attract and integrate them into the new form of APCC, “Beyond the 11-Year-Old Experience”? I would like to share many ideas and find a way to build such a future together with everyone. In this sense, I am looking forward to the BC Presidents' meeting at the upcoming Summer Project. Finally, we will be bringing back all our programs this year. It will not be easy considering the lack of experience these past few years have had. However, I would like everyone to come together and make it a reality. Thank you very much for your cooperation and support!
1. Please introduce yourself.
Hello everyone. I am Masaomi Fuji, the new Executive Director from April 1st of this year. I look forward to working with you.
2. Tell us about your experience at APCC.
I first became involved with APCC when I was about 10 years old. The year before the first APCC, there was a trial project and I went to Busan for a homestay. After that, when I was 30 years old, I joined the Fukuoka Junior Chamber of Commerce and visited the Marine House, was involved in the management of a charity golf event, and was also involved in a performance event for the 25th anniversary. After that, when I was 40 years old, my time with the Junior Chamber ended, and I became the executive committee chairman of the 31st BRIDGE KIDS PROGRAMS 2019, and after serving as a managing director, I am now in my current position as executive director.
3. What are your plans for BRIDGE Summer Camp, which will be held in person for the first time in four years?
I am very much looking forward to it myself. I sincerely hope that many J-A (Japan Alumni Association) ambassadors will visit Fukuoka and have many interactions with the children of Fukuoka. Also, since it has been four years since the last time, new volunteer members will join, and I think it is a good time to make positive and challenging changes to the way we do business. This is the long-awaited restart of APCC. I want to create new BRIDGE KIDS PROGRAMS together.
4. Please tell us any interesting stories from your life.
The first thing that always comes to mind when thinking of APCC memories is when the 2009 swine flu pandemic hit and the homestays of the Children's Ambassadors were cancelled. I was the one who took the first child infected with swine flu to the hospital in my car, so I can laugh about it now, but it was nerve-racking... but the JA members' sparkling eyes, despite their anxiety, left a strong impression on me, and it's a fond memory for me. Also, that year, the BRIDGE CLUB (hereafter BC) was holding activities at the Munakata Global Arena (GA), and I was asked to go and help out at the GA on short notice. Dealing with the swine flu was tough, but I had a lot of fun talking to the BC members about various things and watching their activities up close.
I want the APCC child ambassadors to go back to their countries with the idea of "Fukuoka" in mind when they think of Japan. Not Kyoto or Tokyo, but "Fukuoka". And even after they return to their countries, I sincerely hope that they will use the experiences they gained at APCC to grow into global citizens who can positively accept differences in skin color, language, and culture, acknowledge others, and respect each other.
5. Please say a few words to our readers.
APCC is also celebrating its 35th anniversary and is reaching a turning point. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported us so far. The past few years have been tougher than we could have imagined for APCC, but we have taken on the biggest challenges we could. And this year, we will restart our activities for the first time in a long time. I am very much looking forward to meeting many JA members, and I hope that it will be an invaluable experience for the children of Fukuoka. The annual exchange between 11-year-olds is also our basic business and is very important. I would like to continue it firmly in the future. However, I believe that the important role will be played in the future by the children's ambassadors who came to Fukuoka when they were 11 years old, and the group of children who have been involved with APCC through homestays and challenge trips...BRIDGE CLUB (hereinafter referred to as BC). The oldest member is now around 46 years old, but he has been contributing since the founding of BC and is still supporting us with dedication. I hope that the next generation will inherit this will and do their best. And how do we draw and integrate the new form of APCC, "Beyond the experience of 11 years old," with them? I want to share lots of ideas for this future and find a shape for it together. In that sense, I am really looking forward to the BC Presidents gathering for this summer's event. Finally, this year we will revive the program in a form close to that before the COVID-19 pandemic. It will not be easy to return to the way things were, but we would like to work together with you to make it happen. Thank you for your cooperation.