Masataka Kawahara

I've been supporting it since the beginning
It has been more than 30 years since I started supporting APCC

Masataka Kawahara
APCC Director and Vice-Chairman of APCC Support Group
Chairman and CEO of Fukuya Co., Ltd.
APCC Board member
Vice President of APCC
Supporter's Association
Chairman, Representative Director of FUKUYA Co., Ltd.

The "Asia-Pacific Children's Conference in Fukuoka" started as one of the projects of the Asia-Pacific Expo (Yokatopia) held in Fukuoka in 1989. We have been supporting the conference since its inception for 30 years since the first chairman of the support group, Mr. Reinosuke Oya, approached us and asked us to support his initiative to start an international exchange program for children. His dream of establishing a program in Fukuoka where children from all over the world can come into direct contact with each other and deepen their communication, and then letting them fly out into the world, was very appealing. Time has passed since then, and we now live in an age where we can communicate with people anytime, anywhere using the Internet. However, I believe the reason this project continues to this day is because the importance of truly understanding differences and respecting each other while interacting with people directly is deeply rooted in the hearts of all those involved in the conference. The only thing that is unfortunate is that we can only support indirectly because the main event is held in July during the Yamakasa festival. It is my sincere hope that the circle of the Children's Conference will continue to grow, that exchanges will continue beyond national and racial boundaries, and that a peaceful world without conflict will come about.
In 1989, APCC started as one of the projects of the Asian-Pacific Exposition (Yokatopia) in Fukuoka. It has been more than 30 years since I started supporting APCC when Mr. Reinosuke Oya, the first chairman of the APCC Supporter's Association, asked me to support a private international exchange program for children. He expressed his desire to make this project, which brings children from all over the world into direct contact with each other and deepens communication, take root here in Fukuoka and spread to the rest of the world, and I felt this concept was incredible. Time has passed since then, and now we can communicate with people anytime and anywhere using the Internet. Nevertheless, I think the reason why this project is still going on is because the importance of truly understanding each other's differences and respecting one another through direct contact is rooted in the hearts of everyone involved in the APCC. The only disappointment is that we have to collaborate indirectly in July, when the main project takes place, because of the Yamakasa festival. I sincerely hope that the BRIDGE and APCC will continue to Grow and interact beyond the barriers of national and racial borders to bring about a peaceful world without conflict.