TOKYU HOTELS supports the Children's Forest project, a reforestation initiative in which children from all over the world participate on a school-by-school basis.
Every year, child goodwill ambassadors representing each participating school visit Japan and give a report on their activities.
This year, we welcomed child goodwill ambassadors from Myanmar and the Philippines, and for the first time the event was held in Tanbayama Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, where TOKYU HOTELS Green Coin Forest is located.
This time, as part of a parent-child project for the summer vacation, TOKYU HOTELS also recruited employees and their children to participate and interact with each other.

The opening ceremony started with the children's self-introductions! Everyone seemed nervous as it was their first international exchange. The goodwill ambassadors gave activity reports on their countries, including the cultures of their own countries and current environmental issues, and the Japanese children listened intently to their reports.
After learning more about the Green Coin System and the "Children's Forest" project, it's time to set off for a stroll along the Green Road!

We will learn about a variety of things together, such as how trees develop from birth to lumber, and the difference between thinned forests and ungroomed forests.
I felt the blessings of the forest and realized the importance of living in harmony with nature. After a long walk and feeling hungry, we went to a BBQ by the river! Meat, seafood, yakisoba, and other dishes were served, but the salt-grilled yamame trout seemed a new experience for the ambassador, who is not used to eating river fish. "I was surprised by how delicious the fish was and how clean and transparent the river water was," he said.

After everyone had their fill, the Goodwill Ambassadors performed a folk dance, involving the participants in dancing together in a big circle.
As a thank you for the dance, we treated them to a Japanese summer tradition: watermelon smashing. The children had a blast trying this for the first time!
In the end, the watermelon split neatly in two and we all enjoyed the sweet treat.

The fun social gathering was finally coming to an end. Everyone had the chance to try cutting logs and draw their own illustrations on wooden coasters.
At the end, the children exchanged coasters so that they would never forget their encounter. Some children even drew portraits of themselves and their paired ambassadors as presents. I was really surprised at the power of the children, who mysteriously connected with each other despite not being able to speak the same language, and quickly became friends.

Two days after the exchange meeting, we invited the Goodwill Ambassadors to TOKYU REI HOTEL in Toranomon, Tokyo. When the children saw the Green Coins in the guest rooms, they got a real sense of how the Green Coin system was established, which seemed to encourage them to continue their activities.
This year marks the 18th year of the "Children's Forest" project. This was the first time we held a social gathering that included employees' families, and it was a good opportunity for a wider range of people to experience the activities of TOKYU HOTELS.