In welcome remarks, Governor of Okinawa, Mr. Takeshi Onaga, said, “Ichariba Choode”, an Okinawan phrase which means, “Once we have met, we are friends like brothers and sisters”.

Students came from Chile, China, Union of Comoros, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, and Vanuatu.

A Japanese student, Mr. Yutaro Shimizu said, “We came here to reconfirm our commitment to create a stronger and more resilient community. While we come from different parts of the world, we share a passion to create a better world”.

Guided by the Kuroshio Declaration made at the first high school summit in 2016 held in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, participants were reminded that, “There is no time to be shy” as they set out to realize the guiding principles of the Declaration, “We will learn; We will take actions; We will create.”

His Excellency, Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, via a video message, encouraged the students to become bridges between nations, by saying, “Bankoku Shinryo”, a phrase which signifies Okinawa.

Reducing disaster risk requires an all-of-society engagement which includes children and youth who are recognized change agents in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the global plan to reduce disaster losses. “It is important that training begins with young people as they will create the future,” said Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.