The day service center "Santa House Hirosaki Park" ( Motodaikumachi , Hirosaki City, TEL 0172-88-7707 ) near Hirosaki Park is currently accepting trainees from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.

The two trainees currently accepted at the center, Mitsuaki Iki and Kumiko Ohno, were scheduled to be dispatched to the Marshall Islands and Kenya from April this year, respectively, but due to the effects of the new coronavirus, they may leave the country. I couldn't do it, and I couldn't do overseas activities.

According to Mr. Ryo Kato, a pre-dispatch training coordinator, JOCV members will be assigned to developing countries after undergoing training camps for about two months in Japan, but currently they are conducting group training. Since it is difficult to do so, it is said that it is divided into 21 locations nationwide and is conducting the first initiative called "special pre-dispatch training" to wait for the timing of dispatch.

Mr. Iki is 67 years old living in Ibaraki. Worked for a trading company and has experience working in Malaysia and other countries. It is said that the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers have been assigned to Nepal for the second time. “I visited Aomori on a school trip when I was a student. I was surprised when I learned that I could go to Aomori, but I decided that I would be able to do some activities,” says Iki.

Mr. Ohno lived in Tokyo and was a civil servant, but he retired at the turning point of 50 years old and was scheduled to work from April as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer who had been a dream for many years. Mr. Ohno said, "Since the activity after April was blank due to the new coronavirus, I was worried when I was informed that the dispatch destination was Aomori, but I was planning to try anything."

The two arrived in Hirosaki on September 8. After a two-week quarantine period, he started his activities in Hirosaki. His main activity is to help the day service center, but he was also given the role of disseminating his daily life and experiences in Hirosaki from the perspective of an migrant. Hideki Abo of "Santa House Hirosaki Park" who accepted said, "Because we provide a place to live, we want you not only to help with your work, but also to convey the charm of Hirosaki that you noticed during your stay in Hirosaki." ..

We have set up Facebook pages and Instagram, and are trying to disseminate information on SNS. The activity on October 6 helped to harvest apples and visited apple orchards in the city. Mr. Ohno smiles, "I helped harvest" Toki "this time, but for the first time I learned that there is a variety called" Toki ". I also learned for the first time that yellow apples are so delicious."

He plans to be assigned to work for three months, and will continue his activities in Hirosaki City. Mr. Iki says, "I like the outdoors and hot springs, and there are many places I'm interested in in Hirosaki. The transmission is like an amateur. I want to actively transmit so that I can make use of it in my future activities."

Mr. Ohno enthusiastically says, "It's only my first time. I'm interested in Tsugaru's food culture, so I'd like to eat while walking and discover its charm."