Amu is welcomed by Lions Club of Kapit members. From right are club president Jenny Yii, Ma, president elect Ong Hwang Seng, Sng Geok Yien and Sii Bang Ee.
KAPIT: Japanese secondary school student Amu Morikawa arrived here on Monday for a four-day visit under the Lions International Youth Exchange Programme.
The 17-year-old is staying with Lion Ma Tian Ho, whose son visited Japan for a month last year under the same programme.
Amu’s first official stop was to pay a courtesy call on acting Kapit Division Social Development officer Awang Mohd Nizam, who praised the Lions Club for enabling youths from abroad to experience life here.
“Kapit has a lot to offer for eco-tourism because of its unique features – numerous rivers and rugged terrain and longhouses along the riverbank,” he said.
“I hope during your brief stay you’ll learn as much as possible of Kapit and when you return home to Japan, help to tell friends and relatives about the Land of the Hornbills as an eco-tourist attraction.
“Among the foreign tourists, most of them are European or Australian but very few Japanese or Korean.”
Yesterday, Amu visited SMK Selirik to meet local students.
He is also expected to visit a longhouse, mini museum at the civic centre and Fort Sylvia.