Official club name : THE FRIENDSHIP FORCE OF NIIGATA
President : Bunkichi Itoh
Vice president : Yoshiro Itoh
Contact Person : Takao( Brian) Satoh, Secretary General
President 's address : 2-15-25 Somi Konan-ku Niigata-shi Niigata-pref. 950-0205 Japan
Telephone and fax number : Phone : 81-25-385-2001 Fax : 81-25-385-3929
Closest major airport : Niigata Airport, . . . Niigata City, Japan
Cost of transportation between the airport and our city ( based on 20 people) :
by bus : Needed when you want chartered bus. no additional charge by train :
by private car : Hosts usually meet the Ambassadors at the airport.
The maximum number of Ambassadors our club can host : 21 including E.D.
About the club : Established in 1982. Approximately 145 families and about 25 singles in club. One incoming exchange is welcomed each year.
Office of the club is at the Northern Culture Museum(Home for many generations of the Itoh family)
The club hosted the International Conference In October,1992 and also the Japan and Asia-Pacific Conference in May, 1998. Friendship Force members attended the conference from many countries.
About the region : Niigata Prefecture is in the northwest area of the country facing The Japan Sea.
It takes 2 hours by Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Tokyo.
Very fine rice is grown here. From gardens, many vegetables, fruits to enjoy. Pure water for drinking. For climate, see below.
About the exchages : Hosting is in neighboring towns of Niigata, Muramatsu, Nakajo, Niitsu by friendly, welcoming families. Many activities are planned for ambassadors to see and experience Japanese life and traditions .
Excursions are planned for a visit to Nothern Culture Museum and gardens, temples, to the mountains , Ikebana lesson, traditional tea ceremony, seasonal festivals and events, time for browsing, shopping, meeting other club members.
Welcome and farewell parties are planned, also families 'pot-luck' parties.
Climate :
November - December - January - February - - cold (snow)
March - - still some cold (plum blossoms)
April - May - June -- warmer, some cool (cherry blossoms) (tulips) (rainy season good for nature)
July -- hot
August -- hot, high humidity (flowers, beautiful gardens)
September - October -- cool (chrysanthemums, colorful maples)
