Group Study Exchange Team from Japan

(Joint meeting with Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Pedro and Del Amo Rotary Clubs)

Chuck Hanchett introduced Rotarian officers and guests, and the GSE Team members and their hosts.  The participating Club Presidents for this week spoke of their Clubs’ activities.

After dinner, each of the GSE Team members showed a brief photo presentation of their family members and work activities, followed by a banner exchange from their sponsoring Clubs and the 4 Club presidents of our hosting Clubs this week.  (This is the 3rd week of their one-month stay in District 5280, from April 13 to May 14, staying with hosts in different parts of our District each week.)

GSE Team Leader Satomi Owata, of the Otsuki Rotary Club in District 2620, is a nursing home owner and is married to a urologist.  Hiroki Ogino is a TV program director who films documentary and variety shows.  Namiko Ishikawa is a police officer at a railway station.  Noriaki Oshimura is a dentist who works in the same dental office as his parents and sister, who are also dentists.  Minami Wade is an orthopedic nurse.  All of them have enjoyed learning about American culture and meeting with their business and professional counterparts here.

Rotary District 2620 is on the East Coast in central Japan, with a mild climate and great natural beauty, with Mount Fuji (which is of volcanic origin) and many hot springs.  Agricultural products include rice, green tea, mandarin oranges, peaches, grapes and wine.  Industrial products include automobiles, motorcycles, machine tools, paper, jewelry, electronics and business machines, and commercial fisheries are also important.