THE Japanese Government has provided 98 scholarships to Solomon Islanders since it started the programme in 1993.
Ambassador His Excellency Keiichi HIGUCHI confirmed this during the Solomon Islands former Students of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship 2024 Alumni gathering at the Embassy Conference room on Friday 21 March, 2025.
Ambassador Higuchi said he is confident that alumni members are making good use of what they learnt in Japan in the development of Solomon Islands.
He also noted that the alumni members are one of the treasures from the forty plus years of friendship between Japan and Solomon Islands.
Finally, he encouraged all alumni members be good will ambassadors of Japan in Solomon Islands and to cherish their wonderful experiences and memories of Japan and continue to share with their family members, colleagues and friends.
One of the former students, Ms. Melissa Ziru, studied masters in dentistry at Tohoku University.
She highlighted the importance of accurate data in implementing government policy is very important and is now compiling data for the dental department in the Ministry of Health.
The second presenter is Ms. Maureen Kuri who studied at Kyushu University and her research was on Foreign Investment in Solomon Islands; an empirical research of the legal frame work.
She obtained her master’s degree last year. Ms. Kuri spoke highly of her time spent in Japan, especially the assistance rendered to her by her professors and the supporting staff at Kyushu University.
Both Ziru and Kuri recommended that more Solomon Islanders should pursue further studies in Japan because it is one of the best study destinations which provides everything to ensure successful completion of any study one wish to pursue.
The Embassy of Japan in Honiara organizes the Alumni gathering once a year for the former MEXT Scholarship Students.
