April 27, 2021
2021 Japanese Exchange Cancelled
Yoko Kawaguchi, President & CEO, States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs, announced last week the 2021 Japanese Exchange has been cancelled for the month-long summer Inbound program. States' 4-H felt compelled to make this decision due to reasons arising out of the Covid 19 situation which they list as follows:
1. The Japanese government has set travel restrictions to Level 3 which prohibits all nonessential travel. It’s believed that the delay in vaccinations in Japan and the increase in the virus variants will mean that these restrictions will likely continue through this summer.
2. JTB (Japan Travel Bureau), the largest travel agency in Japan, which our Japanese partners depend upon for air travel arrangements, is not arranging any group travel in April, May or June and it’s believed that this will be extended into July and August.
3. The cancellation of the Inbound program is based on escalating travel restrictions implemented by the Japanese government which doesn’t make it feasible to secure group travel to the USA this summer. The Japanese organizations do not expect these restrictions improving.
Plans are to host in 2022.