Kathmandu, August 22

Japanese ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa today said he was happy to know that Japan has become first destination for Nepali students leaving Australia behind this year.

Addressing the Third Japanese Language Speech Contest organised by Japanese Language School Association of Nepal (JALSAN) today, Ambassador Ogawa said that according to recent data of the Education Ministry, Japan is the first destination of Nepali students.

He further said around 10,000 Nepali students are studying in different universities and Japanese language schools in Japan as per the data of 2014, which is the fourth largest in number after China, Korea and Vietnam.

Ambassador Ogawa also hailed the contribution of JALSAN in promoting Japanese language in Nepal.

He handed over the first prize of the oratory contest to Manish Aangdanbe, second prize to Muna Tamang, third prize to Niranjan Khadka and consolation prize to Asmita Regmi.

JALSAN President Subhadra Rajbhandari said the association has reconstructed three schools damaged by the earthquake of April 25 — two at Sindhupalchowk and one at Ramechhap. She said the schools would be handed over to the respective communities soon.

With the help of JALSAN, Setidevi Higher Secondary School of Syaule VDC, Prathamik Vidhyalaya of Chautara VDC of Sindhupalchowk, and Pashupati Lower Secondary School of Gelu Bhulbhule of Ramechhap, were reconstructed.