Firms and organisations in Herefordshire have welcomed a cultural delegation from Japan led by The University of Tokyo’s professor of green tourism, the Hereford Times reported on 8 July.
Some 15 tourism representatives, lecturers and students joined Shinji Aoki to mark his 26th visit to Lowe Farm, where he presented a magnolia tree to its owner Juliet Williams and met heads of regional businesses.
Aoki said Japan’s economic issues are similar to those of Herefordshire: rural farms need support to diversify, and young people need help to make careers outside large cities.