Commemorative message from former JOCV｜Mr. UEMURA Yoshihiro (Principal Consultant, OPMAC Corporation)
2026/4/1
I would like to express my sincere respect to all those who have contributed to the development of bilateral relations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Botswana. The long-standing accumulation of exchanges and cooperation has formed the foundation of the trust we share today, and I deeply appreciate its significance.
In 2014, I served as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in Botswana, where I was assigned to the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) under the Office of the President and engaged in improving administrative operations within the central government. My work included the development of officially endorsed operational improvement manuals and audiovisual materials, the establishment of improvement promotion mechanisms within the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the dissemination of these practices across ministries through a model office set up with the support of the JICA Botswana office. In addition to organizational improvements, I also implemented initiatives to promote the health of my colleagues. The experience of working closely with local counterparts and building systems step by step through trial and error, often in collaboration with volunteers from diverse professional backgrounds such as graphic design and registered dietitian, remains a vivid and lasting memory.
Currently, as a development consultant engaged in the preparatory survey on a loan project in Botswana, I continue to witness the enduring relationships formed during that time. The fact that strong ties with government counterparts have been maintained over the years highlights how the accumulation of personal networks supports the sustainable development of bilateral relations. Furthermore, throughout the course of the survey, I have observed a strong sense of familiarity and trust toward Japan and JICA in various settings. For example, during an interview, I learned that the person I was speaking with had previously hosted a JOCV volunteer as a host family, and he fondly recalled those days and responded with great warmth and cooperation, which made me realize the depth of grassroots connections.
Based on these experiences, I believe that field-level exchanges, including those fostered through the JOCV program, have played a vital role in building mutual trust at the grassroots level. I sincerely hope that, on the occasion of this 60th anniversary, the bonds that have been cultivated will continue to deepen and that the relationship between our two countries will further flourish.
In 2014, I served as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in Botswana, where I was assigned to the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) under the Office of the President and engaged in improving administrative operations within the central government. My work included the development of officially endorsed operational improvement manuals and audiovisual materials, the establishment of improvement promotion mechanisms within the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the dissemination of these practices across ministries through a model office set up with the support of the JICA Botswana office. In addition to organizational improvements, I also implemented initiatives to promote the health of my colleagues. The experience of working closely with local counterparts and building systems step by step through trial and error, often in collaboration with volunteers from diverse professional backgrounds such as graphic design and registered dietitian, remains a vivid and lasting memory.
Currently, as a development consultant engaged in the preparatory survey on a loan project in Botswana, I continue to witness the enduring relationships formed during that time. The fact that strong ties with government counterparts have been maintained over the years highlights how the accumulation of personal networks supports the sustainable development of bilateral relations. Furthermore, throughout the course of the survey, I have observed a strong sense of familiarity and trust toward Japan and JICA in various settings. For example, during an interview, I learned that the person I was speaking with had previously hosted a JOCV volunteer as a host family, and he fondly recalled those days and responded with great warmth and cooperation, which made me realize the depth of grassroots connections.
Based on these experiences, I believe that field-level exchanges, including those fostered through the JOCV program, have played a vital role in building mutual trust at the grassroots level. I sincerely hope that, on the occasion of this 60th anniversary, the bonds that have been cultivated will continue to deepen and that the relationship between our two countries will further flourish.
UEMURA Yoshihiro
Principal Consultant, OPMAC Corporation
Principal Consultant, OPMAC Corporation
Kick-off of the KAIZEN project at the Ministry of Health
Counterparts at the Ministry of Health
Training sessions on KAIZEN at the Ministry of Health
Installation of a project progress board to raise senior officials’ interest in “Kaizen”
Kaizen manual developed with graphic design volunteers and ministry of health
Content of Kaizen manual
Document disposal competition conducted at DPSM
Award ceremony of the competition (approximately 10 tons of documents reduced)
Model Kaizen office established using the former JICA Botswana office
Presentation of Kaizen practices to senior officials of the Ministry of Education at the model office
Physical improvement project implemented at DPSM
Physical improvement project (Weight Management Project)
implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports
Interaction with the Japanese community (barbecue)
Tea ceremony demonstration at an international school