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JAPAN AFRICA NETWORK'S TOP 10 DESTINATIONS:

1. Serengeti National Park (the great migration), Tanzania
2. Kruger National Park, South Africa
3. Pyramids, Giza Egypt
4. Rift Valley Lakes, Kenya.
5. Kalahari Desert, Botswana
6. Karnak Temple, Egypt
7. Table Mountain, S. A.
8. Atlas Mountain, Algeria
9. Djoudj National Park, Senegal
10. Goree Island, Senegal

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TICAD

TOWARDS TICAD IV AND G-8 2008 MEETING IN JAPAN:

What is TICAD?
TICAD stands for "Tokyo International Conference on African Development". It is co-sponsored and hosted every five years in Tokyo by the Government of Japan, the Global Coalition for Africa (GCA), the United Nation's Office of the Special Advisor on Africa(OSSA), UNDP and the World bank.

History of TICAD?
TICAD was launched to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners. Beginning in 1993 - TICAD I, 1998 - TICAD II, 2003 - TICAD III, till date TICAD III had been adjudge the best, pulling together 23 heads of State, and 10 heads of international organizations. It was also heralded as one of the largest international conferences on African development.

TICAD IV
The Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) will be held from 28 to 30 May, 2008 in Yokohama , Japan. For the first time since inception, TICAD will be held in a city different from the capital in Tokyo. Under the theme "Towards a Vibrant Africa: A Continent of Hope and Opportunity", TICAD IV will seek to address the following priority areas: boosting economic growth; ensuring "human security", including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the consolidation of peace and democratization; and addressing environmental issues and climate change.
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To commemorate this very important event the year 2008 had been marked Japan-Africa Exchange year by the government of Japan. And the city of Yokohama has also declared 2008 as the year for Africa under the theme "Yokohama Meets Africa". The city hopes to use TICAD IV to expose the youths to the world and increase the awareness of the younger generations of "Hamakko" (Japanese for Yokohama people) to other countries particularly those in Africa and Asia through exchanges, with a view to expanding and creating new friendly relationships. Furthermore; Yokohama will also be using this year's TICAD IV to showcase its development and achievements and to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Yokohama to the USA, Holland, Russia, Great Britain, and France in 1858 after signing the "Ansei treaties with these five countries" .

TICAD IV EVENTS:

Lots of events are planned for this year's ticad, they include:

• One-village-one-product seminar in Kyushu, Japan
• JICA Global Plaza Hosts African Events: A series of Africa related events to be hosted by JICA at the JICA Global Plaza in Hiroo, Tokyo.
• JICA-JETRO Forum on Investment in Congo: Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA will team-up with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to host an open forum on Japan and the Economic and Investment Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• JICA-UN Photo Exhibition on Africa
  A joint photo exhibition, "UN and JICA's Partnership in Africa," The photographs covers the work of the two organizations in Mali, Chad, Senegal, Sudan and Niger
  More at:JICA Anouncement
• Africa 2008 Campaign:The TICAD-CSO is also organising a series call "Listen To The Africans" were African "Voices" or suggestions are collated. Here "voices" could be appeals from Africans to Japan and the rest of the World on what they are struggling in their daily lives; aspirations for the future or suggestions towards a better TICAD.
  For more info check: Africa 2008 Campaign
• African Essay competition
• The first award ceremony of the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize will be held at TICAD IV in Yokohama as one of its important events. This award worth 100 million Japanese yen was established by the Japanese government to honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in the fields of medical research and medical services in Africa

In May 2008, the whole of Yokohama city will take on African colors. The city will also host a variety of Africa related events to bring the citizens closer to Africa.

This is a very busy year for Japan on the International diplomatic front. Between 7-9 July 2008, less than two months after TICAD IV (The fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development), the Group of Eight industralized nations, G-8 summit will be held in Toyako city, Hokkaido Japan. It is noteworthy here that the organizers deliberately fixed the G-8 summit after TICAD IV so that the discussions and resolutions from TICAD IV will be further scrutinized and approved at the G-8 summit.