Fresh student ambassadors set to shape Minato Ward’s “present” and “future” are kicking off their mission! Here’s an interview with the first-ever MINATO CITY NEXT AMBASSADORS.
The Student Tourism Ambassadors (MINATO CITY NEXT AMBASSADORS), who will promote the charms of Minato Ward from a student’s unique perspective, have been selected. The team consists of a total of four members—three who will promote Minato Ward to audiences both in Japan and abroad, and one overseas field agent who will share the ward’s appeal from abroad—and they will work together to advance Minato Ward’s city promotion by making full use of social media and other platforms. How will these student ambassadors—who represent the next generation—capture and share the appeal of Minato Ward, where diverse cultures and history converge? To start, we asked the three ambassadors active in Japan to speak at length about what motivated them to apply, what they find appealing about Minato Ward, and their enthusiasm for the program.
Three College Students Share Their Thoughts on Minato Ward
――First, please introduce yourselves and tell us about your connection to Minato Ward.
Karen Murakami (hereinafter referred to as Murakami)“I’m Karen Murakami, a senior in the Faculty of Commerce at Keio University. I’m studying accounting and marketing. My connection to Minato Ward stems partly from commuting to the Mita Campus on a daily basis, but I’ve also worked as a student staff member for an entrepreneur based in Minato Ward and helped organize networking events between entrepreneurs and students held in the ward.”
Sora Okabe (hereinafter Okabe): “I’m Sora Okabe, a third-year student in the School of Business Administration at Aoyama Gakuin University. Although my university is in Shibuya, I pass through Omotesando on my way to campus, and I often go for walks in Roppongi and Aoyama as well. I also lived in Shirokanedai for about a year starting in my freshman year.I liked the atmosphere of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum in Shirokanedai and visited often; participating in the neighborhood’s small festivals is also a fond memory.”
Kaito Nishino (hereinafter Nishino): “I’m Kaito Nishino, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Law at Meiji Gakuin University.My university is located in Shirokanedai, so I commute within the ward every day. Outside of school, I belong to a club called the ‘Geography Research Society,’ and we go on walking tours—which we call ‘field trips’—in various areas. In Minato Ward, we toured redevelopment areas from Nogizaka to Roppongi, Azabu, and Shiba, focusing on the theme of urban redevelopment.”
Karen Murakami (hereinafter referred to as Murakami)“I’m Karen Murakami, a senior in the Faculty of Commerce at Keio University. I’m studying accounting and marketing. My connection to Minato Ward stems partly from commuting to the Mita Campus on a daily basis, but I’ve also worked as a student staff member for an entrepreneur based in Minato Ward and helped organize networking events between entrepreneurs and students held in the ward.”
Sora Okabe (hereinafter Okabe): “I’m Sora Okabe, a third-year student in the School of Business Administration at Aoyama Gakuin University. Although my university is in Shibuya, I pass through Omotesando on my way to campus, and I often go for walks in Roppongi and Aoyama as well. I also lived in Shirokanedai for about a year starting in my freshman year.I liked the atmosphere of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum in Shirokanedai and visited often; participating in the neighborhood’s small festivals is also a fond memory.”
Kaito Nishino (hereinafter Nishino): “I’m Kaito Nishino, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Law at Meiji Gakuin University.My university is located in Shirokanedai, so I commute within the ward every day. Outside of school, I belong to a club called the ‘Geography Research Society,’ and we go on walking tours—which we call ‘field trips’—in various areas. In Minato Ward, we toured redevelopment areas from Nogizaka to Roppongi, Azabu, and Shiba, focusing on the theme of urban redevelopment.”
――Thank you. I’d like to ask why you applied to be a student ambassador this time. I hear you’re also active as an influencer, Mr. Murakami.
Murakami: “Yes. I mainly introduce spots and restaurants in and around the Kanto region. Since my university is in Mita, I thought I could promote the charms of Minato Ward even more than before, which is why I applied to be a student ambassador. I feel this is the kind of activity that’s only possible right now, while I’m a student—someone who’s flexible and has relatively more free time.”
Murakami: “Yes. I mainly introduce spots and restaurants in and around the Kanto region. Since my university is in Mita, I thought I could promote the charms of Minato Ward even more than before, which is why I applied to be a student ambassador. I feel this is the kind of activity that’s only possible right now, while I’m a student—someone who’s flexible and has relatively more free time.”
――The first round of the student ambassador selection process involved posting content introducing Minato Ward on one’s own Instagram account. Ms. Murakami, you posted a photo of yourself wearing a yukata, didn’t you?
Murakami: “There’s a shop in Akasaka that rents out yukata and kimono, so I posted a photo of myself wearing a yukata I rented from there. As an influencer, I’ve been active on Instagram for a while, and since I felt that was one of my strengths, I started posting actively as soon as the application period began in July.I applied to be a Student Ambassador partly because I wanted to give back to Minato Ward, which has been so supportive during my college years. I was genuinely happy to be selected, and I’ll stay focused and do my best to live up to everyone’s expectations.”
Murakami: “There’s a shop in Akasaka that rents out yukata and kimono, so I posted a photo of myself wearing a yukata I rented from there. As an influencer, I’ve been active on Instagram for a while, and since I felt that was one of my strengths, I started posting actively as soon as the application period began in July.I applied to be a Student Ambassador partly because I wanted to give back to Minato Ward, which has been so supportive during my college years. I was genuinely happy to be selected, and I’ll stay focused and do my best to live up to everyone’s expectations.”
――Mr. Okabe, what made you decide to apply?
Okabe: “I love traveling, and I hope to work in the tourism industry in the future. Of course, I have a connection to Minato Ward, but I also applied to be a student ambassador because I wanted to gain experience in the tourism industry while I’m still a student.I’ve been gradually getting back into Instagram since returning from studying abroad last year, but I don’t have that many followers yet, so I hope to work hard on posting from now on.”
Okabe: “I love traveling, and I hope to work in the tourism industry in the future. Of course, I have a connection to Minato Ward, but I also applied to be a student ambassador because I wanted to gain experience in the tourism industry while I’m still a student.I’ve been gradually getting back into Instagram since returning from studying abroad last year, but I don’t have that many followers yet, so I hope to work hard on posting from now on.”
――Mr. Okabe, you submitted photos of Azabudai Hills and Tokyo Tower during the first round of the contest. You mentioned earlier that you often go for walks—where in Minato Ward do you usually walk?
Okabe: “I mostly go to areas like Omotesando, Aoyama, and Roppongi, which are close to my university. When I walk down Omotesando, I pass by lots of stylish people, and in Roppongi, I get the sense that there are many people working really hard.For me, Minato Ward is a motivating place where I get energy from people who are working hard. I also feel that, just as with the people, the neighborhood itself has a variety of distinct character. For example, while there are new areas like Azabudai Hills, the historic, traditional streetscapes remain as well. Minato Ward has so many different facets, which is why I really enjoy walking around there.”
Okabe: “I mostly go to areas like Omotesando, Aoyama, and Roppongi, which are close to my university. When I walk down Omotesando, I pass by lots of stylish people, and in Roppongi, I get the sense that there are many people working really hard.For me, Minato Ward is a motivating place where I get energy from people who are working hard. I also feel that, just as with the people, the neighborhood itself has a variety of distinct character. For example, while there are new areas like Azabudai Hills, the historic, traditional streetscapes remain as well. Minato Ward has so many different facets, which is why I really enjoy walking around there.”
――So, could you tell us why you decided to apply, Ms. Nishino?
Nishino: “My family works in the tourism industry, and my parents told me about this Student Ambassador program. To be honest, it didn’t really click with me at first, but since it was such a rare opportunity, I thought it might be worth a try, so I applied.”
――Ms. Nishino, you submitted a rather unusual photo for the first round of screening,
didn’t you?
Nishino: “Yes. I submitted a photo of a culverted river. A culverted river is a river or waterway that has been covered over—due to urbanization or other reasons—and is no longer visible from the surface.”
Nishino: “My family works in the tourism industry, and my parents told me about this Student Ambassador program. To be honest, it didn’t really click with me at first, but since it was such a rare opportunity, I thought it might be worth a try, so I applied.”
――Ms. Nishino, you submitted a rather unusual photo for the first round of screening,
didn’t you?
Nishino: “Yes. I submitted a photo of a culverted river. A culverted river is a river or waterway that has been covered over—due to urbanization or other reasons—and is no longer visible from the surface.”
――Why did you post a photo of the culvert?
Nishino: “I learned about the culvert when we went on a ‘field trip’ as part of my seminar. I figured other applicants would surely highlight famous tourist attractions and spots, so when I wondered what kind of place nobody else knew about, the culvert came to mind.It’s not exactly Instagram-worthy, and you wouldn’t even notice it unless someone pointed it out, so when I passed the first round of screening, I was really surprised that people had actually seen it. Now that I’ve been selected as a student ambassador, I want to do my best while learning more about features like this.”
Nishino: “I learned about the culvert when we went on a ‘field trip’ as part of my seminar. I figured other applicants would surely highlight famous tourist attractions and spots, so when I wondered what kind of place nobody else knew about, the culvert came to mind.It’s not exactly Instagram-worthy, and you wouldn’t even notice it unless someone pointed it out, so when I passed the first round of screening, I was really surprised that people had actually seen it. Now that I’ve been selected as a student ambassador, I want to do my best while learning more about features like this.”
The Charms of Minato Ward and What These Three People Recommend
――So, could you tell us about something in Minato Ward that you’d like to recommend? It can be a place to visit, a restaurant—anything at all.
Murakami: “I’d like to recommend the historic buildings in Minato Ward.There are many historic and cultural structures on the Mita Campus as well, but when you look out from the university grounds at the cluster of cutting-edge skyscrapers, you can really feel the contrast between old and new—it’s almost like stepping into another world. Personally, I enjoy visiting shrines and temples, and I often go to the ‘Stone Steps to Success’ at Atago Shrine.”
Murakami: “I’d like to recommend the historic buildings in Minato Ward.There are many historic and cultural structures on the Mita Campus as well, but when you look out from the university grounds at the cluster of cutting-edge skyscrapers, you can really feel the contrast between old and new—it’s almost like stepping into another world. Personally, I enjoy visiting shrines and temples, and I often go to the ‘Stone Steps to Success’ at Atago Shrine.”
――The “Stone Steps to Success” at Atago Shrine are also famous as a power spot, aren’t they?
Murakami: “Since I aspire to start my own business someday, I climb those steps hoping they’ll bring me good luck.Mount Atago, where Atago Shrine is located, is surrounded by state-of-the-art skyscrapers, which creates a strange sensation. Also, since I love food, one of my hobbies is searching for restaurants in Minato Ward where I can enjoy a lunch that offers great value for the price.”
――What would you recommend, Mr. Okabe?
Okabe: “For me, it’s cafes. I feel like Minato Ward has a lot of particularly stylish cafes, and there are plenty of places where I can get my favorite acai bowls and bagels. There are especially many cafes around Omotesando and Aoyama, and after classes, I go café-hopping about twice a week.”
――Do the other two of you go to cafes as well?
Murakami: “I like them, but I don’t get to go regularly.”
Nishino: “I only go occasionally with friends, so I’d like to try going on a cafe crawl.”
――So, Nishino, what would you like to recommend?
Nishino: “I’d say Takanawa Gateway Station. I use it every day to get to school, and since it’s brand-new and the platforms feel so open and airy, I really hope lots of people get a chance to see it.”
Murakami: “Since I aspire to start my own business someday, I climb those steps hoping they’ll bring me good luck.Mount Atago, where Atago Shrine is located, is surrounded by state-of-the-art skyscrapers, which creates a strange sensation. Also, since I love food, one of my hobbies is searching for restaurants in Minato Ward where I can enjoy a lunch that offers great value for the price.”
――What would you recommend, Mr. Okabe?
Okabe: “For me, it’s cafes. I feel like Minato Ward has a lot of particularly stylish cafes, and there are plenty of places where I can get my favorite acai bowls and bagels. There are especially many cafes around Omotesando and Aoyama, and after classes, I go café-hopping about twice a week.”
――Do the other two of you go to cafes as well?
Murakami: “I like them, but I don’t get to go regularly.”
Nishino: “I only go occasionally with friends, so I’d like to try going on a cafe crawl.”
――So, Nishino, what would you like to recommend?
Nishino: “I’d say Takanawa Gateway Station. I use it every day to get to school, and since it’s brand-new and the platforms feel so open and airy, I really hope lots of people get a chance to see it.”
――In March 2025, TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, adjacent to Takanawa Gateway Station, also opened.
Nishino: “At the time of the opening, there was a special exhibition titled ‘Railways and Urban Development: Connecting to the Future,’ which showcased how JR East has shaped the Takanawa neighborhood. I walked around the exhibition myself and could really sense how much effort had gone into this project.Also, just like Takanawa, Minato Ward has many hills, so I think it’s a neighborhood that’s fun to walk around. There are many hills named after local landmarks, and it’s a great place to just wander around.”
Murakami: “I also love walking. It takes about 30 minutes from the Mita Campus to Atago Shrine, and I often walk that route. However, while I climb stone steps, I’ve always thought of slopes as being quite steep, so I think it’s wonderful that you’re focusing on them, and I’d love to hear more about their charm.”
Nishino: “Absolutely! It sounds like fun for all of us to go for a walk around Minato Ward together.”
Okabe: “That sounds fun! It would be great if we could have an opportunity like that.”
Nishino: “At the time of the opening, there was a special exhibition titled ‘Railways and Urban Development: Connecting to the Future,’ which showcased how JR East has shaped the Takanawa neighborhood. I walked around the exhibition myself and could really sense how much effort had gone into this project.Also, just like Takanawa, Minato Ward has many hills, so I think it’s a neighborhood that’s fun to walk around. There are many hills named after local landmarks, and it’s a great place to just wander around.”
Murakami: “I also love walking. It takes about 30 minutes from the Mita Campus to Atago Shrine, and I often walk that route. However, while I climb stone steps, I’ve always thought of slopes as being quite steep, so I think it’s wonderful that you’re focusing on them, and I’d love to hear more about their charm.”
Nishino: “Absolutely! It sounds like fun for all of us to go for a walk around Minato Ward together.”
Okabe: “That sounds fun! It would be great if we could have an opportunity like that.”
――Finally, please share your enthusiasm for your role as a student ambassador.
Murakami: “I’m good at editing photos and videos, and I’m also studying social media trends. Using these skills as my strengths, I want to start by creating content that resonates with people my age. I hope that through this, they’ll learn about Minato Ward and be inspired to visit.”
Okabe: “As I mentioned earlier, Minato Ward is a place that really motivates me, and I want to share content that makes others feel the same way. I’d also like to launch initiatives that create a positive ‘surprise’ for international visitors to Japan—making them think, ‘So this is what Japan is really like.’”
Nishino: “I think if I make the most of my position as a student, I’ll be able to take on even more in-depth projects. I’ll do my best to convey not just the typical glamorous image of Minato Ward, but also its unexpected charms that haven’t been widely known until now.”
Murakami: “I’m good at editing photos and videos, and I’m also studying social media trends. Using these skills as my strengths, I want to start by creating content that resonates with people my age. I hope that through this, they’ll learn about Minato Ward and be inspired to visit.”
Okabe: “As I mentioned earlier, Minato Ward is a place that really motivates me, and I want to share content that makes others feel the same way. I’d also like to launch initiatives that create a positive ‘surprise’ for international visitors to Japan—making them think, ‘So this is what Japan is really like.’”
Nishino: “I think if I make the most of my position as a student, I’ll be able to take on even more in-depth projects. I’ll do my best to convey not just the typical glamorous image of Minato Ward, but also its unexpected charms that haven’t been widely known until now.”
"Student Tourism Ambassadors: Profiles"
Sharing the Charm of Minato Ward with the World from Glasgow
Next, we bring you an interview with Kae Niwa, who is working as an overseas field agent. From Glasgow, Scotland—where she is studying abroad—Ms. Niwa will be promoting the charms of Minato Ward, with a focus on the European region.
――First, please introduce yourself and tell us about your connection to Minato Ward.
Kae Niwa (hereinafter referred to as Niwa)“I’m Kae Niwa, a third-year student in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics. At university, I primarily study business administration and development economics, and I’m currently on a one-year exchange program at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, UK. I enjoy walking while taking in the cityscape, and on nice days, I often walk instead of taking the train or bus.I’ve lived in Minato Ward for 10 years now, and I grew up experiencing its charm from a young age. While I really enjoy traveling far and wide, both in Japan and abroad, what I love most is taking time to stroll through my local Minato Ward on ordinary days—and every time I do, I’m reminded anew just what a wonderful place it is.”
――Please tell us why you applied to be a student ambassador.
Niwa: “I applied because I wanted people not only in Japan but around the world to learn about the charms of Minato Ward. Japanese culture is currently attracting global attention.There are many matcha cafes and Japanese restaurants in Glasgow, and bookstores are lined with manga and notebooks featuring famous Japanese landscapes on their covers. However, almost no one knows the name ‘Minato Ward.’ I want to take things a step further than simply getting people to like Japan—I want to engage in activities that help people learn about and grow to love Minato Ward, so that when they visit Japan, they’ll think, ‘I want to go to Minato Ward!’”
Kae Niwa (hereinafter referred to as Niwa)“I’m Kae Niwa, a third-year student in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics. At university, I primarily study business administration and development economics, and I’m currently on a one-year exchange program at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, UK. I enjoy walking while taking in the cityscape, and on nice days, I often walk instead of taking the train or bus.I’ve lived in Minato Ward for 10 years now, and I grew up experiencing its charm from a young age. While I really enjoy traveling far and wide, both in Japan and abroad, what I love most is taking time to stroll through my local Minato Ward on ordinary days—and every time I do, I’m reminded anew just what a wonderful place it is.”
――Please tell us why you applied to be a student ambassador.
Niwa: “I applied because I wanted people not only in Japan but around the world to learn about the charms of Minato Ward. Japanese culture is currently attracting global attention.There are many matcha cafes and Japanese restaurants in Glasgow, and bookstores are lined with manga and notebooks featuring famous Japanese landscapes on their covers. However, almost no one knows the name ‘Minato Ward.’ I want to take things a step further than simply getting people to like Japan—I want to engage in activities that help people learn about and grow to love Minato Ward, so that when they visit Japan, they’ll think, ‘I want to go to Minato Ward!’”
――As a student tourism ambassador during your time studying abroad, what kinds of activities would you like to take on?
Niwa: “As an ambassador abroad, I hope to increase the number of Minato Ward fans overseas, starting with Glasgow. I believe that listening to firsthand feedback from my friends in Glasgow about what they find appealing about Minato Ward, and rediscovering the ward’s charm through my daily life abroad, are things I can do precisely because I’m a student here.In the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow, I want to gather many authentic voices and use them to promote Minato Ward. I also enjoy designing and drawing, and I believe that first impressions are crucial for making people think, ‘I want to go there!’ Therefore, I’d like to take on the challenge of creating visually striking brochures and posters that leave a lasting impression and distributing them to capture people’s attention.”
Niwa: “As an ambassador abroad, I hope to increase the number of Minato Ward fans overseas, starting with Glasgow. I believe that listening to firsthand feedback from my friends in Glasgow about what they find appealing about Minato Ward, and rediscovering the ward’s charm through my daily life abroad, are things I can do precisely because I’m a student here.In the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow, I want to gather many authentic voices and use them to promote Minato Ward. I also enjoy designing and drawing, and I believe that first impressions are crucial for making people think, ‘I want to go there!’ Therefore, I’d like to take on the challenge of creating visually striking brochures and posters that leave a lasting impression and distributing them to capture people’s attention.”
――Ms. Niwa, you posted a colorful illustrated map of Minato Ward on Instagram during the first round of the contest, didn’t you? Could you tell us about your favorite spots in Minato Ward?
Niwa: “What I absolutely recommend to anyone visiting Minato Ward is walking across the Rainbow Bridge.The sea breeze feels wonderful, and you can take in the view of the Rainbow Bridge and the cityscape of central Minato Ward across Tokyo Bay. You might even have unexpected encounters, like exchanging a few words with people who happen to be there when you take a break at the observation deck or with passersby. Also, the way the colors of the fence gradually change like a gradient is really cute—it’s one of my favorite spots.”
Niwa: “What I absolutely recommend to anyone visiting Minato Ward is walking across the Rainbow Bridge.The sea breeze feels wonderful, and you can take in the view of the Rainbow Bridge and the cityscape of central Minato Ward across Tokyo Bay. You might even have unexpected encounters, like exchanging a few words with people who happen to be there when you take a break at the observation deck or with passersby. Also, the way the colors of the fence gradually change like a gradient is really cute—it’s one of my favorite spots.”
――Thank you very much. Finally, could you share a few words about your enthusiasm for this role?
“I’m truly delighted to have been selected as a student ambassador and to have the opportunity to participate in these activities.Minato Ward is a fun place that packs all the best aspects of Japan into one area, with different personalities depending on the neighborhood, and it has so many charms I want people all over the world to discover. I’ll do my very best to share the charms I’ve come to know from living in Minato Ward for so long, as well as the charms I’m rediscovering now that I live away from the ward, with as many people as possible!”
“I’m truly delighted to have been selected as a student ambassador and to have the opportunity to participate in these activities.Minato Ward is a fun place that packs all the best aspects of Japan into one area, with different personalities depending on the neighborhood, and it has so many charms I want people all over the world to discover. I’ll do my very best to share the charms I’ve come to know from living in Minato Ward for so long, as well as the charms I’m rediscovering now that I live away from the ward, with as many people as possible!”
"Student Tourism Ambassadors (Overseas Field Agents) — Profiles"
