School children from Fukushima Prefecture in Japan which suffered a devastating earthquake, have written to thank Ghana and especially, staff and management of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research of University of Ghana for their solidarity messages and chocolates.

The letters of appreciation from the students were presented to Professor Alexander Nyarko, Director of the Institute, by Mr Jiro Inamura, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at the Institute in Accra.

This was contained in a statement issued by JICA in Accra on Wednesday.

In a reel of heart-warming messages, the Japanese school children mostly between five and 12 years and in school grades ranging from one to six (primary school equivalent in Ghana), thanked staff and management of Noguchi Memorial Institute for the donation and for showing solidarity for the victims of the earthquake.

They explained how well they enjoyed the ‘Ghana Chocolate’ and how the solidarity messages encouraged them.

The school children expressed their willingness to visit Ghana and learn more about the country, and indicated that they are in good health, safe and sound.

Mai Sato, a fourth grader wrote: ‘Thank you very much for the chocolates. They are delicious. I really do wish to visit Ghana someday. I heard the climate is very hot. What type of local cuisine do you have? We here in Aizu, eat ‘Mishirazu-gaki’’ (sweetened persimmon). It’s very sweet and tasty.’

Norihito Teraki, another fifth grader said: ‘Thank you so much sending us the chocolates. Though, the damage done to east Japan by the earthquake was massive, luckily for us, the damage to our school was minimal. You and your chocolate gave us hope and motivated us to fight the challenges created by the tsunami.’

Seina Hoshi, a second grader said: ‘Thank you for sending the chocolates from such a distance; I had four pieces; all four of them tasted great. My family also said they tasted great. The aftershocks of the earthquake are getting fewer these days. The chocolates gave me so much strength. I hope everything is well in Ghana. All of us here at our school are doing just fine. Thank you and may God bless you.’

Prof. Nyarko, on behalf of staff and management of the Institute, commended the students for their thoughtfulness.