A LARGE group of 16-year olds from five Japanese high schools said

Sayōnara to Bangor at a special ceremony.

To mark the end of their visit to the city, a ceremony was held in St John’s Church. The special event was attended by the Mayor of Bangor, John Wyn Williams, and former Mayor Mrs Jean Forsyth.

The five schools involved included Hakodate-Chubu High-School, Shiba Business High-School, Fukuoka Maizuru High school, Soai High School, Fukuoka Futaba High School.

Kumi Sunada, director of the Institute of Japanese Studies - Trinity Foundation Programme, said: "Thanks to the kindness of the people of Bangor and the staff of the Institute of Japanese Studies, the students have had a very happy time and many do not want to go home.

"We hope some of them will come back to study at Bangor University."