So what is HICE?
HICE (Hamamatsu Foundation for International Communication and Exchange) is a public foundation certified as a local international association by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
HICE was established in 1982 with 13 experts from government, business and academia, including the mayor of Hamamatsu, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, and the president of the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine.
In 1992, the Hamamatsu International Center was set up on the 7th floor of the Forte Building, where HICE carried on its work, handling consultations in six languages in the information and consultation corner (HICE started to hire foreigners to work as consultants).
Due to the increase in foreign residents in July 2008, the International Center was renamed the Intercultural Center, untaking new project including social integration projects.