Report by Marie Neyrinck
The 31st Study Tour of Japan for European Youth
19-29 October 2009By Marie Neyrinck
* Click image to enlarge
In October 2009, I had the great opportunity and honour of being invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for a ten-day group Study Tour. The short-term objective of this Study Tour was to arouse the participants' interest in Japan through experiencing many different aspects of the country. The long-term objective is to deepen the participants’ understanding of Japan and to strengthen future ties between Japan and European countries.
After a long journey, I arrived in Tokyo in the evening with the 32 other participants coming from all over Europe. We were provided accommodations at a very nice hotel with a view on the Tokyo Tower. In the evening, we were invited by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a welcome reception. At this reception we met most of the people in charge of the various activities we were to participate in during our stay there, as well as the bilateral diplomatic representatives from the embassies of the nations of the participants.
On the first day we had an informative lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Japanese European relations. In the afternoon we first visited Kitajima-Shibori factory, a medium-sized workshop specialized in metal spinning. We then went to Koyama-Shuzo, a sake brewer where we learned the complex brewing process.
On the following day, thanks to our jetlag, many of us were able to visit Tsukiji Fish Market at 5:00a.m. This market is the country’s biggest wholesale market in its transaction volume, and it is famous for the tuna auction taking place at day break.
In the same morning, we attended an animated lecture on how to drive productivity through kaizen(*). In the afternoon, we visited Keio University. After a campus tour and a lunch at the school cafeteria, we followed a lecture on how the EU is seen and perceived in Japan in particular and Asia in general. We were then divided into four groups to have an exchange of views with some Japanese students on various topics.
My group discussed the external relations between the EU and Asia. To end our visit, we had the opportunity of seeing a competition at the women’s Japanese Archery Club of Keio Athletic Association.
The day after, we were back at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an instructive lecture on modern Japanese politics. In the afternoon, our group visited Meiji-Jingu, a Shinto shrine, covered by an impressive evergreen forest at the heart of Tokyo. After having witnessed two ceremonies at the shrine and having done some sightseeing, we were initiated to Ikebana, which is a traditional Japanese flower arrangement.
On Friday, we had a final lecture on the Japanese economy before visiting the Diet (Parliament) of Japan considered as the highest organ of state power and the sole legislative body of the State.
After an authentic Japanese lunch, we had the honour of being received at Urasenke for a tea ceremony. Feeling serene thanks to this unique ritual, we experienced another side of the Japanese culture after sundown by seeing a Kabuki performance at the Kabuki-za Theater.
As Saturday morning was free, I went to Asakusa, the old downtown Tokyo, walking from Kaminari-mon Gate through Nakamise-Dori Street (the shopping street) until the main hall of Senso-ji Temple. In the afternoon, we dived into the cutting edge technology by an exciting visit to the Panasonic Center in Odaiba, where we could see the upcoming society as it might look in the near future. At night, we attended a remarkable Japanese drum concert by Nagisa Taiko. After this incredible taiko performance, we could even try playing the drums ourselves. Thereafter, we had a wonderful buffet party, tasting the delicious food cooked by the mothers of the performers, while participating actively in origami and tea ceremony workshops, and naturally ending up doing karaoke.
After a five-day stay in Tokyo, we flew to Hiroshima, the city which still stands as a monument commemorating the drop of the atomic bomb. At the International Conference Centre, we met with our host families and started the home-stay programme. Each participant was invited to stay with a family in Hiroshima for 24 hours. I was grateful to stay with the Yokohata family of two parents and two children. At night, I was able to make the local specialty, okonomiyaki, a delicious Japanese savory pancake by myself. After a typical traditional Japanese dinner, they took me to the top of a hill to see the night view of Hiroshima.
The following day, we took the ferry to Mijajima Island, a World Cultural Heritage site where we visited the Itsukushima Shrine, one of Japan’s most scenic spots. Even though we could not really speak with each other and had to communicate with gestures, the language barrier was easily overcome by the hospitality of the family, such that this experience will remain with me in its uniqueness.
After having spent an entire day with a Japanese family, the group got back together to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and to meet an A-bomb survivor. His touching testimony reminded us the importance of a world without nuclear weapons.
We then traveled by Shinkansen (high-speed train) to reach the former capital of Japan, Kyoto. The mixture of cultures that has been preserved until today makes Kyoto a fascinating city with many World Cultural Heritage sites.
At night we stayed at a ryokan, a typical Japanese inn. It was a splendid opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the spirit of Japanese hospitality and graceful customs that have been passed down over generations. We experienced the elements of Japanese culture and customs, i.e., living in a room with tatami flooring (straw mat), wearing yukata, going into the hot springs and sleeping on a futon.
During our stay in the former capital, we visited many outstanding temples among which the impressive Nijo-jo castle, the beautiful and luxurious temple of Kinkaku-ji completely covered with gold and surrounded by incredible flora, and the fascinating Kiyomizu-dera, which commands a panoramic view of Kyoto surrounded by crimson maples in autumn. We spent our last evening in Osaka around the famous castle reminiscing about all the great experiences we had had.
This Study Tour was a wonderful learning opportunity. It permitted me to discover the political, economic, social and cultural pillars of the Japanese society. This experience has fostered my interest in Japan even further and has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of both traditional and modern Japan. I was surprised to see such a harmonious blend of modernity and traditional customs. The Study Tour gave me the opportunity to experience the Japanese way of life and to meet Japanese people in person. I discovered very hospitable people, always eager to help and very curious about our cultures. This really contrasted with the false preconceptions and stereotypes that some people in the West might have about Japanese people. Thanks to my cultural and personal exchanges with the Japanese people, I was able to take some distance from my own western perspective, and hence I can safely say that I have broadened my horizons. For all these reasons, this Tour is an obvious asset for my future personal and professional life.
(*) A Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement of working practices, personal efficiency etc.
