JAPAN VISIT PROGRAM REPORT

 We departed from Istanbul on July 12 on board of A340. We arrived in Tokyo at 11:00 on July 13 where we stayed in APAVilla Hotel. That day we had dinner at nearby  restaurant, our first Japanese cuisine experience in Tokyo. Everything they serve us was very delicious. But from that night my favourite meal was “Yakitori”. And I don’t think that I am gonna forget about the name and taste of it.

The next day departed hotel to visit House of Counsillors. Then we went to TNF. We met with the staff of international department of TNF. They were working in a huge office with a lot of people but it was really silent inside. When time came for lunch we went to lunch  with Mr. Ohno at nearby restaurant. David and Vicky from international department joined to us. Mr. Ohno ask us some questions aboutour education, our family, our country, our impressions about Japan etc. And he answers to the questions which we asked to him. We had very good time with him in that restaurant. And we gave him some presents from our home countries. These presents are a part of our home country culture. Afterwards, we had meeting with TNF’s chairman Mr. Sasakawa at 2:00 p.m. Vicky and David and also Mr. Ohno joined to this meeting. Mr. Sasakawa gave us chance to present ourselves. And he talks about The Nippon Foundation, some about Japan and some other things. He also gave us some very good advises about life. Then we also gave some presents to Mr. Sasakawa that we brought from our home countries. We took many pictures with him. After the meeting Vicky gave us informations about TNF. By that presentation I learned a lot of things about the foundation which I didn’t know before. Then we visit one foundation which is located in the same building with TNF. Name of that foundation is “Sasakawa Peace Foundation”. In that foundation one girl from Uzbekistan gave us informations about that foundation. From that I understood Sasakawa Peace Foundation Have a lot of projects in my country, Azerbaijan. In the evening at 7:00 p.m.  we had dinner with Mr. Ogata at Shabuzen. This dinner experience was wonderful, since we cooked our meal ourselves. The name of the meal was “shabu-shabu.” Vicky, David and Mr. Saito from international department joined us in this dinner. Mr. Ogata individually one by one with all of us. We talked nearly about everything. He gave us a lot of informations about Japanese food culture. And asked us about our home countries food culture. He also gave us informations about Japanese economic model and all sorts of Japanese culture. We also had conversation with him about our education life, our interests, the situation of our home countries , life in Turkey for us, etc. That night I enjoyed a lot and learned about Japan a lot from Mr. Ogata. In the end of the night we gave the presents to Mr. Ogata that we brought from our home countries. And also here we took a lot of pictures with Mr. Ogata.

On July 15 we departed for the Museum of Maritime Science, the huge shipshape museum, which is funded by TNF. I saw a lot of children there. I learned that one aim of TNF to esbablish that museum is to teach the sea culture to children. Really when you enter o the museum you can see all the boats and ships that Japanese people and shipbuilding factories built during the history. I thinthis museum is one of the most interesting place we visited in Japan. There we had lunch at Chinese Restaurant. I must tell you that it was delicious. Afterwards, the visit was to Boat Racing Arena “Heiwajima Kyotei” where we also placed small bids, not so lucky. In that place we found a chance to see the pilots of boats and the boats. This place is a huge pool. And there is aring bus service from station directly to that place. That bus service is free for everybody. Vicky told us the money source of the Nippon Foundation to support the projects all around the world isthat moto-boat racing. She also told us that popularity of moto-boat racing used to be higher. Last years popularity comes down.  The arrangement following Boat Racing Arena was dinner at Barbacoa Grill where we got acquainted with TNF scholars from Peking University and Latin America. We had very good time with them. It is always good to meet or know people around the world. I learned a lot things from them about Latin America and China. And also they ask me a lot of questions to me about my home country Azerbaijan and Turkey. By the way this was the first time I ate Latin American foods and I enjoy it. Then we take a big picture with every students and that was the end of the night.

The next day the departure from hotel was for Tokyo Station where we boarded on Shinkansen and headed to Hiroshima Prefecture. Arriving in Fukuyama City we visited Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Company’s Shipbuilding Factory where ship repair and ship building took place. Huge ship named Tamerlane anchored there. After sightseeing we had question and answer section which was very enlightening.  The point in that factry is; first rule was safe. And they really protect the envoirement around the factory. Departing from factory we arrived at ZENO Shonen Bokujyo which was founded by Mr. ZENO from Poland. This is the welfare facility for people with mental or physical disability. In that facility they divided disabilities into two groups. We visited their rooms also. One group can talk and understand and move. So for according to their disability managers and employers inside gives them some job and they are trying to do that. For example they can wash their clothes. In the second group they can understand but can not talk. Also they have another learning program. Then we move to another building and there are disabilities who can not talk and not understand. So totally there are three groups of disabilities. We learned from Vicky that this organization is supported by TNF. Then from that city we move to Hiroshima city. The same day we stayed at Hotel Jal City Hiroshima with windows looking at river.

On July 17 we visited Hiroshima Peace Park and saw the place above which bomb exploded. There are nothing remains from second world world exept one building. I don’t know who gave this decision but in my opinion they give the right decision. After we saw the park and take many pictures there we went to the museum. With different instruments they show the bad side of the war very clearly there. You can see what was Hiroshima before nuclear bomb dropped to there and what is Hiroshima after that. They put some belongings of people who died in that nuclear bomb attackt. It was really sad moments. Because I saw one bike there and the owner the bike was ostly 2-3 years old. We learned that 200.000 people died immedietly when nuclear bomb was dropped to Hiroshima.  Near the Park we visited Chugoku Shimbun’s, Japanese Newspaper. Here the executive director of the Hiroshima Peace Media Center gave us a speech about nuclear radiation threat around the globe. Speech was very good. I learned a lot of things from him which I didn’t know before.  After the visit to Chugoku Shimbun we departed for Kyoto again on board of Shinkansen. There we visited Kyoto Light House. Here is walfare facility for the blind and visually impaired people.  I was impressed seeing volunteer activities taking place there. And people who are using that place looks very happy. They produce something, and by selling   this products this organization has an income. Also this organization is supported by TNF. Then we visit Golden Temple in Kyoto. It was very interesting. It has very big and nice garden. Temple is really made by gold. There are shops in the garden of  temple. You can buy things about that temple and I bought something for my family. While we were in Kyoto there was one carnaval in Kyoto. In that case I think we were very lucky. That night while we were walking to the restaurant we saw lots of people dressed in Japanese traditional way and they were walking in the streets of Kyoto. When we arrive to the restaurant we found out that this restaurant has very big and beautiful garden. We took a lot pictures in the garden. And we saw one Mayko. She suppose to become a geisha. We had a very nice dinner. We ate a lot of Japanese traditional food that night. Everything in that restaurant was very delicious. In Kyoto we stayed at Iroha Ryokan, Japanese style hotel, where we also took bath in Japanese traditional bath. This hotel is like tradional old Japanese house. So we guys stay in one room all together and girls stayed in another room together. It was very good experience for me and I am sure for all my friends.

The next day we arrived in Yokohama where we visited Japan Guide Dog Association Training Center. In this center first of all general manager makes us one speech and told us generally what this association is working for. And then one trainer gave us much more details about the cente. Here we had real life experience walking with closed eyes guided by stick or guide dog. Here we also how the dogs are trained. We learned that this organization is also supported by TNF. Then we departed for the APAVilla Hotel Tokyo. After checking in Hotel we had dinner with Staff of TNF. This dinner was very that we can know the staff of international department of TNF better. We enjoy a lot on that evening. We talk we had a lot of fun and we learned what we wonder from them. That night we also try about Karaoke. Until that time I only hear about it and sometimes se in T.V. So to realize it was really enjoyable. I would like to do it again for sure.

On July 19 we had Tokyo sightseeing. We visited Emperor Palace. That palace has very big garden. It is really interesting to see such as a big garden in the center of Tokyo. We also see some buildings inside and guards are training some traditional Japanese sport in the garden. After we took pictures we left the Imperial Palace. After Imperial Palace we took a metro and we went to Asakusa. In Asakusa we visit one Budist Temple first. That Temple was really big and impressive. We all pray in the way of Budist religion. And also we made shopping around the temple. You can find a lot of Japanese traditional things in that shops. Afterwards we went to Akihabara for shopping  and then returned to hotel. Thus, our Tokyo sightseeing was over.

On July 20 we departed from Tokyo on board of A340 flight number TK51.

Overall Japan experience was good and I am grateful to TNF for this trip. However, I expected to visit much more historical and traditional places, and of course even one of the world leading technological company’s facilities.