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Overall Impression of the Japan Field Trip
Being a Sasakawa fellow, I started the dream of Japan tour from the first day of awarding the fellowship. In this respect, 9th September, 2006 was important for me. We started our journey on that day for Japan leaded by strong group leader Mr. Brown, Registrar, WMU. Although it is expectation that somebody will receive us in the Airport, when we saw Ichikawa San and his team, we surprised with joy.
From airport we directly went to Maritime Museum in Tokyo, we met inauguration ceremony chaired by Esuke Kudo San, managing director, OPRF. After that there was an attractive arrangement of buffet lunch. In the afternoon of the same day, we visited Museum. Evening time some of us were invited to Kudo San's house. It was the different experience to know the Japanese culture and their secret policy of development.
Next day 11th September morning we visited MLIT. It was the official session which had given us the scope to learn Japan Maritime sector, structure and policy. At the evening session we met the generous chairman of 'The Nippon Foundation' Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, our favorite world young leader. The next was the Super reception of the Sasakawa fellows. It was an excellent arrangement where we got the chance to introduce ourselves with different Japanese personnel. I believe this is unique policy of The Nippon Foundation.
In his speech, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa focused on the exchange of views among different countries in the maritime field, contributions of The Nippon Foundation to the Japanese maritime sector and also to the world maritime sector.
The following days were fabricated with different office visit and learning. I considered these academic training as well as regimental training because of the tight schedule. Among these MDPC, Yokohama port, Nippon Maru, Seiun Maru, Namura Shipbuilding industries were significantly important and interesting.
At the end of the tour my overall view to the Japanese was that, I found the tendency of the high official to consume less power, energy and transport cost as less they could do, which guided us to focus on the idea of long term development program. Basically each of the Japanese citizens can be considered to be the pillar of prefecture development element that is carrying fundamental policy.
By Castrillon Dussan, Robert Miguel It is really difficult for me to describe an overall impression about the Japan Field Trip that was organized by The Nippon Foundation for the Sasakawa fellows. The reason is because there are so many amazing things to talk about that experience and describing or explaining them in a brief scope would be really complicated.
This is why I will not go deeply to talk about the professional activities attended during the trip, but I will do it about the perceptions of the field trip itself.
I used to be part of the national swimming team of the Navy in my country. High level sport people has been always considered some kind of heroes and icons for the society and the Colombian society is no the exemption. I brought this thought because since then I haven't been treated as a someone special in terms of organization, attention and collaboration. The Nippon Foundation didn't save any effort to make the Sasakawa Fellows feel comfortable and well attended, in other words we felt as a really special persons during this field trip.
Being in Japan visiting important companies linked with the shipping industry, ports, research centers and cultural landmarks is an experience incomparable. The Nippon Foundation made it unforgettable. All the people we have met were really special towards us. The meetings, the receptions, the talks, the lectures and the comments received from them were all rich in knowledge, advices suggestions and examples of life that have encouraged us to keep studying hard at the World Maritime University.
If I would have the chance to appoint a word to describe this field trip, I would say it would be "EXCELLENCE". Everything we did was just suitable, perfect and relevant. We have learned many things as well, but if there is one thing on top of everything that could be ESPIRIT. The spirit that the Japanese Culture has, the spirit that the students showed during the trip, the spirit of the Friends of WMU met up at the receptions and off course the spirit of Mr. Sasakawa and all staff members of The Nippon Foundation that will be in our minds forever.
The Country is a beautiful place to visit and especially in educational purposes because we learn many things from them.
In the sense of looking at the physical impression of the environment, it has a very beautiful environment and development seems to keep going everyday in all places.
We receive a beautiful sunshine in the whole week of staying and we really enjoy it. The food was excellent and perfect. Especially eating using chop stick and eating some Japanese food.
It is very challenging to see the honesty and hard work shown by the people of Japan.
I was so happy to meet Mr. Sasakawa personally and to see how he can give his wealth freely to meet the demand of developing states around the world in maritime studies.
If I had any chance of going back to Japan I will not miss it because it is an eye opener seeing the massive development and the standard of living and respect from the general public.
Japan is the one of developed country which leads modern technology and industry, not only in Asia region but it can be said in the world. The limited of natural resource and the geographical position where the most earthquakes is often occurred does not prevent Japan society to develop this "beautiful sunrise country" and famous with its "Sakura flowers". Believing that human is the precious resource, Japan has come up to the global world which set up capacity building of the people as the priority of nation. As the result, we can see how Japanese have been success to achieve their high economic growth.
Twenty six World Maritime University students which were associated in Sasakawa fellow students of class 2007 have visited Japan from 10 to 17 September 2006 for field study, trying to more know maritime development as well as Japan culture, whereas the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) is the organizer of this event. It is a gold opportunity for all Sasakawa fellows, especially for those who never come to Japan. Moreover, most of students want to more familiar with OPRF, particularly to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa as the chairman of The Nippon Foundation where OPRF affiliates.
Students appreciate for this good occasion highly. Through field study, we were allowed to visit following magnificent places where we could much learn the latest new technology in the maritime field:
・Museum Maritime of Science was the first destination upon we arrived at Japan. Students could observe development of maritime industries in Japan, since ancient times till recent phase, such as shipbuilding, merchant shipping and harbours (September, 10th)
・Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT), the advantage of visiting this office was that students could get important explanation on how Japan government administer maritime transportation in its country. Further, observation was divided into 3 groups:
1. Group A, concerning MLIT as maritime administration/flag state which conduct in following section: International Shipping Div., Maritime Bureau, Inspection and Measurement Div., Maritime Bureau, and Safety Standard Div., Maritime Bureau.
2. Group B, concerning MLIT as maritime administration/flag state which conduct in following section: Seafarers Policy div., Maritime Bureau, Safety Management and Seafarers Labour Div., Maritime Bureau, and License Div., Maritime Bureau.
3. Group C, concerning MLIT as maritime administration/flag state which conduct in following section: Port State Control Affairs Office, Maritime Bureau, International Affairs Office, Ports and Harbors Bureau, and Japan Coast Guard.
We can learn how Maritime Bureau acting as maritime administration, flag sate and port state (September, 11th).
・Reception at The Nippon Foundation office, it became unforgettable moment, when students had chance to meet face to face with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa. He welcomed and gives generous attention to each student introduction. Question and answer with him were also interesting, this is because we discussed current maritime issues such as piracy, ballast water exchange, and the meeting with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa was closed with giving souvenir and taking photo together. The reception was continued with the welcome party where it was attended by ladies and gentlemen representative of the rest of Japan maritime community such as from shipping company, shipping industry, education and training institution, and administration as well (September, 11th).
・Port and Air Port Research Institute (PART), a sophisticated research and investigation facility was located in Yokosuka city. We could see how MLIT conduct research to develop technologies in relation to the construction ports and airports (September, 12th).
・Maritime Disaster and Prevention Center (MDPC), there were two important observations that students could learn from MDPC Training department. First thing is fire fighting training facilities where located at small island, off shore of Yokosuka city in Kanagawa prefecture, it took about 45 minutes by boat. Furthermore, study tour continued to see oil spill control training facilities which provide lectures on controlling oil spill, practice contingency plan and how to predict oil slick movement (September, 12th).
・Training ship tour, T.S. "Nippon Maru" was first sail training ship that fellow students visited on September l3th, our impression was that although Nippon Maru equipped with sail, but it has demonstrated how Japanese seafarer learn about seamanship from the basic of handling of sail power vessel, not limited only modern engine powered vessel. The second training ship is "Seiun Maru", a modern training ship with capacity to carry 180 cadets on board. She was designed with large class room, thus it is able to make class lecture during voyage (September, 13th).
・Namura Shipbuilding shipyard is our first observation place during our staying in Fukuoka, in Kitakyushu. This was a huge shipyard with capacity to build VLCC and VLCC as well. Incredible goliath crane can be seen in dry dock for lift weight 800 ton. There was a 700-ton heavy transporter to shift gigantic assembly blocks. All those facilities allow Namura shipyard to product modem big ship. Fellow students have a great chance to watch the process of ship building such as NC cutting machine, steel bending, large scale assembly and assembly yard (September, 14th).
・Nippon Steel Corporation Yawata Works, surprisingly to know that actually Yawata works has established and operated since 1901 and it was known as Japan's first integrated iron and steel works. In order to get the competitive market and add excellent value for its product, Nippon Steel Co. produces high quality steel products in three different forms: first is structural Steel such as rail, shape, bar, wire, and wire. Second is steel pale and sheet for example: plate, hot strip, cold strip, stainless steel plate, electrical sheet and surface and the last is steel pipe product such as: seamless pipe and spiral pipe (September, 15th).
・Port of Hakata, port touring by beautiful cruise boat was never imagined by all fellow students when Hakata port authority accompanied us to see a large port area, there are Island city and Kashii park port where we can see berths from near. Finally, visiting to Kashii container terminal to obtain information about commercial data of Hakata Port (September, 15th).
・Himeji Castle, Field study was not only concerned to the maritime industries, but also culture and heritage. In our travelling to Kobe from Fukuoka, we visited Himeji Castle which is as the one of symbol of Japanese culture. It is a gladness to see the oldest building was designated by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO as the world heritage in Japan (September, 16th).
・Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is the last destination of our field trip in Japan. This brigde is also known as Pearl Bridge, it is a suspension bridge that crosses the Akashi Strait; it connects Kobe and Awaji Island as part of the Honshu-Shikoku Highway. It is the longest suspension bridge in the world. Total length of this bridge is 3,911 m. At least we had an experience passing on longest suspension bridge in the world (September, 16th).
During staying in Japan, excellent accommodation services were provided by organizer. In Tokyo, fellow students stayed at Hotel Villa Fontaine, Shiodome at the downtown of Tokyo. It was near train station, so it gives easy access for us to go around the city. In Fukuoka, for two days, we stayed at Takakura Hotel where was close to the famous "Tenjin" area. While in Kobe, it was the last day, we spent one night at The New Otani Hotel; it was not so far from Kobe Harbor land.
The farewell party was held at the New Otani Hotel, it was attended by some professor from Kobe University and Marine Technical College, Ashiya. The party was very warm and more interesting after some students sing original song from its country, like we are from Indonesia sang the most famous song "Bengawan Solo". Talking, joke and small discussion were part of chummy party, but it brought program come to the end and we had to leave Japan tomorrow morning.
Last but not least, appreciation and honor are dedicated for Mr. Yohei Sasakawa for giving this useful occasion to Sasakawa fellows student to come to Japan. Many thanks to all OPRF staff and it includes Japanese WMU graduate who were very kindly to conduct and guide field trip activities. Hopefully, what we have got during this field study may open our eyes to more improve cooperation among us Sasakawa Fellows" and working together in the future after our graduation from World Maritime University.
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