On the 9^th of September at 15:45, we departed from Copenhagen and arrived Narita International airport at 9:35 on the 10^th. At 11:45 we had orientation and thereafter lunch. The Museum of Maritime Science was the very first place we visited that day and ended up checking into Hotel Villa Fontaine in Tokyo at 15:00.

　

 During our stay in Tokyo from the 10^th to 14^th we visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Director General Maritime Bureau, The Nippon Foundation, Port and Airport research institution, Maritime Disaster prevention center, Tour on board Nippon Maru and Tour on board Seiun Maru. On the 11^th, after our meeting with Mr. Sasakawa at The Nippon Foundation, we had our reception party which marked the end of that day's activities.

　

 On the 14^th, we left Tokyo, travelled by air and arrived Fukuoka at 11:05 morning. While in Fukuoka we were lodged at Takakura hotel where we stayed for two days. During our stay here, we visited Namura shipbuilding, Nippon steel Corporation Yawata works and boarded at the Hakata Port.

　

 Departure from Fukuoka to Kobe was on the 16^th upon arrival we visited the Himeji Castle and later that evening we had a farewell part at 19:00 to 21 :00 in Kobe Harborland Hotel where we were lodged. This party marked the end of our activities in Japan.

　

 Finally on the l7^th, our departure was at Kansai international airport through Frankfurt and arrived Copenhagen at 17:55. From there we made our way out to Sweden by train. What a nice trip especially with the formidable crew who were with us through out our stay in Japan.

　

 This Japan field study trip was very special for me because not only Japan itself was my home country but also I could visit and get new information about the real situation of Japanese shipping industry and the education system as one of the students of WMU, not as the coast guard officer. Therefore, I think that it was really precious experience for me.

　

 Especially, visiting at Nippon Maru and Seiun Maru gave me very good information about the Japanese education system on board for seafarers and triggered to think about our education and training system in the coast guard academy. I would like to use this experience in my career. I think it will be great challenge in my future.

　

 Secondly, I was really appreciated to visit Port and Airport Research Institution, and realized that the marine pollution, especially by oil spill, was also included in their research. It partly covers the purpose of Maritime Disaster Prevention Center which deeply related with the coast guard. However I confirmed that there were no connection and cooperation so far. I think that they should have good relation with each other and also with the coast guard; therefore I would like to assist them and make the system which they can cooperate together more effectively near future.

　

 In addition to get the knowledge, I and Emi wanted my friends to enjoy and feel Japanese culture and people at the same time. Therefore, we tied to be like a tour conductor for the other students during this trip. I hope this field study trip helped all students to understand and feel Japanese culture. I believe that it made us much closer, and also our relationship and cooperation became precious than gold.

　

 First of all, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa Chairman of The Nippon Foundation for his generosity to give the great opportunity for World Maritime University Sasakawa Fellowship Student Class 2007 to visit Japan from 10 - 17 September 2006. Many thanks also to The Nippon Foundation and the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRE) who already managed and facilitated this Japan Field Trip marvellously. In my opinion this field trip was well prepared and well organized so that we can visit many places, organizations, institutions and companies which are related to maritime field, even though we only have one week schedule for this entire trip. Special thank to Mr. Eisuke Kudo, Mr. Hidemasa Tagami, Mr. Shinichi Ichikawa (from OPRE), Ms. Yakabe Fumi (from MLIT), our registrar Mr. Bruce Brown and other persons for all your companion, friendliness assistance and excellent guidance during this trip.

　

 Among those activities during this field trip, the opportunity to meet Mr. Yohei Sasakawa in person becomes the one memorable experience for me. I can feel the spirit of kind-hearted, compassionate and patience is always with him to encourage for further the betterment of all mankind. Another impression is the warmest greeting come from several institutions and companies such as Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transportation (MLIT), The Nippon Foundation, Port and Airport Research Institute, Maritime Disaster Prevention Center, Nippon Maru and Seiun Maru Training Ship, Namura Ship Building and Nippon Steel Corporation. They already provided us with a great amount of information, skills and knowledge which are very useful and important for our further study in WMU and the possibility to apply such technology and development within our country.

　

　

 Besides attending those scheduled formal activities, we also have opportunities to go traveling by ourselves during the free time. I took this opportunity to visit Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, Asakusa Temple, Akihabara Electric Town and some shopping center in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Kobe. From this excursion I can find many interesting things about Japan as follow:

　

 Talking about Japan, I would like to say that this country can be classified as advanced country in the world, especially in terms of the technological and infrastructural sense. I can give the example of Japan Railway Service, the subway train runs on time, on the exact minute according to the schedule and train doors open exactly where the indications on the platform say they will be. Furthermore an extensive network of Shinkansen lines or called bullet trains which we also experienced that train service when we traveled from Hakata Station to Himeji Station allows us to travel long distances in a about few hours time.

　

 The Japanese food is great. I do really enjoy Japanese food, since I come from Asia country I can say that the taste of food is pretty much the same to my country. Every restaurant, whether it is cheap or expensive serves delicious food. There is a great variety of choice. Seafood and noodles are my favorite and I can easily find those kinds of food anywhere in Japan. All the food provided for us during this trip (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are tasteful. It is clear for me that for Japanese people, food is of great importance. The taste should be nice and has to be fresh served.

　

　

　

 I also fond the boundless friendliness, helpfulness and politeness of Japanese people especially towards foreigners, for example the practice of bowing when they meet someone or before they start to speak in front of the people as feeling of respectfulness to someone else. I have some experiences of their friendliness when I was asking for their help to find some address or specific location and they are always ready to provide us with information and guidance to find that address. The most remarkable thing that they always give us help with nice smile in their faces, however one of the big problem is language since I found not so many Japanese speak English.

　

 Another notably about Japan deserves to be mentioned is that Japanese people is well known as hard working persons. I have seen by myself that a lot of people just came back from their office at around 11 - 12 o'clock at night. It seems that Japanese have such pride in doing their work properly and as best as they can that we never see anywhere else in the world. Furthermore punctuality is the most important thing for Japanese, everything should be perfectly scheduled and people need to follow that schedule firmly, otherwise they will be seen as insult or impolite.

　

 During our stay in Japan, I also found that the country is incredibly safe. We do not have to worry about the common problems while traveling such as theft, overcharging or other crime actions which usually happened to foreigners.

　

 The weather at that time was mostly rains during evening and night, since it was reported that one typhoon called Shan-Shan come from Taiwan was heading to Japan Islands.

　

 Finally, I would like to say that Japan Field Trip is the greatest experience I have ever had in my life. I gained many new experiences, information, skills and knowledge in Maritime Field which might be very useful for my study in WMU and might be possible to contribute for the development of my country, moreover I learned many features of Japanese society and cultures which is tremendously told me about the important of kind-heartedness, politeness, friendliness, and respectfulness for the betterment of all mankind. Once again thank you for The Nippon Foundation especially to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa and the Ocean Policy Research Foundation Representatives, who give the great opportunity to study at World Maritime University and to experience the wonderful Japan field trip. I always wish I can have another opportunity to visit Japan in the future.