KIZUNA (BOND) PROJECT

JAPAN-FSM KIZUNA PROJECT

KIZUNA (BOND) PROJECT

MY REPORT

11/23/2012

KEVIN JR. KIYOSHI IHARA

The Youth-Exchange Project with Asia-Oceania and North-America [Kizuna (Bond) Project] is conducted

as a part of Japanese reconstruction plans and aims at promoting global understanding of Japan’s revival

and reconstruction efforts in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake 3.11. The main goal of this

program is to: 1.) Provide accurate information to the world community to help clear up

misunderstandings about Japan 2.) Help contribute to the development of local communities and 3.) To

further strengthen the bond with other countries by sharing their experience on the unexpected

earthquake with international communities. The Kizuna (bond) Project: the Youth-Exchange Project is a

two-week study program that fourteen pacific island country students from high-school and universities

were so grateful and fortunate to be given the opportunity to see, learn, and witness the Japanese

recovery and reconstruction efforts after the great tsunami and earthquake that struck Japan.

I am really fortunate, lucky, and blessed to be among the 22 members who traveled from FSM

(Micronesia) to Japan. The group and I departed from the FSM on September 16 and headed straight for

Guam first; while there we met up with or super-visor Pritish Chandra and the rest of the group

members from Kosrae and Chuuk. After two nights in Guam we departed for Japan on the 18th of

September, upon our arrival at Narita Airport in Japan, we were warmly welcomed by Mr. Atsushi

Takahashi our coordinator, Maulani Tan our translator, along with other Kizuna Project members of

Japan; from the airport we then rode on a bus and headed straight for the Tokyo Sun Route Hotel, after

our arrival at the hotel we all met up in the lobby, got our room keys, meal tickets, room number,

roommate, rules and further instructions. After the short meeting in the lobby we were then given ten

minutes to take all our belongings, rush up to our rooms, change our clothes, unpack, and go back down

to the lobby because we will be off to the Panasonic Center, the first place on our agenda, the Panasonic

Center was very close by so we decided to walk instead of taking the bus. The Panasonic Center is a

building full of all sorts of advanced technology ranging from digital waterproof cameras to TV’s,

washing machines, and all sorts of cool technology. While there we were given tours in the building,

learned about all the new and advanced technology, experienced what it’s like to watch TV from the

world’s largest flat screen plasma motion sensing TV. After the grand tour we were off to the second

floor of the building, while there we played with, tested, and used their new technology; we played

games, saw how illusions are made, and all sorts of cool things. After our tour we were off to a big

restaurant opposite the building, honestly the food was extremely delicious; after dinner we were then

back to the hotel, from there we then all went our separate ways in that we were off to our rooms to

take a shower and then lights out before 9:30pm, but before my roommate Mori and I crashed we

happily welcomed the Cook and Niue group for they just arrived, after showing the other groups how to

use the cards(keys), their rooms and how to operate the rest of the accessories in the room, Mori and I

then crashed because the next day is going to be long . The my roommate and I woke up at 6:30am,

took a shower, got dressed and ready, woke up the rest of the crew, then we were off to breakfast on

the 2nd floor, after we all ate, we all then got our pens, cameras, notebooks, and whatever we wanted to

take along to J.O.C.A.; we walked over to JOCA, there we were all seated by groups and took notes

throughout the whole orientation by JOCA, Japan International Corporation Center, and a lecture for

Disaster Management, after the long program we then headed back to the hotel, gathered in the lobby,

boarded our bus and then we were off for the Center Breakwater Landfill Site on the way to the landfill

site we went in an underwater tunnel that took us from Tokyo to the landfill site which was on another

separate island, there we learned how the Japanese properly dispose of their trash and how disposing of

trash was very important, we also watched a film, learned how they used trash, disposed of it properly,

recycle and basically how they turned trash from landfill sites into cool parks, tourist attraction sites,

and etc.; we then toke a tour around the factory and saw their giant windmills, and all the category or

sites for each type of trash from bottles to burnable and etc. after the tour at the landfill site we then

boarded our bus and were off for lunch at the Aqua building, we had an amazing lunch at the top of the

building at the “Oven” restaurant/buffet, after lunch I couldn’t help but notice that there was a small

replica of the Lady of Liberty next to the ocean side of the building, it was a very cool site. After the long

day we then had dinner at Kobe Steak House in another place not Tokyo. While there we met with the

Niue group, ate an amazing meal, ate all the ice-cream we can eat, then got entertained by one of the

waiters by the name of Troy, he was rapping free-style and it was really cool. After the amazing dinner

we were of course then back to the hotel went through the same procedures and also packed because

the next day we were going to be heading for Akita, not by bus but we were going to ride on the Bullet

train. The next day we had an early breakfast at 7:00 Am.; we then got together in the lobby, boarded

the bus with all our belongings, got to the train station, rushed to the section we were supposed to be at

and waited for the bullet train for about 5 minutes and the next thing I remembered our train just

zoomed by and slowed down and stopped, after boarding the train we then had a long train ride

through Japan because we were heading for Lake Tazawa (Akita); the train was very fast and since it was

my first ride on the bullet train it was just incredible, after the long ride we finally arrived at Akita, we

then boarded another bus and headed for Lake Tazawa, due to our arrival we first took group photos in

front of the Lake Tazawa(Akita) sign, after taking pictures we then had an amazing lunch there, after

lunch the group and I headed for an ice-cream shop outside and bought ourselves delicious treats, and

with our treats in one hand and cameras in the other we then walked down to the lake and enjoyed the

view as we waited for the sightseeing boat with the Marshallese group. When the boat finally arrived we

boarded the boat and were off to see the statue of the Golden Lady, the Red Gate and took a cool tour

around the lake and at the same time enjoyed the cool breeze from the lake. After the tour on Lake

Tazawa we then boarded our bus again and were off to a town in Akita to experience Japanese culture

in making traditional papers and by attending a tea ceremony. On the way to the town we passed by

the sights we saw by boat, as soon as we arrived at the town we separated into 2 groups, one group will

go and experience the traditional tea ceremony and the other will go and view or see a Buda temple or

shrine; so I was in the group that went to the shrine, while there I took a lot of pictures of the temple

and also paid my respects by putting money in the money holder at the Buda’s feet and also prayed.

After the tour at the shrine my group (that was guided by Tami Izumitani) and I walked over to other

group and switched, I that it was my groups turn to experience traditional tea ceremony; during the

ceremony we learned how to properly sit on the mat or tatami, in that we sat on our thighs or legs, well

anyways we drank the tea and ate mochi along with it and honestly the tea tasted really good, it had no

sugar and was hand prepared from herbs, so basically we drank the tea in its pure state. After the tea

ceremony the FSM group and I headed over to the traditional paper making shop and switched with the

Marshallese group. Traditional paper making is very interesting because not only do you make the paper

and dry it, but you also cut the bark of certain trees, beat the bark, dry it, and so on. After that drilling

experience of traditional paper making, tea ceremony, and our visit to the shrine, the Marshallese group

along with my group then headed back to the restaurant near Lake Tazawa and ate dinner there; the

meal was very soothing, because since its already night fall, its really cold and with the hot delicious

meal in your stomach, you just feel more at ease and relaxed instead of shivering. While waiting for the

rest of the group to finish eating a couple of us students from both groups went over to see the dogs in

the dog pen opposite the restaurant, to tell you the truth the dogs are really huge, fluffy, and they look

like wolves, scary and cute at the same time. After everyone was done we were then back in our buses

and now we were on our way to Ryokan hotel and restaurant to stay there for a couple of days. At the

Ryokan hotel we slept in cushiony blankets on the tatami mats, and of course we have roommates and

Mori was still my roommate, after a good night sleep Mori and I woke up at 6:30am the next day took a

shower, made sure we were looking sharp and neat for that day we will be divided into groups of 4 and

spent half the day with our host family. The members in my group were Keston James, Josephine Joel,

Chelsea Nena, and I and our host family for that day was the Fujimoto family. Amongst all the other

groups my group and I were very fortunate for being with the Fujimotos, they were really kind, were

very hospital, nice, and lovely. While with our host family we cooked our lunch, removed all the flowers

from the plantation, went sight-seeing around the farm, and enjoyed every moment that we spent with

the Fujimotos, but before we said our good byes my group and I handed our host family a bag full of

handicrafts and decorations for our remembrance, and in return they even treated us even more in that

they wrapped gifts for us and gave us each a bag full of goodies like chocolate and soda. After our home

stay with the beloved Fujimotos my group and I were then picked up by the other groups in a bus and

we then headed for the Akita University. We joined forces with the Marshallese group and worked as

one unit; on our arrival at the university we were greeted and welcomed by university students, after

the welcome we were then guided into a room were in the university students showed us their latest

inventions which included holographic games and it was really fun. After a couple of minutes of playing

around with their toys we then headed for the cafeteria and ate lunch and mingled with the university

students, after lunch both the FSM and Marshallese group sang songs in our appreciation for them

inviting us. After we all contributed to our thanks to the university students we then were escorted up

to the Akita University Museum, there we witnessed and saw all sorts of mind-blowing things which

included the process of making a real samurai sword. After our tour in the museum we were then

escorted back down to the drive way were we saw the Akita Team perform and demonstrate what a

lantern festival was all about. The lantern festival was really cool, interesting, and really fun when we

participated in the festival. After eating dinner at a restaurant we then went back to the hotel, took a

shower and tidied up because we were going to have a bean eating meeting according to Mori, we got

beans from the other host families in that they gave us a lot of beans to eat and enjoy. So we asked the

Marshallese group to tag along and join us and they happily did, what a day that was and it was even

better after I took a hot bath in public baths for men’s only that is. After a soothing bath and a good

night sleep we arose to eat an early breakfast and get ready to depart for Kesennuma Oshima a 4 hour

bus ride. On our way to Oshima we stopped at a couple of spectacular places which included the Big Red

Bridge, a samurai house, and a few more tourist attractions. When we arrived at Oshima on Sunday, 23

September we then boarded a ferry to go over to the island of Oshima it was very interesting because

this time we met up with the Marshallese, Niue, and Cook Island groups and on our way to Oshima we

feed sea gulls snacks and it was really fun. On our arrival at Oshima, we the FSM students boarded a bus

and a fan that transported us over to the Kanko Hotel. As soon as we arrived at Kanko Hotel we got

further instructions from Takahashi and Pritish, then they gave us our room number and roommates,

and told us that we had 5 minutes to rush up to our rooms, take up all our belongings, get our cameras

and bottled water, because we were going to go over to a house next to the beach and there we will be

getting a lecture from one of the tsunami survivors and experience the disaster in Kesennuma Oshima.

We arrived at the house and there we met up with the three other groups, as the program went on I

swear I almost cried from the experience shared from one of the tsunami affected survivors, because

her story really touched my heart, just the thought brings tears to my eyes, and I am really thankful for

her being able to share her experience with us with a big smile. After the lecture all the groups boarded

their buses and headed for Kameyama Mountain the highest point on Oshima, while there we got an

amazing tour around and up the mountain; the sight was just amazing I mean you can see the whole

island from up there. The scenery was really perfect and what really intrigued me was how fast the

disaster sights recovered, the forest that was burned down due to the oil spill caused by the tsunami,

but the forest recovered really fast, the leaves were all green and it looked like nothing happened. After

our tour on Mt. Kameyama we then headed for Oshima’s Art T-shirt Designing. There all the groups got

together and made their own T-shirts with their own artistic designs, it was really fun because that was

the first time I had ever made my own shirt. After making our one of a kind shirts we then signed

posters and signs for the Oshima people, took pictures in groups with our shirts, and pictures as all the

groups in one, it was quite interesting and fun. We then went back to the Kanko hotel to clean ourselves

up, take a shower, and eat an early dinner. That night we had an awesomely delicious dinner it was

mainly all from the sea; we had sashimi, clams, crabs, shrimps, and a lot of tasty food, I think I had three

serves because that’s how good the food was. After dinner we then headed for the Oshima Elementary

school to experience the Taiko (Japanese drum) Performance. That night I was really impressed by those

little kids because they were all really young and yet they played the drums like professionals. After the

performance each group presented and performed something for the kids; for the FSM students we

sang our National anthem and also performed a dance for the kids as a symbol of our appreciation for

their amazing performance. After all the groups performed we then had the chance to play the drums

and honestly the kids made it look so easy, but it was not as easy as I thought but it was fun and I really

enjoyed it because I volunteered to go up twice. We really enjoyed that night with the kids and in

addition we the FSM students wore our one-of-a-kind shirts not to show our shirts but to also get

everyone’s signatures and to show how involved and interested we were with the program. The next

day we visited the Junior high school in Kesennuma City and it was the bomb, we had fun mingling with

the students, made paper cranes with them and other forms of origami, took pictures with them, and

the coolest thing was that we all formed a huge circle and sang “We are the world” together; I really

enjoyed it. After our visit with the high school students we then went planting flowers as a volunteering

activity, it was fun, all the groups made and planted their own flower gardens and also drove their

tractor oh it was fun. The day was long but it had to end fast because we were all enjoying every

moment in Japan; so since it was our last night in Oshima, we had another delicious and well prepared

meal at the Kanko hotel, plus we sang and performed for the owner, family, and workers of the hotel as

a token of our appreciation for allowing us to stay there for 2 nights. The next day we were to depart

from Oshima and move back to Tokyo; that was the saddest departure I had ever experienced because

we held on to ribbons on one end while we were on the ferry and the Oshima citizens held on to the

other end as we departed, we cried, took pictures, cried some-more, and waved good-bye until we

couldn’t see them anymore. After we got off the ferry we then boarded our buses on Kesennuma and as

were driving out we drove through the disaster sights and the amount of damage was just catastrophic,

it was so bad that the tsunami waves dragged a huge ship half a mile in land. After the long bus and train

ride back to Tokyo, we finally arrived in Tokyo; we then headed straight for MOFA, there we had a

workshop and reporting session we all presented our points on power point and elaborated on it. After

the long day and tasty meals we then headed for the hotel there we all crashed and slept the whole

night through till the next day. The next day we went and visited the Tokyo Tower, men that tower is

huge and tall, the view from the top of the tower was spectacular because you literally look down on all

the buildings, the cool and scary part was the part I thought I was going to die when I accidentally

walked on the piece of glass on the floor of the tower, because I didn’t know that I was standing on glass

and when I noticed men I literally and almost freaked out, but then they told me the glass is rally strong

and won’t break even though I stand on it; after the tour at the tower we then headed for the Asakusa

Senso-ji Temple there we saw and experienced a lot. The next day we went to the Endo-Tokyo Museum

and finished the day off with our final visit to the Pacific Island Center; on Sep. 28 we had a long tour

through Akihabara, it’s an extravagant area, even though it’s all crowded we still enjoyed because the

gadgets, toys, and technology were all just so advanced and cool, to wrap the whole KIZUNA PROJECT

up we had a farewell reception at the Tokyo Sun Route Hotel. In closing I would like to thank everyone

involved in this project and for making it one of the best experiences I had ever experienced. I will

continue praying for Japan for its further reconstruction efforts and I wish Japan the best.