SKIP 2016
Schedule
Religion Day
SKIP2016 started off with Religion Day @ Meiji Jingu (facilitator Mori-chan)
After a wonderful guided tour of the shrine by a shinto priest of the shrine, we learned further about its history by watching a documentary, then had the priviledge of having a traditional prayer and purification ritual. Last but not least, we had fruitful discussions on the differences of perspectives in religion in Japan and the US.
We were amazed at the beautiful man-made forest at the shrine ...and the architecture of the buildings. Also, especially the Stanford students were amazed by how welcoming the Shinto religion was to people from other religions, and found this is a form of WA (和), which is our theme for the program this year.
Stanford participant Jack says:
Starting SKIP2016 off with religion day was perfect! Before we even made it to the shrine we were already gaining a sense of the status of religion and belief in Japan. During the walk up to Meiji Jingu we learned about how tidy the path is kept and how important this is to maintaining the entire shrine. Learning about this simple act of cleaning was an important bases to the rest of religion day. The two aspects of religion day that had the greatest impact on me were, listening to the sound of the stones under our feet and learning about their cleansing properties and second, the discussion that we had as a group at the end of the tour. This was the first time that our SKIP group engaged in a group discussion and it was immediately amazing! After this discussion I feel that America has a lot to learn from the manner in which Japanese people view religion. In Japan religion is seen as a cultural facet of society rather than something that is fundamental to the people's identity. Sharing religious opinions can have dangerous consequences in America. America should look to Japan as an example in order to create a society in which religions can coexist as Shinto, Buddhism, Christianity and others do in Japan. Religion day made me feel lucky and happy to be amongst people with whom I could talk so freely, from that moment on I knew SKIP was going to be an Amazing program.
Washoku Day
Washoku Day @ Yanagihara Cooking School (facilitator Maki)
We had the priviledge of being able to use the facilities of Mr. Naoyuki Yanagihara'scooking school in Akasaka. First we had a presentation on Dashi (Japanese soup stock) by Mr. Yanagihara (Kinsa-ryu Japanese cuisine) , then had the fantastic opportunity of getting to actually cook dashi and make delicious Dobin-mushi soups. After devouring the soup with bento boxes provided by Soul of Japan, we experienced a traditional tea ceremony by Ms. Kobori (Enshu-ryu sadou) and had Mr. Kurokawa from Toraya (a very famous Japanese sweets shop) present to us about Wagashi and show us how they are made.
The day was a fantastic experience getting to know about WA, as we saw just how much the Japanese value nature and its blessings and express it in their cooking. Also, all the guests who came in to talk to us were all so kind to make time for us in their busy schedules and put a lot of effort into their presentations, so we felt a true spirit of Omotenashi , which we felt is also a major element of WA.
Stanford participant Theo, Jack say:
To me, food says a lot about a culture because it's a daily necessity that is shared amongst friends, family, and strangers. Learning about the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and the wagashi making gave me a lot of insight into how much Japanese people value presentation and tradition even in modern society. It was really cool to see how much attention to detail was put into the foods! Plus, they were super yummy 😊
(Theo)
It was during Japanese food day that I realized just how lucky I was to be a part of SKIP. The entire experience was awe inspiring and felt like something I was lucky beyond words to be a part of. To be in the presence of some of Japan's greatest culinary artists, Mr. Naoyuki Yanagihara, Mr. Mitsuharu Kurokawa, and Ms. Yuko Kobori was extremely humbling. Japanese food has always been one of my favorite types of food and one of the aspects of the culture that fascinates me the most. Learning about Dashi as the basis of Japanese cooking as opposed to butter or oil in the rest of the world helped me to understand just how unique the Japanese culinary arts are. I loved getting to learn about how complex and time consuming the efforts are that go into making Dashi. Great attention has to be paid to the Kombu and Bonito in order to make delicious Dashi. This intense attention to making Dashi is a form of 和. After going through the wonderful experience of Japanese food day I am even more astounded by the Japanese cooking arts because it revolves around Umami, a taste the Japanese discovered, and have been utilizing throughout history, which the rest of the world has only recently come to understand. In Japan, cooking is revered as an art form. This became clear to me while watching Mr. Mitsuharu Kurokawa make Wagashi, a tradition which has been in his family since the Edo period. The Japanese culinary tradition seems like one that contains thousands of secrets and lessons that I hope to learn and uncover over time, SKIP's Food day is an amazing window into the world of these profound secrets.
(Jack)
Japanese Culture Day
Japanese Culture Day @ Kita Noh Theater, Nihon Minkaen (facilitator Mizuki)
We had the priviledge of learning about Noh from Mr. Shiotsu, a very famous professional Noh actor in Japan. There were a lot of things that not only Stanford students but also Japanese students did not know about, like the differences between Noh and Kabuki (Noh is much older and is doe to praise the gods, while Kabuki is more for civilians). Afterwards, we were allowed to actually step onto the stag...e, try on Noh masks and practice some moves. It was a very exciting experience for all of us.
After that we experienced indigo dyeing and saw old folk houses in Nihon Minkaen. We were amazed at the variety of houses and their different functions according to the weather and culture of the regions they represented. Indigo dyeing was also a great interactive way to learn about Japanese culture; we now all have memories and an original bandana to take home with us!
Stanford participant Kevin says about Noh:
The Noh experience was really insightful because it is so deeply rooted in tradition. It is easy for foreigners to appreciate Japanese innovation and culture, but I found the theatrical art of the Noh theater to be more memorable and penetrating.
Stanford participant Dorian says about indigo dyeing :
I had a lot of fun!! The atmosphere of the room was conducive to making creative designs, and the two women guiding us were very knowledgeable. I enjoyed learning about the process before trying it myself, and it was cool to experience making a dyed cloth from start to finish. At the end, I understood how all of the supplies contributed to the finished product, so I wanted to try it again to make a better cloth!
Short Trip
Short Trip @ Yamanashi Day 1/3 (facilitating leader Soki)
Yamanashi was perfect as we believed it would be easier to get a better insight on Japanese culture if we went somewhere not too touristy, but was not too rural at the same time.
Our first stop in Yamanashi - Country Cottage ...
where we stayed the night
Our lunch activities were:
・BBQ
・Nagashi Soumen -sliding soumen noodles on hand made bamboo waterslides
・Suika wari - a game where everybody takes turns to attempt cracking a watermelon using a stick, blindfolded
We then went on that night to enjoy a Taiko drums performance by a local kids Taiko team and had the special experience of practicing a taiko song ourselves!
Special thanks to the Kawaguchiko Takao Taiko team!
Stanford participant Newton says:
'I think day 1 of Yamanashi was when the friendships between all the participants, whether Stanford or Keio, were really solidified. From building the bamboo slide for noodles, to teaching each other dance moves, to trying to split watermelon blindfolded, I definitely feel like that was the turning point for the rest of the program. Then topping it all off with a crazy drum performance, the first day was absolutely one of my most amazing experiences!'
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Short Trip @ Yamanashi Day 2/3 (facilitating leader Soki)
After a great night of bonding at the cottage, we had an early breakfast and set off to 'Iyashi no Sato', where we saw many traditional folk houses. We all got to dress in Sengoku warrior oufits, Samurai outfits and kimonos and take pictures which everyone had a lot of fun with.
We also enoyed a Hoto (traditional noodles in Yamanashi) or soba noodles lunch which were both delicious.
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After our stop at Iyashi no Sato we moved on by our bus to Daizenji, a temple in the Katsunuma area where we would stay the night. Daizenji is a 730year old temple which is designated as a National Treasure and holds many statues claimed Important Cultural Property.
There we experienced Zazen, which was very uncomfortable for many of us but was very spiritual and a big hint to our main theme, 'what is 和?'.
After an exciting but long day, we all enjoyed ourselves in the evening with fireworks and party. By the end of day 2 SKIP2016 was one united and whole group!!!
Stanford participant Bryan says:
'Day 2 at Yamanashi was a blast. Trying on Samurai armor was one of the coolest and most palpable parts of my experience in Japan. Feeling the weight of the armor gave me a newfound appreciation of Samurai training and walking around Yamanashi while wearing it was eye-opening. Later, I practiced zazen at a temple in Yamanashi. This was hands down the most challenging activity of my time abroad and one that I will remember the most vividly. Sitting in a single position while meditating for an extended period of time was a unique experience for me. I gained much respect and admiration for those who practice zazen regularly. This was a great ending to Day 2 in Yamanashi'
Short Trip @ Yamanashi Day 3/3 (facilitating leader Soki)
First activity was Shakyo, where we practised calligraphy to write buddhist scriptures. We were very silent as we concentrated on writing complicated characters and thought of what to wish for when we finished.
Next we went on to try paper making taught by Mr. Tadashi Tamura, a professional Japanese Washi (paper) artist. We learned from him the history and beauty of Washi making, and had a grejt time producing Washi fr...om a single tree branch.
Stanford participant Priyanka says:
Yamanashi was absolutely amazing. Day 3 was really cool, although it was tough since we stayed up late the night before. It was still cool to do calligraphy and paper making and I feel like I got a real appreciation for japanese work!
Education Day
Education Day @ Keio Mita Campus & Mita Elementary School (facilitator Nana)
We first had the priviledge of welcoming Ms. Yumiko Kato from Benesse (Third largest education firmin the world) come to Mita Campus to talk to us about the Japanese education system and its issues. She also talked about our theme 和 , and that there are many aspects of this word such as 話(to speak) 輪 (a circle) 我(yourself).
Next, Keio University professor Ms. Tomoko Tokunaga talked to us about the m...inorities in Japanese education systems such as returnees or students from abroad. She expressed that 'ibasho' (a place or group of people where one feels they belong) can contribute a lot to 'ijime' (bullying) problems.
Later on we visited Mita Primary School, where we were given free time to visit students' classes. We were even given the chance to have Kyushoku (school lunch provided to all students by the school) with the kids. We had a lot of fun talking to them and answering their questions which were mainly on culture in the US.
The Stanford participants were amazed to see the little students serving the lunch themselves and all saying 'Itadakimasu' together at the start of the meal. The school also kindly provided us with some videos showing the students cleaning their classrooms after school, which is unique to Japanese schools.
By taking a glimpse into Japanese education, we yere able to see how 和 is created in Japanese society from peoples' young age.
Stanford participant Ellen says:
It was really great learning about Japanese education. Education is such a formative part of any culture, and learning about the education system gave an insight into how people in Japan viewed the world and approached questions or problems. But the best part was being able to go to an elementary school and see how the kids learned. They were so cute! And seeing them tackle responsibilities outside of the academic sphere, such as serving meals or cleaning the classrooms, demonstrated the roundedness of the classroom setting.My only lament was not knowing enough Japanese to really talk to the kids.
Minority Day
Minority Day @ Keio Mita Campus (facilitator Haruka)
After education day, we had LGBT Day, where we discussed about LGBT issues in Japan.
First we were given a presentation on LGBTs by LGBT Youth Japan, a student run organization. After hearing their wonderful presentation, we had a workshop on creating an ideal school with an LGBT friendly environment.
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Next we had Ms. Suzuki from another organization called Mimosa. She kindly shared her stories to the group and gave us ideas on how we can change the current issues regarding LGBTs in Japan.
We wrote down our thoughts on colored paper and attached them together to form a rainbow heart.
Stanford participant Sophia says:
Growing up in California but coming from an Asian background, I've always been caught between the liberal perspectives of my neighbors and conservative perspecives of my relatives. SKIP2016's LGBT Day was a valuable experience for me because I was able to have a meaningful discussion in a classroom where those differences manifested into different viewpoints.
Company Day
Company Day @ Shiseido
In searching for the answer to our main question, what is "WA"?, we earned a great support from Shiseido Company, Ltd.
We had a tour around Shiseido Ginza Building. After hearing from the staff and watching videos about the company's history, development to overseas, activities in multiple industries, their goal and of course their products, the company's staff toured us around Shiseido Life Quality Center (SLQC), where they do free makeup counseling ...for people who have skin troubles, and Shiseido Gallery, which is the oldest art gallery in Japan. We were also able to see their demonstration of what they do in SLQC counseling-- how they actually cover marks on patients' skin perfectly. In the end, we had some talking sessions, in which we were able to feel staff's pursue of "better daily life" for each of their customers.
With lots of thanks to Shiseido for kindly guiding (such a big party), we gained some hints of "WA."
Company Day (part 2) @ Shueisha (facilitator Yukari)
Group Literacy had a tour around the editorial department of Weekly Magazine Shonen JUMP in Shueisha. As they need to publish the magazine "weekly," they're very busy, but we were very lucky and got to go there.
The hallway out side of the editorial department was full of posters and panels of their manga, which filled our feelings with amazement .
One of the editors brought us to the scene where editors were actually work...ing-- desks with piles of documents on, shelves filled with mangas from the past, etc. With his descriptive explanation, we could see how much effort is put in each magazine and comic.
Hearing about editors' job and life, we learned that one of Japanese pop cultures, "manga" consists of elaborate work of both editors and manga artists.
Thanks to Shueisha and of course the editor for guiding us and answering all of our questions, and for giving us such a marvelous experience!
Stanford student Newton says:
Shueisha was an incredible experience, in which we got to take a look at the behind-the-scenes of some of our favorite manga works, including the legendary editor room. Knowing that very few people ever got the chance to see that same things we did was icing on the cake. However, the best part was definitely the kindness and enthusiasm shown by our guide, who, an editor himself, was very happy to answer any and all questions we had. I was blown away by his enormous passion for his work, which came through anytime he spoke about his work. I left Shueisha completely in awe of the dedication contained in that one building.
Company Day (part 2) @ FUJIFILM (facilitator Soki)
We were able to visit the main headquarter of the company in Roppongi. After a brief introduction and movie on core technology, we had the priviledge of listening to Mr. Toda, the Executive Vice President's speech on 'Innovation'.
After his speech, we got to learn about and actually experience FUJIFILM's diverse innovations and products. We were amazed to see just how much innovation can expand from film making technology - ...printing on leather and windows, manufacturing womens' cosmetics, even the technology of creating artificial cells!
Last but not least, we had a lot of fun thinking of and sharing ideas about what new innovation would be possible combining the technology FUJIFILM already has. We disscussed in a World Cafe style, which lead to more and more creative ideas. We finally had the priviledge of presenting the ideas to the staff of FUJIFILM. We were complimented that when we were thinking of new ideas, we thought of problems we had in daily life before we started thinking of what innovations that could be made. We were told that this way of thinking was the key to innovation.
Company Day (part 2) @ JAL (facilitator Kirie)
We first had a lecture about Japan’s “omotenashi (hospitality)” culture given by the flight attendants, Ms. Yoshihara and Ms. Okabe. We learned how Japanese people care deeply about others, through the culture of “shitsurae” and “ma.”
We were also each given origami papers and message cards prepared beforehand, and were served some tea and snacks. Along with the throughly given lecture, both the Keio and Stanford students experi...enced the spirit of Japan’s “omotenashi (hospitality.)”
Next, we were given a lecture about air plane engineering by Mr.Abe, who is the manager of public relations at JAL. We were informed of Mr. Abe’s career, the hisotry of the air plane industry, the fronteer works of bio fuel, and the details regarding the air craft, and other very interesting points.
Mr. Abe also showed us around the air craft hanger, and we were all thrilled to be able to take a tour.
We all are very thankful for Mr. Kita, who allowed us to experience this amazing experience at JAL.
Stanford participant Kevin says:
Japan Airlines is the hallmark of the Japanese concept of "Wa," which includes the ideas of hospitality and harmony. Through the flight attendants' presentations and service demonstrations at JAL, we learned how "Omotenashi" is embodied in the mind and spirit of the onboard service. "Omotenashi" drives crew members to think beyond mere helpfulness and simply meeting customer's expectations. As a result, JAL flight attendants demonstrate "Wa" by treating their passengers like family members, employing many nonverbal expressions of care and gratitude. From an American perspective, seeing the level of service detail in Japanese airlines and the cultural differences in hospitality was an extremely valuable experience.
It was also equally memorable to tour JAL's engineering facility in Haneda Airport. The airline engineer was kind enough to let us spend time in JAL's Sky Museum and the hanger, where a Boeing 737-800 was in the process of being repainted! Everyone enjoyed getting an inside look in the airline's operations, and for me, this was definitely one of the most exciting days of SKIP 2016!
Science Technology Day
(facilitator Aya)
On Technology Day, the first program we had was a presentation on taste by Mr. Suzuki, who is an alumni of Keio and also the founder of AISSY Cop. It is a company which uses its own original taste sensoring machine to provide food industries with information on what tastes make the most satisfaction when combined. We learned about how humans taste things and did experiments on taste by actually... drinking flavored water.
Later on we moved on to Nissan Motors' Oppama Plant, where we were able to visit the plant itself and observe how cars were manufactured. It was amazing to see how the detailed parts were created, painted, and finally structured by the work of the workers, machines and belt conveyer system. We were also specially allowed to have a fully guided tour of the Oppama Plant on a tour bus.
Stanford student Sean says:
Everyday of SKIP was filled with unique experiences unobtainable if travelling alone, but what made technology day memorable was that it was the first more STEM focussed day. This added diversity into our program's schedule. And it was trilling to learn about a very Japanese way of going about science. Japanese fascination with food and taste I assume is what led to such a particular research into flavors. And then in its own way Nissan describes another aspect of Japan us Stanford kids hadn't been exposed to. We say Japan's integration of small robots into the global practice of mass production. I personally enjoyed simply seeing how cars are gradually put together. I had never seen before this a shell of a car with no doors or engines!
国家安全保障の日
国家安全保障の日 @ 横須賀海上自衛隊基地 (ファシリテーター 齋藤ゆかり、奈緒、美樹)
横須賀に停泊中の海上自衛隊艦艇「おおなみ」の内部見学をさせていただくという光栄な機会に恵まれました。また、自衛隊からは、普段は一般の方の見学は禁止されている美味しい昼食もご提供いただきました 。
その後、海上自衛隊の三上官が自衛隊についてプレゼンテーションを行い、続いて日本の軍事安全保障環境について説明しました。
最後になりましたが、私たちは慶応大学の神保教授をお迎えして日米防衛協力についてお話をするという栄誉に浴し、私たち全員がグループに分かれて日米関係を改善するために何が必要かについて話し合いました。
国家安全保障デーは、私たちが異なる視点から「和」について学んだ、間違いなく特別な日でした。
Final Presentation
Final Presentation and Farewell Ceremony @ Keio University Mita campus (facilitator Minami)
Final Presentation
With the topic "What is Wa(和)?", two groups of Keio students and each Stanford student made their presentations at Keio University in front of an audience over fifty people.
Despite the fact everyone did a presentation with the same topic, each presentation was given from a different perspective. The topic varied from education, culture, fashion, lifestyles, etc - e...ach of the presenters came up with a different meaning of 「和」, and showed how the SKIP members went through various activities bringing them different thoughts.
Farewell Ceremony
Farewell Ceremony
All good things come to an end - the farewell party was the last content of the two week program, filling the members' eyes with tears. (Or at least some members😛)
It was a sentimental moment saying good bye to each other, but we were all sure we would see each other again.
With the help of the Alumni organization, host families, several companies, outside organizations, and last but definitely not least Stanford students, SKIP2016 finished being a great success. The program would not have been as great as it was without the help of all of those above. Thank you so much.