Junten Junior High School / Senior High School

From October 27th to November 8th, Junten Senior High School hosted Global Week. Global Week is a unique and innovative event developed by the Junten SGH program. During Global Week, regular classes finished at 2:00 pm. After class, students attended workshops and lectures provided by university students, graduate school students, university professors, researchers, and corporate executives. Global Week was designed to provide students with interactive learning opportunities that are inventive and limitless.  

◆ Meiji University Graduate School of Governance Dr. Makoto Nagahata　【What Is “Community Communication”? 】16 students Attended:

At the beginning of the lecture, students shared their names, grades, where they live and what they like to do, and the places they like to visit. Every place has a community in which people work together and help each other. Students had a brainstorming session and thought about “what people in a community do together”.

Student’s Feedback ：I learned that local communities are versatile and it is important to connect with people in the community. I realized that my community is formed by what people in the community do. I would like to participate more in my community.

◆ Kyorin University, Faculty of Foreign Studies Dr. Hiroko Miyakubi 【Senior High School Life in China 】24 students attended:

This lecture was provided by five student lecturers who are from China and currently studying at Kyorin University. Each lecturer talk about five topics at the beginning of the workshop: 1) Entrance Examination to Enter a University in China, 2) High School Academic Curriculum in China, 3) High School Life in China, 4) School Uniforms in China, and 5) Chinese Style Romance.

Chinese students shared that the entrance exams are very hard, studying is hard, school life is very strict, uniforms are uncool, and love romance between students are forbidden. In small groups, Junten students and Chinese university students discussed further about students and school life in China. Dr. Miyakubi said that the images of China that Japanese media shows are very different from real China. So it is a good idea to visit the country and talk with Chinese people.

Student’s Feedback ：I learned that I have biases after talking with students from China, and I also learned that the people in China study too hard and don’t have time to enjoy life. People in China value academic achievement which is not what I imagined. Students and parents both trust teachers and teachers seem to provide an ideal environment and support for students to study comfortably.

◆ Hosei University Graduate School of Politics Dr. Masaharu Hishida

【The Structure of “Hate” between Japan and China】42 Students Attended:

China and Japan relations, for Japan, is as important as Japan and U.S. relations, however 80-90% of people in each country do not have positive feelings about each other. In contrast, people in each country feel that their relationship is significantly more important. All of these complexed feelings and relationships may stem from the political, territorial, and economic policies. For example, Taiwan and Tibet’s relationship has always had complex issues that are not easy to resolve. What can we do to resolve this? – That is the main topic of this lecture.

Student’s Feedback １：I learned that the cause of the love and hate relationship between Japan and China has much more than I could have ever imagined. I thought there was a barrier or wall between the two countries. It is important to get rid of that wall. I feel like the negative feelings between the two countries are growing larger, and I  always wanted to know what happened. Young generations, unlike older generations, don’t have an aversion toward each other, which is a good thing.

Student’s Feedback ２：I learned that between China and Japan, there is feeling of mutual aversion and dependence. I also learned the media is not promoting positive images but they are making the relationship between China and Japan worse.  I thought that a solution is to learn more about each other.

◆Gakushuin University Faculty of Int. Social Sciences　Ted O’Neill先生

【Studying Globalization and Business in English】14 students attended:

This topic was done in a way that integrated the English language, world economics, geography, along with mathematics. Students could learn about the whole process of how global business works. The international businesses covered in this topic were on T-shirts, coffee, and iPhones. They could also learn about the monetary roles that retailers, manufacturers, distributors, cotton farmers, and workers played in these businesses and the breakdown of their economic numbers. This topic appealed both to students interested in English and in world business as well. The students were amazed to learn about how money moves around the world today.

Student’s Feedback : The lecture was taught only in English, but Dr. O’Neill’s English was very easy to understand. We learned not only English, but we also learned how the world economy works. Looking at different industries, such as garment and mobile phones, we learned who is taking the most profits and who is being subjugated. This kind of social studies is very important for me and opened up my eyes.

◆ Reitaku University Dr. Taichi Uchio

【What are Tsunami Orphans? 】19 students attended:

What is international collaboration? What are Tsunami Orphans? – We reviewed what we experienced in the Great Tohoku Earthquake. Tsunami Orphans are the result of tsunamis that happened in a particular area. The Great Tohoku Earthquake created Tsunami Orphans in Japan and other countries. In 1960, there was an earthquake in the southern part of Chile that also created Tsunami Orphans in South Sanriku Coast in Japan. From these experiences, we learned that natural disasters, like an earthquake, can damage not only the country that had the disaster, but they their influences can travel to other countries. It is also very interesting to know that a natural disaster can connect countries, such as Japan and Chile. Finally, the ocean is not dividing the countries, but connecting different areas of the world.

Student’s Feedback: 1) I learned that it is very important to think about other areas that may be influenced by a natural disaster. It was also a new realization for me that a natural disaster can connect countries and they can gain something from the experience. 2) It is also interesting to learn about the connection with foreign countries can come in different forms. Helping each other is not just between people of the same country, but also people from different countries. 3) Having a widened view enables me to obtain different information, that means my thinking also expands, this is a good realization.

◆ Toyo University Faculty of Regional Development Studies Dr. Chino Yabunaga　

【Social Security World Comparison】17 Student Attended:

In 2010, Finland was chosen as the best country in terms of “quality of life”, “economical competition”, “education”, “health”, and “political environment”.  Most of the Nordic countries are ranked higher in the list. In the lecture, students thought about a hypothesis, such as “social development” may be working really well in these countries. First, students looked into the social security system and the income division of the countries. Students found out that the size of benefits of social security in the nordic countries are different from the one in Japan. Japan spends much less on social welfare, which has an influence on the low child birth rate in Japan.  Another thing is that Nordic countries spend more money on pensions and for the younger generation, which may be helping the “wealth” of their countries.

Student’s Feedback: I didn’t know about the situations in foreign countries, but it is interesting to know that the birth rate and current situations of different countries. I learned that the low birth rate in Japan is caused by  spending less on medical support and helping the younger generation.

◆ Saitama University Faculty of Engineering Mr. Masami Tanaka

【My Experience as Intern in the Philippines】11 Students Attended :

The lecturer is a student of Saitama University and a participant of the「Global Youth」program at the university. This year in March, Mr. Tanaka visited Cebu Island and worked to plant mangroves. Mr. Tanaka explained how mangroves are used in Cebu and what kind of conservation efforts that have been made there. The conservation efforts are supported by Japanese corporations, but students discussed the pros and cons about the mangrove planting projects.  In the lecture, students also learned about the Asian Development Bank.

Student’s Feedback: I thought that developing countries are very poor and they don’t collaborate with Japan, but I learned that Japanese companies have built bridges for them, working to conserve the local ecosystem, such as planting mangroves. These are very important. I also wanted to learn more about foreign countries.  My image of developing countries that are really poor has changed, as I learned that there are high rise buildings and environmental issues due to car exhaustion. I will continue to learn more about these issues.

◆ Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University International Business Management Dr. Yuko Uehara

【NPO/NGO Social Corporations Mission Management and Donations】20 Students Attended:

Social issues: homeless, refugees, and so on. There are NPOs and NGOs that work to resolve these problems. There are also corporations that contribute to solving such social issues. In the lecture, Dr. Uehara addressed the missions that companies should achieve and the importance of corporate governance.  Dr. Uehara demonstrated how LIFE STRAW is used in different areas, and she showed a part of the film “Black Diamond” to teach what will happen when trading gold is wrongfully done.

Student’s Feedback: It is very important to know the process, how things are provided to you. Even if you have a good conscience and passion, what we need is creativity to realistically help the issues. In addition, the missions need to be well thought-out and comply with the reality.

◆ Junten Senior High School 2nd Year Ms. Aoi Miyazaki and SGH Advisor Ms. Maho Cavalier

【Animals and Human Relations ~ How You Can Help Animals】31 Students Attended:

Ms. Cavalier shared how layer hens are treated. In Japan, most of the hens at egg farms are confined in battery cages so we need to promote cage-free eggs. After that, students shared the animal issues that they have selected for their assignment. Students who had similar topics were grouped together and they shared their thoughts. Ms. Miyazaki and Ms. Cavalier walked around the classroom and talked with students in different groups. Each group shared their discussions and thoughts to the rest of the class.

After that, Ms. Miyazaki gave a presentation on horses in the world- different breeds, the number of horses put down and other data. Ms. Miyazaki went to Canada on the Tobitate Japan program to experience horse husbandry and she shared the value of her experience. Ms. Cavalier introduced the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals in Japan and addressed some of the issues that need improvements for the next year’s amendment.

◆ Asahi Newspaper Culture and Life Section Journalist Mr. Kenichi Saito

【Life Using Only 5 Ampere】29 Students Attended:

After the Great Tohoku Earthquake, Mr. Saito decided to get away from the life that relies too much on electricity and live on only 5 ampere by getting rid of electric appliances at home. Since then, five years have passed. Mr. Saito got rid of his air conditioner and microwave, so his electricity bill went down to ¥190 a month! Mr. Saito tried to live cool in the summer, eat tasty food, and enjoy his life.  Is it possible to achieve this lifestyle? Does a minimalistic lifestyle have any meaning? Mr. Saito wanted to review what life is without using electricity. Using energy effectively and enjoying life can be achieved when you live in a certain place and area. “Common Sense” and “Common Knowledge” in modern times are not so common. Do something that you can accomplish and don’t look for something you can’t accomplish!

Student’s Feedback: Things that were used in old times are strong and good so they are still used in modern times. They are also ecological. I understand why he uses a broom, instead of a vacuum cleaner. Through the lecture, I learned how much electricity we have used.