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.  

◆Sophia University’s Foreign Language Department Dean Dr. Shinichi Izumi

【The Role of English in the World】　Attended Students: 31

The 90 minute lecture was a fruitful experience for both the faculty members and students of 1st Year Junior High School and 3rd Year Senior High School, Dr. Izumi informed the class that this is not a lecture but “discussion with your partners”. As soon as students were informed of this, their attitudes changed quickly and wanted to have discussions. Dr.Izumi explained how English had become the language used for communication in the world. In the world, English is being used more by non-native English speakers and in the near future we will be speaking with the people whose first language is not English. Dr.Izumi addressed that it is better for us to focus on the content rather than worry about speaking English with a Japanese accent. At the end of the class, students lined up to ask questions for Dr.Izumi. The class went over the hour and became a 120 minute class!

◆ Meiji University School of Political Science and Economy Dr. Masamichi Ida

【Learn from the News about Elections in the World 】　Attended Students: 23   

In the lecture entitled “Learn from the News about Elections in the World”, Dr.Ida used the House of Representatives election and the US Presidential Election that took place in 2016 to explain how the election process works in different countries. Is a high voting rate a positive or negative thing? The different countries have different views on voting rates. Should voting  be an optional choice or a mandatory law for the nation? Dr.Ida studied two years in the U.S. so he shared things he experienced first-hand. What is democracy? What are the pros and cons of the presidency system and the parliament system?

Student’s Comment：I enjoyed learning about the political and voting system in different countries. It was interesting to learn that the election system of a country reflects how the country is. It is also interesting to learn that voting while having your own opinion is important. I will turn to the age that I can vote in six months so I need to learn more about politics.  The only Prime Minister who fulfilled his term was Takeo Miki. Other Prime Ministers changed due to party’s interests. I learned that Australia has a mandatory voting system.  

◆NPO Sports Safety Japan Mr. Katsuhiro Ichihara　

【The Attitude and Mindset to Seize the Opportunities】Attended Students: 32    

Four students formed one group, then students chose “Three Words to Describe Myself”. Students introduced themselves to the group members, then Mr.Ichihara shared how he became an athletic trainer for the Seattle Mariners. It was very impressive how Mr.Ichihara survived the extremely competitive world.  In order to capture an opportunity, students brainstormed in groups. Then each student moved to different groups to discuss their ideas. Different ideas came out from the discussions, and the students concluded that taking action is the most important thing. Mr.Ichihara told the class that the specific action does not have to be determined now, but it is very important to have an image about the future. Act Now and Change the World.

◆Japan Habitat Association Project Manager  Ms. Shoka Ohta

【 Textbook Project in Laos ～Multiethnic Country, Laos】Attended Students: 20   

　Japan Habitat Association works to develop an environment in which people can live without worrying or feeling threatened. Urbanization, natural disasters, and regional conflicts damage people’s living environment, so the Association works to improve the situations for the local residents.  Laos is the poorest country in the world. There is a city called Luang Prabang in Laos. The Association built water tanks, provides school lunches and textbooks at local schools. The city does not receive enough funding for education from the Lao Government, so there are only three junior high schools while there are 53 elementary schools. The adult’s literacy rate is 80%. Some schools are built by bamboos with no walls, so during the rainy season the schools might close, for example, for up to three months! Textbooks are reused and some schools only have one book for five students. Students do not have an assigned textbook, so they cannot take the book home or do homework.

Japan Habitat Association does various fundraising activities including crowdfunding and they have provided 1,500 textbooks, one book is 300 yen, to 21 schools in Laos.

Student’s Comment：There are only three junior high schools, in comparison there are 53 elementary schools. I understand that some children want to go to a junior high school, but they can’t. This is an unheard-of situation in Japan. This explains why the literacy rate doesn’t increase. I was also surprised to learn that one book is shared by many students. This prevents students from studying at home. I wonder where the government spends its money? I was very impressed about what the Association has done for Laos.

◆ Reitaku University Plas+

【～Why We Obsessed with Cambodia and the Philippines～ 】Attended Students: 12

　Reitaku University’s student group called “Ｐｌａｓ＋” has worked to contribute and deal with social issues. Right now, they are currently building walls at an elementary school in Cambodia.  Ｐｌａｓ＋ explained to the class the local culture and circumstance then the class was divided into three small groups.  They set a main goal: Keeping the village clean, then set sub goals: 1) identify the long term goal, 2) build a plan to achieve that goal, 3) develop a logic model to take logical actions.

Student’s Comment：I learned that project planning is like this: 1) identify the long term goal, 2) build a plan to achieve that goal, 3) develop a logic model and 4) take logical actions but this process will take a long time. I learned that international collaboration is not only to improve the situation but to gain an understanding about the actions from the local people. I believe there is something that I can contribute to help solve global issues.

◆ Kyorin University Dean Dr. PAUL SNOWDEN先生

【Lost in Transcription 】　Attended Students: 5

　Prof. Paul Snowden, Vice President of Kyorin University, gave a lecture on the theme “Lost in Transcription” inspired by the film “Lost in Translation”. He began the discussion on the problems that usually arise during translation, which is the loss of the cultural background embedded in a certain word, such as the Japanese term “sashimi” translated into “raw fish”.

　Subsequently, he proceeded to the main topic, transcription, which means the changing of one spelling into another spelling. He mentioned that the problems concerning transcribing usually creates confusion to both local people and foreigners, in particular the use of roman letters for writing Japanese and Japanese characters for writing English. He stressed that the writing system of a language may not be suitable for other languages and it is necessary to be curious about how new expressions are pronounced in English or other languages.

　The lecture was conducted in both English and Japanese to make it more comprehensible for the students. The discussion also seemed to awaken the interest of the students to learn different languages as Prof. Snowden emphasized how attractive and powerful a language is. It may be confusing but that is where its beauty transpires.

◆ Kitazato University School of  Allied Health Sciences 　Dr. Kazunari Sei　

【Environmental Issues and Sustainability】　Attended Students: 19

“Environmental Issues and Sustainability”- Dr.Sei used quizzes to teach the topic. Students learned the historical background of environment issues and how economical growth and environmental issues are connected. Pmその後はPM2, climate change, unsanitary water, desertification and salification are the issues that the students learned in the class. The negative impacts on our health due to climate change are getting bigger and bigger. The world seems to have shifted from preventing global warming to living with global warming.  

Student’s Comment：Environmental issues are covered in various media formats but after today’s lecture, I felt that the issues are very serious and hopeless. I am not sure how to start and what to solve but I am hoping to find positive solutions to the issues. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn about something new about the environment and now I would like to explore more about what is going on in the world, in terms of environmental issues.

◆BUGcorporation Mr. Norikazu Yamaguchi  

【Present and Future of the Music Industry 】Attended Students: 36

Mr.Yamguchi addressed how IT technology is changing the business models and music industry in Japan and the world. Be flexible and challenge your biases, yet recognize old values and understand them. Accept IT technology and innovations, and don’t be afraid of changes. Mr.Yamaguchi encouraged the students to analyze the current status then imagine the future. Try to leave Japan and see the world to touch diversified ideas and values.

Student’s Comment：I was a bit skeptical about the internet, such as it may be used for crime but I decided not to be too scared about it. When I start working, I realized that my generation needs to think of positive growth with the internet.

◆ Japan Congress of Journalists   Chairperson Mr. Iichiro Yamamoto / Junten Senior High School Ms.Kinue Kambayashi  

【 Following the Black Sun – Miracle of The Sun and Moon】Attended Students: 36

“Following the Black Sun ~ Miracle of the Sun and Moon” started with Ms. Kambayashi, a faculty member of Junten, sharing her interesting experience in the U.S. In August this year, Ms. Kambayashi went to see the total eclipse of the sun in 2017 and showed some of her pictures. Mr. Yamamoto explained the origin of the moon and how the sun, moon, and earth keeps incredible distance and balance. Students were shown films of the total eclipse of the sun and then they did a simulation to experience it.

Student’s Comment：I didn’t know that  when a total eclipse of the sun is happening, you can also see stars although it is not at night. I’d like to experience that it suddenly gets dark. The moon goes around the earth once every 27.3 days and a full moon event occurs every 29.5 days. These are the things I didn’t know. It is really interesting to know that it happens only once in 350 years to see an annular solar eclipse and the total eclipse of the sun at the same place. It was also exciting to see the scene of the total eclipse of the sun in Iwo Jima.

◆ Asahi Newspaper New Bureau Ms. Miyuki Hokugo  

【Creating Our Future with SDGｓ 】　Attended Students: 5

　”Sustainable Development Goals”(SDGs) is the goal set to achieve by 2030 by United Naito. There are 17 areas and there are 169 targeted sub-areas. We tend to think that Japan is not included but Japan repeatedly is evaluated to have low standards in terms of “gender issues” and “climate change measures”. It is very important to review our lifestyle in order to solve world issues.  The issues in the developing countries and developed countries are not distanced from each other but they are closely connected, so it is important to see the problems as a whole. What we use, eat and buy in Japan are made by workers in overseas. When you purchase or eat something, just imagine how the items are connected with different countries, which is a significant first step to think about sustainability. It is also important to think about the future for children and how the current world should be modified.

Student’s Comment１: World issues are connected with me. My realization of today is that knowing is the first step. I will try to think of my life, which is very easy to do, rather than looking into the big world issues.

Student’s Comment ２：I learned that Japan is one of the countries that has poverty issues. Poverty is not just one issue. I didn’t know that there are a myriad reasons to cause poverty. I felt that we need to work together as one nation to achieve the goals in the 17 areas.