Category Archives: City Theme Activities

City Life, City Theme Activities, Hiroshima City

Visit to Trash Treatment Facility in Hiroshima!

[inspic=1206,right,fullscreen,400]Walking through the Trash Treatment Center in Hiroshima, I felt like I was in an amusement park.

There were moving claws, shaped like spiders, used to grab tons of trash to be incinerated. I found this so amazing! I was also fascinated that the facility’s operation room had many computer screens to monitor different movements within the center. The staff who introduced the systems to us was very kind to answer all of my small questions. From my learning that day, it was a great chance for me to reconsider environmental problems.

(Tetsutaro Soma, Japan)

City Life, City Theme Activities, Guest Speakers, Hiroshima City

A Touching Experience at the Hiroshima Peace Museum

[inspic=1207,right,fullscreen,400]One month ago, World Campus International went to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and listened to a speech from one of the survivors, Mr. Katsuji Yoshida. For all of us, that experience was very emotional and meaningful. When we were in the Hiroshima Peace Museum, Mr. Kasufumi Shintaku, who is a survivor of the A-bomb on August 6th, also shared his personal memories with us.

More than 60 years has passed since the end of the second World War. When I stood at the hypocenter in Hiroshima, in the very place where the bomb dropped, I felt that history was so close, yet so far away. Looking around the area, Hiroshima existed under the bright summer sunshine and I could not imagine that this was the place that an A-bomb nearly destroyed… The colorful tiny paper cranes surrounding the monument were a sign telling us that people have never forgotten the horrible tragedy.

When Mr. Shintaku shared his memories with us, we saw the cruel picture after the bomb dropped. We heard about a little child who cried for her parents, we felt the helplessness of the citizens and we all cried. I remember the sentence Mr. Yoshida wrote to us in the Nagasaki Museum, “The basis of peace is for people to understand the pain of others”. I believe that anyone who has the same chance to hear such a personal painful recollection will realize how important peace is and will put forth their best effort to never let that same tragedy happen again.

(Zuxin Hou, China)

Arao City, City Life, City Theme Activities

Outing to Kikuchi Valley and Mount Aso!

[inspic=1202,,fullscreen,400][inspic=1203,right,fullscreen,400]For me, although I have been studying in Kyusyu for a while, this was my first time to go to Kikuchi Valley to see the waterfall in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was amazing! There are many waterfalls in my country, but Kikuchi Valley was really special. I felt that especially in the summer, it was very cool and it was a peaceful environment. After Kikuchi, the World Campus International group went to Aso Mountain, which provided us with spectacular 360 degree views! On our way up Mount Aso on a gondola, I was able to see a long line of mountains, almost resembling the Great Wall of China. It was a fantastic day!!!

(Cherilyn Than Than, Myanmar)

Arao City, City Life, City Theme Activities

Visit to Manda Mine in Arao

[inspic=1200,,fullscreen,400][inspic=1201,right,fullscreen,250]During 124 years, Manda Mine contributed to a modernization of Japan, so this mine has a historic value. According to Mr. Horiuchi, who used to work in Manda Mine, this mine was accepting of all people. In other words, everyone who had a strong body could work for this mine no matter what your background was. Mr. Horiuchi was full of passion while talking about the Manda mine. I was impressed with his speech and thought about its potential registration as a World Heritage Site. When we discussed a registration to the World Heritage Site, someone pointed out a negative viewpoint about the Manda Mine, such as its lack of popularity in Arao city. It is important for us to think about both the positive and negative viewpoints of the mine. I got a wonderful opportunity to think about some history of Japan, which is my own country.

(Risa Taniwaki, Japan)

Arao City, City Life, City Theme Activities

Just to Make a Difference

[inspic=1199,right,fullscreen,400]Yesterday, the Arao Local Organizing Committee arranged for the World Campus International members to play with local community children. When we went to interact with the Japanese kids, I thought that we are making some kind of difference. We are changing lives and even if they are not aware, they are also changing our lives as well. What made it bearable to play all those games cheerfully in all that heat were their beautiful shy smiles and their hopeful and searching eyes. I believe, even one minute, even a second or just one word, one look or one smile can change a life. Hopefully, with what we did today, we were lucky enough to touch those children’s bright futures a little bit…

(Burcu Tepik, Turkey)