Report of Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science by Japan. From 5 March to 11 March, 2017

Transcription

1 Report of Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science by Japan From 5 March to 11 March, 2017 By Azyan Arvy Binti Abdul Latif, Universiti Malaysia Sabah My name is Azyan Arvy binti Abdul Latif and I am from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, from course Conservation Biology. Me and my other two coursemate, Aw Yang Chen Lin and Sia Soon Long were given the honour to attend the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science organized by Japan Science and Techonology Agency (JST). The program was located at Kagoshima, Japan. There, we learn about the environment conservation from nature and disaster in Kagoshima. On 5 th March, we arrived at Kagoshima International Airport and were fetched by Ms. Yora Nindita, one of the teaching assistant in this program and Prof. Suzuki Eizi, the organizer of this program. From Kagoshima International Airport, we went to International Residence Hall (Kaikan) of Kagoshima University by university car. After arriving at International Residence Hall at around 1pm, we were given a short briefing about where we going to stay for this 5 days and what we will be joining in this program. After we get into our room, we were given free time to search for lunch around Kaikan and at 6pm, a welcoming party was carried out at the first floor of 1 st building of International Residence Hall where all the participants include Prof. Suzuki and Prof. Hamada sat around and have dinner together. At welcoming party, each of us introducing ourselves and it was fun to have the first experience of Japanese dinner with everyone. We have a lot of conversation and got to know each other during the dinner and I was able to know the Malaysian and Indonesian students that have been studied in Kagoshima. Then, after the dinner, we went back to our room for the night. On 6 th March, on Monday, we were having four lectures in common room 3, in first General Education Building. The first lecture was about the cultural life in Japan and Kagoshima University by Prof. Keiko Unedaya. In this lecture, we were given an activity to differentiate the differences culture between our culture and the culture in Japan, especially in Kagoshima. We also learn a bit of Japanese culture such as how to greet people. The second lecture was about the Vegetation in Kagoshima by Prof. Suzuki Eizi. Rather than giving lecture in class, Prof. Suzuki takes us around the campus. We went to the herbarium room where there are lots of

2 plants specimens and we also when to the fish specimen room. Then at 12pm, we went to have lunch at university cafeteria. After lunch, a lecture of Environmental Issue of Mercury was given by Prof. Takashi Tomiyasu. In this lecture, we learn about the impact of mercury to the Minamata Bay and how they encounter the problem. Next, we learn about the Management of Conservation Area in Kagoshima, which a lecture given by Prof. Kazuaki Hoshino. The lecture taught us about the conservation and sustainability that Japan had done in other to conserve the nature they have here around Kagoshima. Then, Prof. Suzuki continued again with his lecture on vegetation in Kagoshima. In this lecture we learn the warm temperate plants and zone. We also were introduced to sakurajima, Tsuruda Dam and Sogi water fall. After the lecture, we went back to International Residence Hall have dinner and rest. The next day, on 7 th March, we began our day with the last lecture by Prof. Masayuki Maki. The lecture was about the nature and disaster of Sakurajima volcanic mountain and at 10.30, we headed to Sakurajima with university bus and the by ferry with Prof. Suzuki and two teaching assistant, Ms. Yora Nindita and Ms. Aprilia. We went to the visitor center of Sakurajima, the free foot hot spring, we observe vegetation on lava flow of 100 years ago and we had lunch at Michinoeki of Hakamagoshi. Then, we went to Yunohira observation point of Sakurajima volcano where we can see the best view of Sakurajima mountain and Kurokami the Burried Tori. We also visited the statue of a shout, which the rock was made of the lava rock and we went back to the Kaikan at 4pm. It was a fun and new experience for me, since in Malaysia, we do not have any volcanic mountain. Therefore, I was excited to see the real volcanic mountain. We learnt so much about Sakurajima, the history of lava flow, how Japan deal with the problem and the unique of vegetation in Kagoshima such as the big radish of Sakurajima. On 8 th March, we went to Minamata and Izumi city. In the morning, we take bus to go Kagoshima Central Station. There, we gather with Prof. Suzuki and went to Minamata by Shinasen. After arrived, we went to National Institute of Minamata Disease by chartered bus. In National Institute of Minamata Disease, we had lecture about Minamata Disease by Dr. Megumi Yamamoto, had experimental demonstration on how to measure the mercury level in man s hair, and see the view of Minamata. Next, we had lunch at a Spanish Restaurant and we saw the amazing view around the restaurant including the Sakura tree in there. We then visited the Resource Center for Minamata Disease and Crane Park in Izumi City. In Crane Park, we can see a lots of migration cranes that came at Izumi Crane Park. We can see different species of cranes there and the total of cranes that flew to Crane Park that day was cranes. We

3 also visited the old houses of Samurai in Izumi City. We learned about the cultural of samurai in ancient Japanese time. Then at 4pm, went to Hotel AZ Group in Izumi and stayed for a night. On 9 th March, we had breakfast at 7am and check out at 8.30am and went to the Tsuruda Dam. At Tsuruda Dam, we visited the control room and also visited the inside of the dam. We learned the way they modified the dam in order to reduce the damage of flooding that usually happen during summer and how they handling it. After that, we went to the Sogi Waterfall and observed the aesthetic value of Sogi Waterfall. We then visited small shrine there and have lunch at the restaurant near the Sogi Waterfall. We continued our trip to Ebino Plateau in Kirishima National Park and at there we experienced the first snow. It was fun and excited because for us, the participants, we do not have snow in our country. But unfortunately, the deer cannot be seen at the Kirishima National Park probably due to the snowing day at the area. We also visited the visitor center at there and learned the diversity of animal in Kirishima National Park and the history of it. We then went back to Kaikan in Kagoshima. On 10 th March, we visited Sengenen Garden in the morning at 9am. We learn about some of Japan history in the place and we also saw Sakura flower. Then, we went to the science museum of Kagoshima City. We learn and played with science in there, such as the mirror room and the green screen. In the afternoon, at 12pm, we were given free time to take lunch, shopping and walk around the Kagoshima Central Station. At 5pm, we went back to Korimoto Campus by tramp and we wrote a short report for this program. After wrote the report, we then had a farewell party in a restaurant in Korimoto Campus. At farewell party, each of us gave a short speech about how we thought and felt for the past 5 days in the program and we received a certificate and a broach for joining this Sakura Program. That night, we had a conversation with everyone in the room and I really felt so thankful that I have been given this opportunity to met with all the people that joining this program. After the farewell party finished, we went back to Kaikan. 11 th March, me, Aw yang Chen lin, and Sia Soon Long went to Kagoshima International Airport with Dr. Hamada at 4pm. We left Kagoshima to transit at Hong Kong and the next day, we went back to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

4 This program gave me a lot of knowledge and memories and also improved my skill. I was able to change opinion and shared knowledge with other students from Indonesia. The information and knowledge that I got during the 5 days program, definitely motivated me to know more about Japan and make me impressed with Japan. I really appreciate for what all the lectures especially Prof. Suzuki and teaching assistants had prepared for us during the program. I also appreciate all the activities and experienced that I have been through throughout the program. I hope that I will have more opportunity to go to Kagoshima and Japan so that I will gain more knowledge of sciences in Japan and the cultures of Japanese people in future.

5 Picture 1: At the welcoming party, Dr. Hamada introduced himself.

6 Picture 2: The first lecture of Life in Japan by Prof. Unedaya.

7 Picture 3: We visited the fish collection room in Kagoshima Campus.

8 Picture 4: Our last lecture in Common Room 3 with Prof. Masayuki Maki.

9 Picture 5: On the way to the Sakurajima by ferry.

10 Picture 6: The free foot hot spring in Sakurajima.

11 Picture 7: At the visitor center of Sakurajima.

12 Picture 8: The Kurokami (buried Torii). The shrine is buried at the depth of two meter due to volcanic activity of Sakurajima Mountain.

13 Picture 9: The vegetations in Sakurajima.

14 Picture 10: A lecture by Dr. Megumi Yamamoto in National Institute for Minamata Disease.

15 Picture 11: The demonstration of experiment in measuring the mercury level in hair.

16 Picture 12: Beautiful scenery outside of the Spanish Restaurant at Minamata.

17 Picture 13: Photo Gallery inside the Resource Center for Minamata Disease.

18 Picture 14: Diversity of migrating cranes in Crane Park, Izumi City.

19 Picture 15: Making origami of crane in Crane Park, Izumi City.

20 Picture 16: The gate house of Samurai house in Izumi City.

21 Picture 17: A photo with Japanese people wearing Kimono inside one of the old houses of Samurai in Izumi City.

22 Picture 18: The control room of Tsuruda Dam.

23 Picture 19: The Tsuruda Dam.

24 Picture 20: Inside one of the Tsuruda Dam s tunnel.

25 Picture 21: Man made river that help to reduce the flooding from lake at Tsuruda Dam. Though it is man made, the new canal has a natural looks.

26 Picture 22: The beautiful scenery of Sogi Waterfall or known as Niagara waterfall of Asia.

27 Picture 23: Experiencing the first snow at Ebino Plateau in Kirishima National Park.

28 Picture 24: Scenery with background of Mt. Karakuni in Ebino Plateau.

29 Picture 25: At Sengenen Garden.

30 Picture 26: Trying the training of Samurai at Sengenen Garden.

31 Picture 27: Science Museum in Kagoshima.

32 Picture 28: Playing with the science equipment in Science Museum.

33 Picture 29: Malaysian students with Prof. Suzuki.

34 Picture 30: Together with students from Indonesia and Malaysia with lecturer and staff of Kagoshima University.