Day Four

Tokyo-Day Four

Today was our field trip, so we did not go to the University. Instead, we were accompanied by Ikki-san and Sato-san to the TEPIA Museum, Meiji Shrine and Harajuku. Ikki-san is one of the co-ordinators of the Chowgule-Waseda Exchange programme and Sato-san visited Goa last year as part of the same programme.

The TEPIA Museum is full of the latest and most advanced innovations in different fields, created right here in Japan. Just at the entrance we have a ‘segment sensor’ which automatically estimates a visitor’s age and gender through cameras. Then we greet a small, cute, yellow robot who says hello and answers our questions and knows how to have a conversation. That is followed by stalls of different gadgets and gizmos, each with a new and more efficient display of technology. Other articles at the Museum include automated DNA testing chips, Smile Scan, Pulse Monitor using facial imaging etc. There were also augmented reality instruments similar to the Oculus Rift; there were devices that could change the colour of your clothing on a specialised mirror, an earthquake simulator, Manga generator, gyroscopic consoles which gave real-time 3D reproductions of little robots and lots more. Perhaps the most interesting and famously futuristic innovation was the Muscle Suit which gives man superhuman mechanical strength. Examples of some of these varied technologies can be found in Hollywood movies such as Iron Man and Minority Report.

Then we headed to the Meiji Shrine that was built in the 1920’s. To reach the Shrine, one has to walk for at least 10 minutes from the Shrine’s traditional Japanese gate, suddenly surrounded by tall trees unlike any other in Tokyo. This contrast is quite fascinating considering that we were still in Tokyo-with its tall skyscrapers and urban landscape- yet it felt like we were “in a forest” as my fellow Chowgule classmate Uddhav put it. After the peaceful “walk in the forest”, we reached the entrance before which we cleansed our hands with water at the designated purification hutment. The shrine itself was huge and had beautiful wooden crafting with a wide courtyard. We could see little Japanese kids in Kimonos-the traditional Japanese attire- and were joyously excited. After paying our respects to the shrine, we took a short break to rest and take in the tranquil atmosphere before heading back to the main entrance.

After such a serene experience, we had a quick lunch and headed to Harajuku where the girls went shopping and the boys returned to the Hostel. To our surprise, Kumaresh sir who had accompanied us for this trip, found a nice Indian restaurant where we could have a proper Indian dinner. We were delighted at the sight of other ‘natives’ from India and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Uddhav and I even struck up a conversation with the head chef, who was naturally Indian and had a hot cup of masala chai while we reminisced about India. Somehow in this foreign land, we felt right at home.

-Shubhankar Shah

Talking Robot!

Smile please

Choose your colour

Translator and much more

TEPIA museum

Meiji Entrance Gate

Sake

Purification ritual

Uddhav-san and Dange-san infront of the Shrine

May your wish come true

Contemplative mood

The group infront of Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine

Girl in Kimono

Boy in Kimono

Day Three

Tokyo- Day Three

Today was a busy day with a packed schedule along with which we had two classes to attend. One was a special interactive class by Prof. Yoshiko on ‘Women in Sports’ and the other was a class on Sociolinguistics by Prof. Iino. Since Prof. Yoshiko’s lecture was a special session, she tried to make it more interesting by having a lively discussion on the chosen topic. Her students gave insightful presentations after which we were divided into groups and asked to discuss strategies to encourage more women to participate in sports and athletics. The Japanese students along with the Chowgules students gave interesting arguments and impressed Prof. Yoshiko. After the brainstorming session, some of the Japanese students accompanied us to their University canteen and had lunch with us.

Then we hurried back to Prof. Iino’s class which was the second class of the day for us. Prof. Iino started the lecture by showing the Japanese students a hundred Rupee note and highlighted the different languages that were printed on it, to show India’s multi-lingual and diverse culture. After introducing ourselves to the other students, we answered their queries regarding India and its diversity. Then there was a short presentation by a group of students relating to linguistic purity after which a thorough discussion was held.

The main distinction between Indian classrooms and Japanese classrooms is not only the time schedule and duration, which stretches for more than 1 and half hour in the form of afternoon and evening sessions, but also the way the Professors teach. Here, discussions and individual points of views are encouraged and called upon whereas in India there is more of rote learning and agreeing with the majority rather than thinking outside the box.

After such an informative lecture, we took a break of approximately 45 minutes and then went to visit the Waseda University Writing Centre. There we met Prof. Sadoshima, who is in charge of the writing centre and were guided by one of the tutors, Mr Hussain who explained how their writing centre functions. After we toured the writing centre, we were served Japanese tea by Prof. Sadoshima along with ‘Poki’ which is a sort of a sweet, thin, chocolate covered bread stick. After relishing all the snacks, we decided to go out to dinner with one of the Chowgule student’s-Tanvi’s- relatives. We got to see the whole of Tokyo through the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building’s sky deck and went window shopping in the popular electronic goods stores, located in Shinjuku. Dinner was at a Mexican restaurant, which we felt was delicious. On our way back home to the hostel, we were mesmerised by the decorations on trees and surrounding buildings and took lots of pictures without hesitation.

The importance and the ease of use of the subway in Japan seems to be astonishing. Although at first it can be confusing to navigate through the different subway lines, once one gets familiar with it, it becomes quite easy. Accessible, relatively cheap and fast modes of transport such as this are essential for any modern country with a growing population and its demands.

-Shubhankar Shah

Decorations_1

Decorations_2

Decorations_3

Decorations_5

Decorations_4

Mexican Restaurant

Poki

Reflection

Skyscrapper in Shinjuku

Subway ticketing system

Tokyo Metropolitan Building

Street view in Tokyo

View from Metropolitan Building

Waseda University Writing Centre

Day Two

Tokyo- Day Two

Today we went to Waseda University. Since we had reached early, we could roam around and enjoy the view that Waseda had to offer. The autumn leaves, yellow and brownish, looked beautiful on the trees as well as on the streets.

Then we had a short introduction session at the University after which we were shown the campus by students who had formerly visited Goa as part of the exchange programme last year. The campus is sprawling in relation to the space congestion of Tokyo, with many tall buildings housing different departments. The campus has a “Coop” just like the one in Chowgules but theirs is much bigger in comparison. Many canteens can be found in and around the campus, one even run solely by the students. The University also has a garden which acts as an evacuation safety ground in case of a natural calamity.

After all that walking, we sat down for lunch along with the select staff of Waseda, whose classes we’d be attending and the dean of International Studies who coordinates all the exchange programmes. We had interesting conversations with the professors and got to know them better. Then we attended Paul Watts’ special class on Introduction to Japan. It was a really insightful lecture which thoroughly enlightened us on the history as well as the religions of Japan.

After having such a busy day, we decided to have a stroll around Waseda just to relax a little and take pictures.

Today I was more observant as I was familiar with my surroundings and had adjusted to the temperature. I found that Japanese people are very quiet and never say “excuse me” or “pardon me” (even in Japanese) and instead wait till you clear the way for them or just go from the side, while walking on the footpaths. I’ve also not heard any car honk on the street till now and they all follow traffic rules quite adherently. Even the gap between two cars waiting for the signal to turn, is quite a lot. While there are a lot of people in Tokyo, the amount of cars is noticeably less as most of them use bicycles or prefer to walk.  Another eco friendly measure seen in Tokyo is segregation of waste at the source, which is done by keeping different bins for different types of articles and also collection of hotel/restaurant waste at night, leading to clean streets.

These little things might seem insignificant at first but on closer inspection point out to the subtle differences between the Japanese and Indian culture.

-Shubhankar Shah

Day One

Tokyo- Day One

We arrived today morning at 8.30, local time at Narita Airport. The first Japanese to greet us was the rain although by the time we got out of the airport the rain had stopped. Then we went subway-hopping, not for fun but as it was necessary to reach Tokyo from Narita Airport which is quite a distance.

The subway ride(s) was an interesting experience not only due to the punctuality of the trains but also because it gave us a glimpse of how normal Japanese folk go about their daily life. The most common grouse (or more appropriately, a peculiar aspect) that   people always mention about Japanese people is that they tend to be serious-looking gentlemen and women, and also that they are always looking into their phones, seems to be true.

But they more than make up for it in their hospitality and helpful nature, as we observed whenever we needed some directions or couldn’t understand what the signs said and the locals there explained as much as they could, even though they had very little knowledge of English.

One constant aspect of Japan that I have observed so far, at least in Tokyo, was that everything seems to be in symmetry. Be it the trees, houses, tall skyscrapers etc. It seems to be the central character in Japanese life. Symmetry can be easily associated with peace and tranquillity and is widely evident in the Japanese way of life.

I couldn’t see the sunset in Japan today and so far that’s the only disappointment that I have. Being from Goa, a spectacular sunset is a common sight for me and I sorely miss it.

These are my thoughts on Japan on the first day; and I believe it has lived up to my expectations.

Sayonara!

-Shubhankar Shah

Is this for Real?!

When we first heard that were going to Tokyo, Japan, well, it almost sounded unreal, I mean we were literally ourselves thinking is this for real!

Well indeed it was and we were all very excited I mean we could all point out Japan on the map, and tell the height of Tokyo Tower but what we didn’t know what how it felt stand at the edge of the very same tower and shout our names……okay that might sound a little farfetched but well that’s how we felt!

We left for Tokyo on the 8^th of November and bid a rather sad farewell (I hope for that) to the city on 22^nd November. Oh yea and News Flash, we are going to give the Japanese a taste of the Indian flair, at the Indian Cultural Night conceived, hosted and performed entirely by us…..I know cool right and we are working very hard to make it a success!

Anyway that’s all for now folks…..we’ll keep posting!......Stay Tuned! And I apologize for the late post!

BY:GRETA MARIA D'SILVA

Student's Exchange Program 2014-15

Japan Exchange Program:

New batch of  six students along with myself and Mr. Dange sir, from Chowgule College, under students exchange program will be visiting Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, in the month of November 2014. I wish all the students a great success.