When In Japan

when in japan 日本にいった時

Engr. Ray Adrian C. Macalalag, PICE

URBAN BEAUTY. As seen from Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo, the horizon is full of amazing skyscrapers. At the center is the famous Rainbow Bridge, a suspension bridge that links Odaiba to the rest of the metropolis.

Acknowledgement I would like to personally thank the Government of Japan for the warm welcome and the care during my stay there. Also, I would like to thank every person who has helped me in my journey before, during, and after the JENESYS2015 Programme, especially the good people of the National Youth Commission and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

when in japan 日本にいった時

A Terminal Report on the Japan-East Asia Network Exchange of Students and Youths (JENESYS) Programme Submitted to the National Youth Commission and the Department of Public Works and Highways by

马明星 Engr. Ray Adrian C. Macalalag, PICE Engineer II, Planning and Programming Section Planning and Design Division DPWH Regional Office VI Iloilo City, Iloilo February 2016

contents

table of

- Day one -

The Journey Begins [6] Land of the Rising Sun [7]

- Day two -

Getting to know Japan [8] Shinkansen: As Fast as a Bullet [10] Afternoon at Toro Ruins [12]

- Day three -

Exchange at the University of Shizuoka [14] Meeting the Tokugawas [16] The Artist and My Lost Perspective [17]

- Day four -

Homestay: The Suzuki House [18] Shizuoka: The Silent Hill [20] Kunō-zan Tōshō-gū: Tokugawa’s Tomb [22] The Sushi Challenge [24]

- Day fiFIVE -

The Beautiful Mount Fuji [26] Life on the Road [28]

- Day six -

Of Highways and Byways [30] Beyond Architecture [32] O’Daiba: The Last Sojourn [36]

- Day seven -

Narita Airport: No Farewells, Please [41]

- postscript On-Trip Triva [40] Reflection [42]

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the

Journey begins...

YOUTH AMBASSADORS. College and graduate students from all over the Philippines compose the JENESYS 2015 Philippines Batch 1. The delegates were split into two groups; one group will be going to Shizuoka Prefecture and another to Aomori Prefecture.

(NYC Photos)

Before the actual Day 1 of the JENESYS Programme, we were summoned at the National Youth Commission Main Office at Quezon City, Philippines for a pre-departure orientation. During which, we were given the necessary knowledge on the basic practices that we should observe in Japan.

The program concluded with the distribution of our passports with approved visa, other documents, and plane tickets to Japan via Narita International Airport at Narita City, Chiba Prefecture.

Our batch have made history where for the first time, the outbound (Japanese students) and inbound (us) delegates of the JENESYS program were able to interact, even for just a short while.

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This was the amazing view of Japan at my window. Can you spot Mount Fuji? She’s right below the plane’s wing.

日本国

Land

S

Rislng un of the

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Japan getting to know

Japan is an archipelago northeast of Asia by the North Pacific Ocean. It is composed of four main islands namely, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

The country has 6,852 islands, slightly smaller in number compared to the Philippines. In addition, the main island regions are more closer than what we have here.

Major access from the Philippines to Tokyo include either via Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture or Haneda International Airport in Tokyo Prefecture.

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TOUCHDOWN AT NARITA AIRPORT. Being a first time international traveler, I was really shocked by the cold weather. It was really a challenge.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Flag

Imperial Seal

Population

126,919,659

Area (km2)

377,944

Capital

Tokyo

Highest Point

Mount Fujiyama (3,776 m)

Currency

Yen (1 Yen = PhP 0.40)

Government

Constitutional Monarchy

Emperor

Akihito (明仁)

Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe (安倍 晋三)

Main Exports

machinery, chemicals, textiles, and processed foods

Largest Cities

Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka

National Language

Japanese

The map of Japan including Okinawa on the inset. Tokyo Metropolis, the capital, can be seen in red.

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shinkanSen: as fast

as a bullet

TAKING IT FAST. The Shinkansen, more commonly known as the bullet train, is one of Japan’s pride in transportation engineering.

It can move at speeds of 300 km per hour.

Day 2 is another day of travel. This, however, is not an ordinary day for we are bound for Shizuoka Prefecture where we will stay for almost four days. Not just that, we are riding the shinkansen.

Although I haven’t tried the railway transit of the Philippines in Manila, I was very sure that what Japan had was something different and of course, better. While we were at the platform waiting for our bullet train to arrive, I cannot

help but take a lot of pictures. I dream that someday, we will have it also in our country.

Technology is everywhere in Japan. They can boast anything that they could invent because they are, I believe, the best in innovations.

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transportation etiquette

ď ¸

People are always in a rush. Also, use of monopods for tourists is not recommended as this could cause accidents.

ď‚—

While inside a vehicle, the Japanese usually considers it as a time for rest. Thus, making noise and entertaining calls are impolite.

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ToroRuins the

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A PANORAMA OF JAPAN’S PREHISTORY. The roof deck of Toro Museum gives a bird’s eye view of the actual excavation of the 2,000-year-old ruins giving a closer look on farming during the Yayoi Period of Japan’s cultural history.

Located at the heart of the City of Shizuoka lies a portal to Japan’s agricultural roots. Discovered by mere accident in 1943, the Toro Ruins and Museum provides answers to questions on the life during the Yayoi Period.

Never did I expect that something like these ruins could be found. Although rice is a staple food of Japan, I did not imagine that rice farming could exist in such a cold place like Shizuoka, or Japan as a whole. The museum showcases

various artifacts such as tools used in farming, trimmings of clothing, jars, kitchenware, and even jewelry.

Visiting the museum expanded my understanding of Japan’s history.

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EXCHANGE at the

University of shizuoka SHIZUOKA’S PREFECTURAL UNIVERSITY. The University of Shizuoka is a government-funded school that specializes in international relations, nursing, pharmacology, food science and technology, and agriculture.

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“Wait, he speaks Filipino? Seriously?”

You will never imagine a Japanese person fluently speaking in Filipino until you visit this University.

school profifiFIle

The International Relations program students validated their interest in meeting new races and nationalities by actually studying Filipino as a foreign language. Through this advantage, we were able to talk freely in English and the students were practicing their Filipino with us.

This is where I met Kuya Yaz, a Japanese native who knows more Filipino languages than I do. He knows Tagalog, Ilocano, Cebuano, and even Hiligaynon.

Aside from getting fascinated by their flexible tongue in speaking my native tongue, we were also introduced by the students to the various tourist destinations in Japan through a presentation.

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Japanese

静岡県立大学

Romanji

Shizuoka Kenritsu Daigaku

Location

Shizuoka City, Shizuoka

Motto

Creativity, Knowledge, Cooperation and Diligence

Founded

1987

Type

Public University

Undergraduates

2,432

Postgraduates

465

Other Students

599

Staff

415

Nickname

Kendai (県大)

Concentrations

Pharmacy, Food and Nutrition, International Relations, Nursing, Informatics, and Administration

Tokugawas meetING the

Tokugawa Ieyasu is the first shogun of his clan. Through his efforts and sponsorship, shrines were rebuilt during his retirement.

Among these shrines include the Shizuoka Sengen Jinja which composes of three Shinto shrines which is now taken as one. 26 structures in this compound has been declared as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

THE BEAUTY OF SHINTOISM. Intricately carved wood adorns almost every inch of the prayer hall at the Shizuoka Sengen Jinja in Aoi-ku Ward, Shizuoka-shi.

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SPEAKING THROUGH ART. Made out of food items, this composition expresses the bounty and grandeur of Mount Fuji overlooking the riches of Japan.

artiSt the

AND AND MY LoST PERSPECTIVE

Over the years, I have lost my perspective. Overwhelmed by work and plentiful responsibilities, this place brought the artist in me back to life.

The Center for Creative Communication is a transformative center for young artists.

Once a school, now the existing building houses works of art of emerging artists, including manga artists of Japan. Shizuoka is home to a number of famous manga artists.

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HomeStay: the suzuki house

MY LITTLE FRIENDS. Miwa-san’s students learning English got a chance to meet us. My co-delegates and I taught them to play patintero, a native Filipino game.

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MORE THAN FRIENDS, THEY ARE FAMILY. This is my host family. They took care of me like I am really part of the family.

From left to right they are Miwa (mother), Airi (little sister), Keinan (younger brother), and Hiro (father). Although we were together for two days and two nights, there was already too much attachment with them. To this date, I still communicate with them through Skype.

Love is indeed the universal language.

Despite of the language barrier that we had, the Suzuki Family is far more better than how a typical Filipino Family would treat guests.

Being foreigners in their land, I never felt a single second that I was different from them.

They brought me into various places where I got acquainted to Japan even more.

Although different systems apply in their house like using the high-tech bathroom and toilet, I was able to adjust and I had fun.

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prefecture profiFile Japanese

静岡県

Romanji

Shizuoka-ken

Region

Chūbu (Tōkai)

Capital

Shizuoka-shi (Shizuoka City)

Area (km2)

7,780

Districts

Haibara, Kamo, Shuchi, Sunto, Tagata

Municipalities

35

Flower

Azalea

Bird

Japanese Paradise Flycatcher

Tree

Sweet Osmanthus

Coordinates

34°55’N 138°19’E

Flag of Shizuoka Prefecture

Flag of Shizuoka City

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Shizuoka: 静岡県

the silent hill

Situated one prefecture away from the Tokyo Metropolis, Shizuoka is literally translated as “Silent Hill” in English.

Its rich and beautiful landscape, however, compensates the silence and calmness.

The prefecture, as I see it, is something that is hard to blend with its various elements but it has successfully proven that heavy urbanization and industrialization can coexist with nature, heritage, and culture.

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Kunōzan Toshōgū:

the tomb of tokugawa ieyasu

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Despite the very difficult path in going up, I made it to the top-most part of the mountain where the original tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu is located.

I never dared to hike even in my hometown but through this activity that my host family planned, I had to do this. No regrets, though.

Located in the coastal area of Shizuoka City is a mountain where it was believed to be the original burial site of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The shrine atop the mountain is flocked by a lot of faithful Japanese who pay honor and tribute to the Tokugawa Clan.

This shows how much the Japanese people value their past as they move on and become a strong country at present.

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23

the

suShi

Challenge

Why is eating sushi a challenge? Simple. It is because these are obviously authentic here in Japan and you have to eat all those in the right sequence and fashion.

I barely eat any seafood here in the Philippines but with determination of knowing the gastronomic identity of the Japanese, I took on a gourmet adventure in Fuji City, home of the great sushi in Japan. Thank you very much to the Suzuki Family for taking us there. I can still

remember the flavor clearly.

My co-delegates and I ate various kinds of sashimi, shellfish, and snails for the appetizer. I thought that was it; but the main event was the authentic sushi. It was finally capped by a very nice serve of chocolate pudding.

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A JOURNEY IN THE MOUTH. This was our last dinner with the Suzuki Family. They took us to a very nice sushi restaurant in Fuji City. Starting from the top left photo are snails and shellfish which served as appetizers. These were followed by a big serve of sashimi (raw fish) and a humongous serve of sushi. Lastly, to finish the meal, we were served with traditional chocolate pudding.

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information

Location of Mount Fuji

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Height

3,776 m (12,388 ft)

Coordinates

35°21’29”N 138°43’52”E

Type

Stratovolcano

Last Eruption

1707 - 1708

UNESCO Name

Fuji-san, A Sacred Place and A Source of Artistic Inspiration

Before going to Japan, I was very sad to know that we will end up in Shizuoka. I browsed through the internet and saw that it was located south of Tokyo and I knew I will not be able to see or experience snow.

After researching, I realized I was in for a better prize, Mt. Fuji. I will definitely see her.

the beautiful

Mt. Fuji

As a Filipino, familiar with the Torre de Manila’s photobomber issue, I can also label Mt. Fuji as the best photobomber in Shizuoka. You can see it everywhere.

This really made my trip in Japan quite memorable. I could recall in my childhood days that I can only see Mt. Fuji in postcards. Seeing her right before my eyes is just so unbelievable.

Thanks, again, to the Suzuki Family, our host, for taking us into various places to see Mt. Fuji in various angles. She is, indeed, an awesome icon of Japan.

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Life Road on the

Going to some place far and away, there is no assurance that you can come back again sooner or later. Attempting to bring Japan closer to my home, shopping is the only option I got.

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING. With the very hectic daytime schedule, we could only take advantage of the night to go shopping. Only a few stores are open, though.

observations along the way



There are simply no security guards roaming around or at the entrance of commercial centers. CCTV cameras got everything covered.



At fast food chains, you clean up your own used containers and segregate it. In groceries, you have to bag your own purchased items.

There are even self-service check-out counters.

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Braving ourselves, me and my co-delegates leave the comforts of our hotel rooms and go out and begin our search for things to bring when we come back home. We are so unfortunate, however, not to find and collect all of the Kitkat flavors. This was my personal goal.

Spending yen was quite difficult because it was only at the moment where I already spent it when I realize how much it would actually cost in Pesos.

Some pictures here also include those that were taken at Tokyo during our first day.

Even in just simple activities like going to the mall or eating at McDonald’s has been very different, but better than what we have here in the Philippines.

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DOING IT RIGHT. Two construction workers begin their day’s work by rechecking the placement of the forms before laying concrete. Notice how wide the portion of the road being closed to ensure safety of the workers.

Highways and BywayS of

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SOMETHING NEW. One unusual sight that I had was this type of diagonal pedestrian crossing where I am very sure that it doesn’t exist here in the Philippines.

Being a DPWH Engineer, I have been curious of how Japan’s roads and bridges look. Among the delegates, for this matter, I have been the weirdest because I took pictures of roads, sidewalks, bridges, and even canals!

The Philippines has been a beneficiary of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for various development projects such as roads, bridges, causeways, among others. Looking at it now, there is no wonder why we can trust what the Land of the Rising Sun has to offer. Roads are absolutely well-maintained, even in the countryside like in Shizuoka. Road networks are

relatively thinner in terms of number of lanes even in dense cities.

Most probably, we should also apply it here in the Philippines wherein we should study carefully and assess the functions and effects of the infrastructures that we build. In that way, we can provide the most efficient highways, flood control structures, and bridges.

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Architecture beyond

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SHIZUOKA CITY HALL

One of the closest careers to civil engineering is architecture. Being an engineer, I was in great awe to see so many modern structures and elements in Japan.

It doesn’t end in beauty, though. Most, if not all, structures have been fortified and equipped with typhoon and earthquake resilient elements. After the Fukushima Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, initiatives of making the coastal areas more resistant to tsunamis, breakwaters have been upgraded also. That makes Japan an ideal model for our country in terms of disaster resilience

MORE THAN JUST FOR BEAUTY. This particular skylight is found at the Tokyo Station right on the roof of the main lobby. Despite of being a rich country, Japan is reducing consumption of electricity by limiting the energy it consumes through sustainable alternatives such as this skylight.

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TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. Wide glass windows that exist like walls can be seen as an attraction on modern structures like Nihondaira Hotel in Shizuoka-shi. They not only provide a good amount of natural light, but also give a spectacular panorama.

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O’Daiba:

Sojourn the last

36

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Supposedly an artificial island for defensive military activities in the 1850s, it is now a commercial and leisure hub that is famous for tourists who visit Japan.

This is where I met a Chinese woman who asked me to take a picture of her. It was random but I felt a little at home knowing that we, the Filipino delegates, are not the only ones who are foreigners there.

If you would notice, there is no space for captions in this page. I just want you to experience the “wow� factor of this beautiful place that you could not imagine to be existing in the Philippines at present.

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iv ia tr on

-t

rip

5

Random Japan stuff learned in



Education is very expensive in Japan. Despite our difficulty in getting a degree here in the Philippines, it is more difficult there, financially.



Water from the faucet is potable. Yes, I drank water from the faucet and I am still alive up to this moment and I did not get any symptom of e. coli contamination.



Only a few products are being imported in Japan. What they have is more than enough.

They don’t have mangoes, though.



Internet is not totally free in Japan. However, they have free access in most public places.

When you say free, it is not something you expect. It is ultra fast.



The Japanese are so particular with time.

When they say that they will start at 10:00am, they will not start at 9:59am, they will be on time. Amazingly, almost all times in public areas are synchronized.

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Narita Airport: no farewells, please

WAS EVERYTHING JUST A DREAM? Seven days is not enough. Seeing my reflection as I look out to the plane that will bring me back to the Philippines, I could only imagine my existence in Japan starting to fade away.

Nothing can be sadder than realizing that it has been long while that you have been in Japan; and that there is no time left for anything else to do, but to leave.

Narita International Airport has been a portal for us to see an entirely different world.

Perhaps, we saw the world, or part of it, at a different perspective. Now that we were bound for our home country, we are left with so many questions. One, in particular and is probably common to all of us is: “When can we come back?�

As of this writing, I miss everything and everyone I have met in Japan, especially the Suzukis. I will come back. Soon. I promise.

41

re fL ec ns

tio

Where are we now?

As a delegate of the JENESYS Programme, where am I now? I am still on the same ground where I was born; but from now on, I will make my country a better place to live in.

Over the days that I spent in Japan, I firmly feel that Filipinos are not the most hospitable people in the planet. Perhaps, today, this title belongs to the Japanese. People there are so patient and trustworthy. They are responsible and independent-minded.

Being a Filipino, it is an eye-opener that we should really walk the talk. We have been dubbed as one of the kindest people in the world and I bet the Japanese are on the top three. I could remember that we were taking a picture of ourselves and suddenly, a Japanese man came to our rescue and offered himself to take a picture of us (despite of his schedule).

Moreover, the people we met are always smiling back when we smile at them. In the Philippine setting, I doubt that if I would smile to a complete stranger, he or she would smile back. I might get an injury for attempting to do that.

There is just something different about them. And being different, I mean different but for the better. I wish we Filipinos could also be like them in terms of virtues. I know that the virtues of the Japanese has been their only secret ingredient towards their progress, be it in economy, science, technology, among others.

I will be a better Filipino because I met the Japanese. I learned from them and I believe that I can transform my country the way they transformed theirs.

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“

I will be a better Filipino because I met the Japanese.

I learned from them and I believe that I can transform my country the way they transformed theirs.

�

#Proud

Jenesyst

when in japan 日本にいった時