英語サイト

Myanmar’s students attend lectures at Hiratsuka High School of Science & Technology (HHSST, about 45 minutes drive from SEISA Dormitory) for 3 days commencing today.

Joining a class of the 3rd grade, they have today learned English, Mathematic, Physics, and Chimistry, and have also seen Japanese students' club activities. In addition, they have experienced a practical course, too, in which they have made an ABS-resin sphere by using the injection molding machine HHSST school has in possession.

All the students of HHSST are very friendly, and have warmly welcomed the foreign students from Myanmar.

Their comments on the 1st day at HHSST are: “We have been impressed with the well-equipped facilities and advanced lectures, but what has given us a stronger impression is that teachers and students seem to be happy in class, frankly communicating each other”.

The 3-days program at Hiratsuka High School of Science & Technology has come to the end today. It has passed very quickly for Myanmar's students, but with fruitful results and good memories !

The lectures they have attended today are English, Japanese History and Mathematic. In addition, we have made challenges, too; i.e. play table tennis in Physical Education, and make a kitchen timer and do programing in “C” language in Practical Training.

After the above, a farewell event has been held by HHSST, joined by Mr. Sorimachi/Principal of HHSST and Mr. Inoue/Director of SEISA Group's FGS (the Foundation for Global Children). Myanmar's students have had pleasant time there, expressing impressions about the last 3 days and also exchanging views and opinions. Mr. Toe, lecturer accompanying them, has said that the program offered by HHSST has been very helpful to him, too, since he has been able to learn the difference in teaching methods between Japan and Myanmar.

In the end commemorative photos have been taken, and some souvenirs have been handed over by the Student Council of HHSST. Then, seen off by many Japanese friends, Myanmar's students have left the school, waving their hands. They have seemed to be reluctant to part from them and HHSST.

Myanmar's students have paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, in the morning, explaining to him with self-confidence what they have so far learned and experienced in Japan. In response, the Governor has warmly welcomed them in Burmese and then has encouraged them, indicating how big the expectation is which the people concerned including himself have for them.

After the above, the company visit program has started. First they have seen an engine factory of Nissan Motor Corporation, followed by the visit to Yokohama Litera (Package Printer) and Yokohama Dry (Cleaning-service Company).

It seems they have been impressed with each firm; especially they have found interesting arm robots and automatic-guided vehicles (AGVs) being widely used in the factories, and KAIZEN/5S (Five S) they learned at HHSST being practiced in each manufacturing site.

Today's first event has been a visit to SEISA Takao Campus (two and a half drive from SEISA Dormitory). Myanmar's students have been welcomed there by Ms. Sumiyoshi wearing "Kimono". Having closely seen the national costume of Japan for the first time, they have thanked the Japanese high school girl of SEISA, and have taken photos together.

Then they have been invited to lunch by Mr. Inoue, Managing Director of FGC (the Foundation for Global Children)/SEISA Group, and have also been informed about the history of SEISA Group and its Mission with 3 Promises.

In the afternoon, they have made technical visits, first to Olympus where they have learned the history of the development of the endoscope, then to GE Healthcare Japan where they have been informed about the design/function of MRI, and also to Kitahara International Clinic where they have received explanation about advanced equipment/devices actually used for medical treatments.

It seems that the students have very much been impressed with many things of the leading companies. On the other hand, we have been impressed by the words of their lecturer, Mr. Toe, saying "many thins which we have seen today are unfortunately not yet available in Myanmar, but it will be the job of my students to make them available for our country in the near future".

Today's program has started with interesting handcraft practice of traditional Japanese paper, supported by a specialist belonging to the Paper Research Institute which is also one of SEISA Group's organizations.

In the afternoon, Myanmar's students have traveled to Tokyo for sightseeing for the first time. They have been in Asakusa and Akihabara which are both famous sightseeing places. Seeing many shops each of which is crowded with many tourists, they have also enjoyed selecting some souvenirs.

In the city they have used trains and subways to move, and have been surprised by their smooth and punctual operations and disciplined getting-on and -off of passengers and also by ticketless travel with "SUICA" (deposit card). They have also had a chance there to see "Skytree", the newly constructed highest tower in Japan (634m in height).

Today is Sunday, so Myanmar's students have enjoyed full-day sightseeing in Kamakura and Enoshima (one hour drive from SEISA Dormitory). In the morning they have visited Tsurugaoka Shrine, the entrance of which they have found typical Japanese, and then visited the Great Buddha and had a wonderful chance to enter the inside.

In the afternoon they have moved to Enoshima, and have been surprised at seeing many people enjoying surfing there in the sea of the winter. Their comment is: "the beach is not the place for leisure, but for working in Myanmar". Then they have enjoyed a dolphin show in an aquarium, too. In the front of a big water tank with various kinds of fish, they have said "we feel ourselves as if we were in the water".

Many interesting experiences have been available today, too.

In the morning, Myanmar's students have visited Suzuhiro/Odawara. Odawara, the city close to SEISA Dormitory, is famous for "Kamaboko", Japanese traditional boiled fish paste. Suzuhiro is the most successful Kamaboko maker in that area, which sells their products throughout Japan. They have not only made a factory tour but also been given a chance to make "Kamaboko" and "Chikuwa" (grilled fish paste) by themselves. In the end, they have tried to eat "Chikuwa" fresh-grilled, with very happy faces.

From Odawara they have moved to Shin-Yokohama with “Shinkansen”, the bullet train the average speed of which is 270km/h. Although having been for 20 minutes only, it has been a very impressive experience for them. Then they have visited an automated bicycle parking tower, and have shown keen interests especially in the motor-driven arm designed to grip various kinds of bicycles stably. Repeatedly seeing bicycles being taken out of the tower, they have asked a representative of Famm (the company doing the maintenance of the system) how it is controlled by sensors and software.

Today they have mainly used several trains and have found “SUICA” (deposit card with IC chip) very convenient, which can be used for almost all trains/subways/buses without buying a ticket each time.

Prior to leaving Japan next day, Myanmar's students have come to SEISA Group's head office to attend a closing event for the study program. Each member has received a Completion Certificate from Mr. Inoue, Managing Director of FGC (Foundation for Global Children)/SEISA Group. For it the Japanese paper was used, which they handcrafted by themselves two days ago.

Expressing their appreciation, each member has explained what he/she has thought and felt during the stay in Japan; e.g. "everything we have seen is new and interesting", "we now find ourselves obliged to do everything possible to contribute to the development of Myanmar", "we hope the study program will continue in the future, too", "we do never forget SEISA's 3 key promises", etc.

In the end of the event, commemorative photos have been taken, together with SEISA students/teachers. Then they have left the office, being seen off by many people including Mr. Miyazawa and Mr. Inoue.

In the afternoon, the last technical visit has waited for them in the center of Tokyo; it is Nippon Broadcasting System Incorp., the largest AM radio broadcasting company in Japan. As FM radio is mainly used in Myanmar, they have heard, with much interest, explanations about the difference between AM and FM and about the controlling room to transmit broadcast programs and also about the broadcasting studio where they have been allowed to enter and do disc-jockey experiences.

After the above, they have paid a visit to Myanmar's Embassy, reporting on their activities during the stay in Japan. Then they have moved to a hotel close to Narita Airport where they will leave for Myanmar tomorrow morning. Reportedly they have packed luggages, then enjoyed the last night, chatting for long time.

With mixed feelings Myanmar's students have seen the morning of the last day, and have moved to the airport form the hotel. Everyone now has one more bag, compared to when he/she came to Japan, to accommodate souvenirs as well as invaluable memories/experiences of the last 12 days. Before check-in, there has been one more surprise; knowing any liquid may not be taken into the airplane, they have drunk up the cola given in a hurry.

Mr. Toe, lecturer, has said: "After return we will practice SEISA's 3 key promises (Leave nobody out, Understand each other, and Make friends) at each school. We confirmed this on that day when we saw Mt. Fuji for the first time." Following him, all students have also confirmed the same.

"Thwa dO mE"(Burmese), "Sayonara", "See you"; greeting with various farewell words, they have disappeared into the emigration area. We are very much interested in seeing how they will materialize their dreams in the future and are very pleased to meet them again on any kind of occasion. Please join us in wishing them good health and much success !