World Heritage Sites in Japan

As you know, UNESCO seeks the protection and preservation of significantly universal cultural and natural heritage around the world, whether they are a group of buildings, monuments or scenery, by inscribing them on the World Heritage List.

Japan, blessed with rich culture and valued nature, has its share of World Heritage sites now numbering 14 with the addition of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape in 2007. In this issue, let's take a look at some of Japan's World Heritage sites that are conveniently located and easily accessible by public transport.

Todaiji Temple

Many of you have probably visited Kyoto, and it is indeed inscribed on the World Heritage List as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Did you know that Nara, located close by, is also on the list as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara? Nara prospered as the ancient capital of Japan between 710 and 794 before the capital was moved to Kyoto, and many temples and monuments were built at the time. Todaiji temple, which is one of them, is known for its 14.98-meter giant statue of Buddha. Meanwhile, buildings constructed in the 8th century still remain at Yakushiji and Toshodaiji temples and offer a glimpse into ancient times.

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

While there are Shinto shrines located all over Japan, Itsukushima Shinto Shrine is unique in that it is built over the sea. Construction on Itsukushima Shrine began in the 12th century, but it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1241. The shrine pavilions, connected by corridors, are built over water, and the vermilion shrine looks at high tide as if it is floating in the sea, creating a fantasy-like atmosphere.

Himeji-jo (White Egret Castle)

Japanese castles are wooden structures with plastered earthen walls and stone castle walls. They are of a unique design that is not found elsewhere in the world. Himeji-jo castle in Hyogo Prefecture, which was completed in 1609, is one of the finest surviving examples of Japanese castle architecture. Its beautiful white plastered walls and design have earned it the nickname Shirasagi (white egret) Castle. Visitors can tour the castle tower interior, and at a height of over 50 meters including the stone foundations, there is a sweeping view of Himeji City from the uppermost floor.

Nikko Toshogu

The Nikko mountains in Tochigi Prefecture became sacred grounds of mountain worship from the 8th century on, and many temples and shrines were built there. Furthermore, the Toshogu shrine located in Nikko houses the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for 264 years beginning in 1603. After the Toshogu shrine was built in 1617, Nikko also became holy grounds for the Tokugawa family. Such structures in Nikko are inscribed on the World Heritage List as the Shrines and Temples of Nikko. The Toshogu shrine is known for its brilliant colors such as gold, vermilion and green and detailed decorative features. The Yomeimon gate alone, which has been designated a National Treasure, contains more than 500 sculptures. Visitors will never tire of seeing the numerous engravings of saints, sages, plants and animals decorating the buildings in the shrine premises.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)

There are many other World Heritage sites in Japan, including the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) in Hiroshima Prefecture, which shows clearly the destruction caused by the atomic bomb blast in 1945. Why not make some time to visit such world treasures located right here in Japan?

Reference: Web Japan "Japan Fact Sheet--World Heritage List"
http://web-japan.org/factsheet/en/pdf/e35_heritage.pdf

Why Not Enjoy a Homestay Experience in Japan?

"Tsudoi, Summer" in Hokkaido

Eating meals with a Japanese family at their home, enjoying their company, then saying "Oyasumi nasai (good night)" and sleeping on a Futon in a Tatami mat room--does that interest you? In this issue, we feature the "Tsudoi, Summer" program, a homestay event to be held in Hokkaido through which you will be able to have just that kind of experience.

Tsudoi, Summer is a Hokkaido homestay program organized by the Hokkaido International Foundation. The program takes place for about two weeks with 17 cities and town in Hokkaido, including Hakodate City in southern Hokkaido, serving as your "hometown" for the duration of the program. Any foreign student 18 or older studying at a university or vocational college and pre-college foreign student who speaks daily conversation level Japanese are eligible to participate. The capacity is 100 people.

Participants will meet at Tokyo Station where they will board a bus to Ooarai Port in Ibaraki Prefecture. From there, it will be a trip of about 19 hours by ferry boat to Tomakomai Port in Hokkaido. Upon arrival, participants will go to Sapporo where they will stay the night in a hotel. The next day, after touring such places as the Ainu Museum and Showa Shinzan Mountain, participants will go to their respective "hometowns" where they will spend the next 11 nights and 12 days living with a host family. There is also an option of meeting up with the group in Sapporo and starting the program there.

Participants will be able to experience four types of international exchange through this homestay program. The first is "international exchange with a family," or with the family that they will be staying with. Then there is "international exchange with a community," in which participants take part in festivals and other events sponsored by local organizations and groups and deepen their relationships with the community. Another is "international exchange with schools." Here, participants will visit schools in their "hometown" and have an enjoyable time with children. Finally, there is "overall international exchange." About 400 people, including foreign students, host families, and people from the various "hometown" cities, towns and villages, will gather at a hotel in Hakodate on the last day of the program and take part in events such as a Japanese speech contest and goodwill party.

After the "overall international exchange," participants will fly back to either Haneda Airport or Kansai International Airport.

The participation fee for the Haneda Airport Plan (meet at Tokyo Station and return to Haneda Airport) is 69,000 yen. The fee for the Kansai Airport Plan (meet at Tokyo Station and return to Kansai International Airport) is 72,000 yen. The fee for the Free Travel Plan (meet up and disperse in Hokkaido) is 35,000 yen.

This program was triggered by a homestay in the summer of 1979 by 16 foreign students then enrolled in Waseda University. They stayed at a farm in Nanae-cho, which is located in southern Hokkaido. The circle of exchange gradually expanded, and last year, foreign students from 17 countries and regions attending 24 universities and vocational colleges participated in the Tsudoi, Summer program.

The host families are all unpaid volunteers. The aim of the program is proactive exchange between foreign students and the people of Hokkaido, and a condition for participation is that the students will be able to proactively take part in various events during the homestay.

Tsudoi, Summer is scheduled to begin accepting applications on April 25 through universities and vocational colleges. Further details will be announced on the Hokkaido International Foundation website (http://www.hif.or.jp/en/) from around early April.

Why not create a wonderful memory of Japan this year, escape the summer heat through a visit to Hokkaido and enjoy international exchange with many people?

You can also look for homestays through your community or university to find one that you would like to participate in.

Let's Take Part in Internships for Foreign Students!

The Government of Japan believes that foreign students are competent international human resources with specialized knowledge and skills that will support the upgrading of Japanese industries and the globalization of Japanese companies. The government therefore places importance in promoting the hiring of foreign students by Japanese companies.

With this said, however, mutual understanding in this respect between foreign students and Japanese companies is still in its early stages. For this reason, the government is providing support to promote participation in internships for foreign students that make use of school breaks at universities, etc. and enable foreign students to experience working for a Japanese company.

Participation in an internship for foreign students will help students clarify what is necessary for their areas of specialization or their future careers and will enable them to think concretely about what kind of work they would like to do in the future and the knowledge and qualifications that will be required of them to find such employment. Experiencing an internship will also provide a good opportunity for foreign students to look at their current capabilities and suitability for a particular job. Furthermore, it will allow foreign students to get a feel for Japanese business practices and will be a meaningful opportunity for learning greetings, acquiring business manners and enhancing communication skills.

There may be things you may not understand or find difficult during an internship. However, what is important at such times is that you proactively ask questions if there is something you do not understand and stick to the internship to the end without giving up.

In this issue, we feature the experiences of two foreign students who participated in a foreign student internship program being offered through the government's Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners.

This center primarily offers foreign student internships two times a year during spring and summer school breaks. Note that calls for participation are made through the center, and you cannot contact a company directly.

For further information, please refer to the page on internships for foreign students at the Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners website (http://www.tfemploy.go.jp/jp/topics/topics20100323_internship.htm; page available in Japanese only) or call the center at 03-3588-8639.

Such internships are also available through the following centers:
Nagoya Employment Service Center for Foreigners: 052-264-1901
Osaka Employment Service Center for Foreigners: 06-6344-1135
Fukuoka Gakusei Shokugyo Center: 092-714-1556

The two students featured in this issue participated in a 4-week internship program between February and March this year at Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd., which is part of the JAL (Japan Airlines) Group. The location of their internship was Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) and the work they primarily took part in through this internship for foreign students was interpretation, information and other customer services.

Japan Airlines International's conditions for accepting interns were that they have passed Level 1 in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, are fluent in Chinese (Cantonese) or Korean, are able to work during early morning and late night hours, and have a TOEIC score of over 550 or Eiken (test in practical English ability) Grade 2 or higher.

Kim MinJung First year student at Waseda University, School of Culture, Media and Society From Gwangju, Republic of Korea I applied to this internship for foreign students after learning about it through an email I received from my university. I chose Japan Airlines International because I would like to work for a Japanese company in the future, and I am particularly interested in the airline industry. I did not expect to be selected since I am still a first year student, so when I got word of being accepted for internship the day after my interview, I was so happy that I called my mother in Korea right away. My work was primarily doing interpretation and providing information services at the lounge of Haneda airport's International Passenger Terminal where direct flights to and from Seoul arrive and depart. I also had many opportunities to learn about and experience other airline related work. I now have a very good understanding of what kind of procedures and operations are required before an aircraft arrives or departs an airport. What surprised me most was the wonderful teamwork of the people with whom I worked. Even those in managerial positions, such as the vice president and manager, displayed proactive leadership in carrying out operations with their subordinates. I was under the impression that Japanese companies stressed the hierarchy based on such things as age and position, but things were completely different from my preconception at the actual worksite. What I felt I was lacking in after my experience was English skills. I thought that being able to speak Japanese would be sufficient for working at a Japanese company, but I found after actually working for one that English skills were essential. The people that I worked with gave me a lot of useful advice on what I should study and experience while I am still a student. I am very happy that I was able to experience an internship as a first year student. This is because it gave me a clear idea of what I should do before I start my job-hunting activities when I am a third year student. I would like to participate in internships at other companies in the future.

Chan Ho Ka Grace Third year student, J. F. Oberlin University, College of Humanities, Department of Languages and Information Studies From Hong Kong, China I learned about this internship for foreign students program through my university's website for students. As a third year student, I am in the midst of the job-hunting process. I chose to participate in an internship at this company because I felt that it would allow me to make use of the language skills that I am studying and also because it was a job that would enable me to meet people. I also thought that an internship at a famous company within the JAL Group would prove useful to me in my future job-hunting activities. Initially, my job was to offer interpretation and information services at the International Passenger Terminal lounge where direct flights between Haneda and Hong Kong arrived and departed. However, I was also assigned to help customers at the arrival/departure gates as when as around the check-in counter as well as providing information services for the direct light between Haneda and Seoul. There was a lot of specialized terminology used in staff meetings as well as in their conversations, and in the beginning there were times when I could not understand what was being said at all. I thought that I was not good at my job and became worried, but after about two weeks, I was able to take notes. I checked each term, one by one, and by the end of my internship, I was able to understand about 80% of what was being said. What I learned was that there were clear rules and arrangements already in place for each operation and that they were carried out with certainty. I thought this precision was very much like the Japanese. Also, in the past, I thought that even if I make a mistake, it would be alright if I took responsibility for it. However, I became keenly aware of the fact that a mistake I make cannot be dealt with simply by my taking responsibility for it because it ultimately becomes the company that has to take responsibility. What was a bit tough was that I had to go to work very early in the morning when I was working the early shift. However, it also made me feel like a pampered princess because a taxi would come to pick me up [since public transport was not yet running] at 5:00am. I was able to gain the confidence of being able to work at a Japanese company through this internship. I hope to find employment at a Japanese company in the future and test myself to see just how much I can do on my own with my capabilities.