During the school trip to Tokyo in late February, the 7th and 8th grade students had time for individual exploration, visiting various places for experiences and sightseeing. It seems that they learned a lot by seeing the real thing. It was a great opportunity for them to think about their future careers and make career choices.
~Looking back~
Digital Shokunin Co., Ltd.
“I learned about anime production and how it takes several years from planning to broadcast. I learned that a plan is first made and then proposed to other companies, and the company that is selected then makes the anime. I learned that it takes time and money to make anime, and that efforts are made to advertise it so that many people can watch it. In the future, I would like to become an illustrator. One day I would like to make a music video using my own original illustrations. I will work hard to make my dream come true.”
I asked the person in charge about working. She encouraged me by saying, “I want you to cherish what you love now.”
“Animation is a job that makes dreams come true, so teamwork is important. It’s important to communicate and face each person individually. Acting with an awareness of the organization will also lead to your own growth. You’re expected to think positively and overcome obstacles so that you can respond appropriately.”
Mobility Innovation Collaborative Research Organization, The University of Tokyo
“I’m currently researching the theme of cars. I was interested in car bodies, so I started researching them. Besides the body, I also look at the wheels, mufflers, etc. I get into actual cars and mainly look at what they look like. I make plastic models and focus on the interior, wheels, mufflers, and other parts. At first, I aimed to make a car out of chopsticks, but I gave up when I couldn’t get the shape right. I’m also researching the other benefits of having a car. The good things about cars are that they make travelling so easy and you can fit a lot of luggage in them. I’m also interested in the increase in electric cars and whether there will be electric sports cars. Next time, I want to build a car that I imagine myself. From now on, I want to research cars in depth.”
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Public Relations Center Rikkun Land
“At Rikkun Land, there were many vehicles, helicopters, motorbikes, mobile combat vehicles, and other equipment actually used by the JGSDF, which was very impressive. Watching a video of an actual training exercise made me realize the importance of protecting our country. I was also impressed by the technical capabilities, with excellent shooting accuracy. During the helicopter piloting experience, it was difficult as the helicopter would veer left and right and crash. And when I thought about how the soldiers were actually operating the 3D experience device, which is already so difficult, a feeling of respect began to grow in me. At the memorial hall, I learned that the Emperor was once treated as a god, but I learned something new: in the morning, in the army, you don’t start your day without bowing in the direction of the Imperial Palace, bowing in the direction of your parents, and reading a message of about 2,700 characters from the Emperor.”
Office of Senator Shigeharu Aoyama
“Hearing him speak, I realized that the importance of the Constitution is also related to disaster response and relations with other countries. This time, we asked him, ‘If you were to become Prime Minister, what policy would you start with?’ We asked him about Article 9 of the Constitution. Article 9 of the Constitution states that the Constitution protects the people and renounces war. I had heard about that and knew about it, but I only vaguely remembered what it was about. I didn’t think there was anything particularly wrong with this, but as I listened to him, I realized there was a problem. First of all, I learned that renunciation of war and deterrence of war are different. He told me that the fact that it says that the right of belligerency of a nation is not recognized means that we cannot wage war against a nation. He told me that this influence is also related to the abduction issue in North Korea. I thought that the ideal nation would be determined by numbers such as happiness levels and GDP, but I didn’t think that the constitution was also related, so I learned something.”
Baked sweet potato specialty store Super sweet baked sweet potato pukupuku
“I have been researching and conducting activities at school about things like homemade sweet potato roasting machines, ways to sell them, and the importance of communicating with customers, and I have gained insights that I would not have been able to get just by staying at school. There are two things that particularly surprised me. The first was the taste of the sweet potatoes I was given. I have made many prototypes and tasted them, and I have also eaten commercially available sweet potatoes, but this was better than any I have ever eaten. I was shocked to realize that sweet potatoes could be so delicious. The second point was when I asked about the actual sales. I was shocked when I heard that “they sometimes make 1 million yen in sales.” Until now, I had never thought of roasting sweet potatoes as a “profitable job,” but when I heard specific details about the events and daily sales, I realized that it really is possible. I was impressed by how many times Mr. Sudo said, “Sweet potatoes hold dreams.” It was a short time, but I was able to learn a lot that I would not have realized by just researching.”
On the second day of the study trip, we went to each experience and sightseeing spot with the teacher in charge, and it was a valuable time to deepen what we had been exploring in the future design. Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet with our students. We will use this year’s activities as a springboard to move forward into next year!
