Experience in Japan

Content of The Report

This year I took part in “Introduction to Far East and Arctic Studies; Russia-Japan joint Education Program: Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development” and “Past and Present of Hokkaido: History of Ishikari and Sorachi”. We had interesting lectures on History, Economic, Politic, Culture and Environment in the Far East Russia and Arctic region. Professors from both Japan and Russia presented their field of study with entertaining speeches and I want to express gratitude to them for this.

Our second course was dedicated to History of Reclamation of Hokkaido by Japanese people. We have visited Hokkaido museum, Historical Village of Hokkaido, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art and, of course, famous Sapporo Beer Museum! That was such an interesting time, despite of that we haven’t managed to visit all other sights, like Akibara Coal Mining Heritage Guidance Center, because of the earthquake, which was an experience itself.

Learning Outcomes

During this course I had a chance to discuss problems of the region with other students from various specialties: ecologists, architects, biologists, anthropologists and etc. Both from Russia and Japan! It was refreshing to hear different opinions on established problems, especially from people from other countries.

As for myself I broaden my knowledge in above-mentioned spheres thanks to professors’ lectures. Ecology, weather studies and architecture is pretty far from my specialty, but thanks to our lectures discovering importance of these fields was pleasing and fascinating. I especially liked prof. Wolff’s presentation on Japanese intervention in Russia, because this problem is interesting for me, as I myself partly historian. I liked how his speech shown us that you need to know history from both sides of the conflict.

Experience in Japan

This was my first visit to Japan and I was really excited, because I’d studied this country for a long time and finally I’m actually here. And I wasn’t disappointed by what I saw here.

Despite those places that I’ve already mentioned me and my Russian colleagues visited Murayama Park located in Sapporo. I was stroke by such greenness inside such a big city as Sapporo. You truly can fill unity with nature inside this place. Trees, small channels, different shrines – everything is touched by man’s hands of course but at the same time you don’t fill arrogant presence of humans here. It was also the first time I saw a Shinto temple and it was stroking, I have never felt such harmony in buildings.

The other place we managed to visit was Ishiya Chocolate Factory. Actually it doesn’t fell like some kind of factory, more like fairy castle. Interring the park inside factory you can completely forget that you are in Japan now: architecture of medieval Europe, small houses for children, flowers and the music from Disney cartoons.
But it’s more fascinating inside! We managed to see demonstration of candies production and even try some; it was really tasty and sweet.

Influence on future carrier goals and choices

I’ve already known that my future studies will be connected with Japan, but mostly in military sphere. During this course I understood that for understanding Japan I need to know much more about country itself and the entire region. So I certainly will continue to broaden my knowledge in various specialties for better understanding of regional problems. And I also would gladly tell all my friends and colleagues in Russia about Japan, therefore upgrading their comprehension of this country and strengthen bounds between our nations.