Student pair awarded Foreign Minister’s Commendations for climate change counterplan
Satoko Baba and Kota Watanabe, both 4th year undergraduates at the School of Political Science and Economics, presented their “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Hiroshima Plan” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 38th International Issue Presentation Contest on November 5, 2022. Their presentation on political measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through trade and incentives as a climate change counterplan that transcends borders ultimately won them the prestigious Foreign Minister’s Commendation award.
Both Satoko and Kota gained awareness and an interest towards diplomacy and international relations from experiences during junior high school; Satoko’s friendship with a Chinese classmate that juxtaposed the deteriorating Japan-China relations at the time, and Kota seeing how one’s background influenced their opinions during discussions on Japan-China relations at his international school. Fast forward, and now the two have turned this passion into a practical policy proposal. Kota mentions that the feedback and advice the two received from their seminar classmates, seniors, and professors was absolutely vital for their award win, and Satoko reflects on how little time they had to prepare, especially as she was also simultaneously doing job hunting and certification studying while preparing for the presentation. What’s in store for these two’s futures? Satoko has her eye on causing political and economic change through work in the financial market, and Kota, despite having the goal to become a diplomat, has recently been considering career paths that lead to creating inclusive, international order.
Japanese article: 気候変動対策「CBAM広島構想」を提言 最高のペアで獲得した外務大臣賞
New realizations through my student support role at ICC Japanese Chat Club
“I came to the realization that even if we come from different countries or cultures, we are all just people,” reflects Momoe Sakakibara, a 3rd year undergraduate at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Momoe has been working as a student supporter for Japanese Chat Club (aka, Pera Pera Club), a program where international students come together to learn and practice Japanese conversation at the University’s ICC (Intercultural Communication Center). Her role is to facilitate Japanese conversation amongst a handful of students, all who might have various ranges of Japanese language ability. Momoe points out that supporters must be aware of two main rules: Speaking and coming across in a clear manner, and being able to adjust to and facilitate in different circumstances. “After assessing the level of Japanese of participants, I try to create an atmosphere where it’s easy to speak up, even for those where speaking in Japanese is a little tricky… If I have a group of high-level speakers who want to learn more natural Japanese, I change my role from the main facilitator to just one member who is enjoying the conversation.”
Momoe’s reason for joining the Japanese Chat Club was to prepare for her study abroad to Canada; she wanted to be able to introduce Japanese culture when abroad, wanting to find out what kind of image different people had of Japan. The club not only allowed her to come into contact with and learn about a wide array of cultures, but it also allowed her to sense what Japanese learners find difficult about the language, what parts of Japan they find interesting or weird, and ultimately reflect on her own country’s culture through the eyes of others. Momoe also realized how her interactions with international students on campus has changed. “In the past, I accidentally interacted with international students through this lens of them being a ‘foreigner.’ Of course, it is important to mutually respect of each individual’s culture, customs, and different values from different upbringings, but topics like family, friends, favorite foods, music, likes and dislikes; these are all fun conversations between people that can be had without fixating on ‘foreignness.’”
Japanese article: ICC「にほんごペラペラクラブ」サポーターで、新たな出会いや発見を
