{"id":87766,"date":"2026-04-09T08:55:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T23:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/?p=87766"},"modified":"2026-04-09T09:01:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:01:05","slug":"wavoc-faculty-newsletter-report-on-the-malaysia-study-tour-the-abundance-felt-amidst-nature-inconvenience-and-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/news\/87766","title":{"rendered":"[WAVOC Faculty Newsletter] Report on the Malaysia Study Tour: The Abundance Felt Amidst “Nature,” “Inconvenience,” and “Community”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Report on the Malaysia Study Tour: The Abundance Felt Amidst “Nature,” “Inconvenience,” and “Community”<\/h2>\n

By Yukino Iwai \uff08Associate Professor, The Hirayama Ikuo Volunteer Center (WAVOC))
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Hirayama Ikuo Memorial Volunteer Center (WAVOC)<\/a> organized the “Malaysia Study Tour – Thinking about ‘Well-being’ with Children” from Wednesday, February 4th to Thursday, February 12th, 2026, in the Kota Kinabalu area of \u200b\u200bSabah, Malaysia (Borneo Island).<\/p>\n

This study tour focused on the theme of “abundance,” and the local program was implemented with the cooperation of the certified NPO CFF Japan. During the tour, participants lived in a village that was “abundant” in its natural environment but “inconvenient” due to the lack of electrical appliances, surrounded by people who, despite not speaking the same language, were very welcoming.<\/p>\n

A key feature of this tour was the rule requiring participants to hand over their smartphones. When I heard from the CFF representative that “we always do that in the programs we run at CFF,” I thought, “I definitely want to do that in this program too,” and decided to implement it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

An elementary school recreational event<\/p><\/div>\n

Smartphones are a symbol of “abundance.” In Tanzania, Africa, where I usually work, people start owning smartphones once they have the financial means. These small devices, which embody the pinnacle of science and technology, allow people to connect with more people and access more information. And because of their appeal and convenience, they can also lead to addiction.<\/p>\n

The purpose of this tour was to encourage participants to let go of their smartphones, which symbolize “economic abundance,” that is, to let go of indicators such as money and cost-effectiveness, and to consider a different kind of “abundance” that emerges from that perspective.<\/p>\n

Reading the individual reports written by participants, it’s clear that each member reflected on the meaning of “abundance.” Their thoughts included “smiling,” “having loved ones,” “loving,” and “accepting one’s imperfect self and inner struggles”\u2014their reflections were far deeper than I had anticipated.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, instead of pushing their experiences in Malaysia to the back of their minds once the tour ended, the members are asking themselves, “How can I continue to think about these things in my daily life back in Japan?”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The village mothers made the meal for us starting at 4 a.m.<\/p><\/div>\n

The real world is hopelessly unequal. Whilst there are stateless people living in appalling sanitary conditions, we go about our lives taking clean toilets with bidets for granted. Whilst there are people losing their lives in the midst of war, I am simply watching it on television from the safety of my own home.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I hope that the members who participated in this tour will not turn a blind eye to this inequality but will continue to take action in their own way for the “abundnace” of the world and confront the challenges they face in reality.<\/p>\n

This kind of action might be difficult to continue alone. But by encouraging each other with the people they\u2019ve connected with here, they\u2019ll gain the strength to keep going.<\/p>\n

I took early retirement from Waseda University in March 2026. I am very happy that I was able to meet such highly motivated students on my final study tour. I intend to cherish the bonds I have formed with this group and continue to nurture them in the future.<\/p>\n

We have compiled the learnings and reflections of the participating members into a report. Please take a look, as it conveys the unique “abundance” of each individual!<\/p>\n

The activity report (PDF) in Japanese is available here. \u2193<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nBelow are excerpts from the students’ reports, reflecting their observations.<\/p>\n

Rethinking Abundance: In the Midst of the Interplay Between Ideal and Reality
\n<\/strong>By Aoi Kadowaki (2nd<\/sup> year student, School of Law\uff09<\/p>\n

Since the tour ended, I have been reflecting anew on the meaning of \u2018abundance\u2019. Abundance does not merely refer to the attainment of an ideal self-image or to establishing oneself as an agent who saves others. Rather, it may be found in the resolve to remain within a reality that is uncertain and fraught with contradictions, and in the relationships we maintain with others.<\/p>\n

I am still at a stage where I haven’t clearly defined the direction of my life. However, I believe that remaining aware of this uncertainty is a way to restrain myself from consuming the lives of others as simplistic narratives. Letting go of attachment to ideals and continuing to confront the complexities of reality is, for me, freedom, and at the same time, a form of “abundance.”<\/p>\n

I want to continue to connect this experience with my legal studies and embrace the tension between ideals and reality. That, however imperfect, is my form of practice and will serve as a guide for my future learning and actions.<\/p>\n

From Hypocritical Ego to Love: My Answer to Volunteering
\n<\/strong>By Atto Kojima\uff082nd<\/sup> year student, School of Social Sciences\uff09<\/p>\n

At its core, I felt there was a true sense of “abundance,” which is also the keyword of this tour. After experiencing this abundance, a flood of ideas for things I wanted to do for the local people, both during my stay and after returning home, came over me. This impulse may well have been fueled by the adrenaline drawn from my extraordinary experience in Malaysia. However, even setting aside my own imperfections and immaturity, I wanted to seriously work towards ensuring that the people I met in Malaysia could live abundant and happy lives.<\/p>\n

Although I was somewhat bewildered by this being my first experience of its kind, I felt I had arrived at one possible answer to the question of volunteering. I realized that volunteering isn’t just about what you can and do on-site; it also involves considering your actions after returning to your daily life. I believe the essence of volunteering lies in participating, taking an interest in the cause, and maintaining a mindset of continuous research and learning, even if it feels hypocritical at times.<\/p>\n

*The faculty titles and student affiliations are based on information available at the time of this study tour (February 2026).<\/u><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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