#jenesys

Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths

Although I'm not the best at promotion in a sense of creating beautiful videos and presentations, public speaking and so on. I’d like to think my writing is not too shabby (albeit a little wordy and at times), so I want to share my experiences from the free trip to Japan that they took me a group of other students from the Pacific region with the JENESYS Programme. This programme started in 2007 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and aims to increase understanding of the many different faces of Japanese society. I was invited to apply by my Japanese professors at @MasseyUni (@MasseyHumSocSci @JapaneseatMassey) for the History, Culture and Society theme.

We often hear about Japan as simply a place of quirky nick knacks, variety shows and so on, but this trend is dismissive of the diversity of culture and society within Japan and does this beautiful country a disservice. Even when studying the language, we can get bogged down in the language learning process and thus pay less attention on just how varied the country and the people are (Japan is more than just keigo and formalities, even though respect is a major aspect of Japanese society).

Going to a country is the best way to experience a culture, and as we learned in anthropology, it is vital to hear directly from the people themselves in order to get an understanding of them and their lives. Thanks to the JENESYS programme, I was able to not only test my Japanese language skills and implement some of the skills learned in my anthropology major, but also got to experience the Japanese culture in a way that was not possible for me before. We experienced first-hand the importance the Japanese people place on hospitality, kindness, and respect. In groups of three or four, we spent some time with host families in Nagasaki, where we ate, talked, and spent time with a Japanese family. They were so sweet and welcoming and we created cherished memories (such as watching sumo, digging kumara (sweet potato), and sleeping in a tatami room to name a few).

Side note: if you ever go to Japan during the winter months, everyone will ask if you are cold if you aren’t wearing ‘seasonally appropriate’ clothing, so remember to bring warm clothes – they’re only worried about you!

While in Japan we also visited Toyo University and Nagasaki University to talk with Japanese students about various themes surrounding peace and security, culture and society, and even sports. This experience was especially invaluable as we got to discuss issues of climate change with people that are experiencing it first hand, i.e. students from various Pacific Islands, giving a personal connection for us and the Japanese students and further motivation to fight it. We also discussed issues of safety in cities and found camaraderie as young women and men, in our different yet similar values and experiences.

Of course, as we went to Nagasaki, we went to the Atomic Bomb Museum, Memorial Hall, and Peace Park, which is an experience that must be had first-hand, especially in this day and age where government talks of nuclear weapons and warfare only seems to increase.  Although it is easy to register on a logical level the devastation these weapons have wrought, when you are in that place and seeing for yourself that devastation, standing underneath the hypo centre, it’s no longer a historical event – it becomes real in a way it never was. This effect is compounded when, for example, you hear from others on the trip with you from the Marshall Islands about their Bikini Atoll which also suffered devastating damage and loss due to atomic testing in the 20th century. Confronting these stories is vital to being an informed member of society as well as to enacting change for a better and more peaceful future.

Thanks to the JENESYS programme, countless young people from the Pacific region including Australia and New Zealand are meeting and collaborating and forming long-lasting friendships and memories every single year with each other and peers in Japan. In the grand scheme of things ten days is not much, however, the lessons we learned, the experiences we had, and the memories we formed will last a lifetime and will motivate not only me but countless others to explore and maintain a relationship with Japan long into the future.

Japanese Language Communication, Japanese Culture Exchange (Culture)  will be held on 05-12 March 2019 in Tokyo, Tohoku area in Japan.

The program aims at promoting mutual trust and understanding among the peoples of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region and building a basis for future friendship and cooperation by these INBOUND and OUTBOUND programs.

It also encourages an understanding and dissemination of Japan’s economics, society, history, diverse culture, politics and diplomatic relations.

The National Youth Commission in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Center and the Embassy of Japan in Manila will be sending 23 student delegates to the program.

Important Reminders:

Online submissions are preferred.

Do not submit application documents in .zip or .rar file.

Please carefully read the instructions on how to apply. The NYC will not be responsible for lost applications or applications sent to the wrong email addresses.

Please read this briefer first before asking questions.

Qualifications for Youth Delegates:

Filipino students (must be currently enrolled: undergraduate or graduate)

18-35 years old

With educational background or involved in organizations with particular focus on Japanese language or culture

With good communication skills (English)

Must have an active Facebook account (with regular postings)

Philippine passport holder (valid until 12 September 2019)

Mentally and physically fit to travel

Must be able to attend the pre-departure briefing on March 4, 2019 (tentative) and the program proper on 05-12 March 2019.

Must be willing to be an NYC volunteer or to participate in post-program activities

Requirements:

Accomplished NYC International Programs’ Application Form

Accomplished JENESYS Form

Accomplished Letter of Understanding (Annex 2)

School Certification indicating your course signed by the College Dean or Registration Form or other proof of enrollment

School organization certification (if the organization's focus is related to the theme)

Scanned copy of valid passport (data and blank page)

Expenses:

The organizer will shoulder the delegates’ international airfare (Manila-Tokyo-Manila), meals, accommodation, and local transportation in Japan.

Delegates will shoulder their travel expenses from their residence (province) to NAIA and back, as well as their accommodation in Manila for the pre-departure briefing.

The following are automatically disqualified:

Participants of NYC-coordinated international programs from March 12, 2014 until the present whose airfare, accommodation, and meals were paid for by the organizer; and

Participants of NYC-coordinated international programs from March 12, 2017 until the present whose airfare was shouldered by the participants and whose accommodation and meals were paid for by the organizer.

NYC International Programs Beneficiaries who have not completed their volunteer work hours.

JENESYS, KIZUNA, and SSEAYP Alumni. Alumni of all Japanese Government-sponsored (Japan Embassy, Japan Foundation, JICA, etc) scholarship, conference or cultural exchange or training programs. Applicants who have been to Japan, whether as a student, tourist or an OFW, and stayed in Japan for three months or more.

Previous NYC International Programs Beneficiaries who have not submitted or accomplished the required post-program documents or volunteer work.

How to apply:

FOR ONLINE APPLICATIONS: Submit documents in PDF File to [email protected] (with Subject Heading: APPLICATION: JENESYS2018 JLC)

Do not send application documents in .zip or .rar file.

If you chose to submit online, you do not need to send or submit hard copies of your application documents.

FOR PERSONAL APPLICATIONS: Submit your documents to NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION, THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS UNIT, 3rd Floor West Insula Building, West Avenue, Quezon City, 1105. Indicate the name of the program you’re applying for.

FOR SUBMISSION THRU COURIER: Send your documents to: NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION, THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS UNIT, 3rd Floor West Insula Building, West Avenue, Quezon City, 1105. Indicate the name of the program you’re applying for.

Applicants are advised to strictly follow the instructions for submission. The NYC will not be responsible for application documents which will be lost or sent to wrong e-mail addresses.

Deadline for submission is 5:00 PM/ January 18, 2019.

Inquiries:

Please send all queries to [email protected] with subject heading “Query: JENESYS2018 JLC”.

Please get in touch with the NYC International Programs Unit at telephone numbers (02) 4268733.

The NYC reserves the right not to respond to questions whose answers are already stated in this briefer or in the application form.

Kindly wait for the e-mail confirmation acknowledging receipt of your application until two days after the deadline.