Report to scandinavia sasakawa foundation norway by jci evolution

Trondheim to Kanazawa 2015 Attended Junior Chamber International World Congress in Kanazawa and learned more about Japan

JCI Evolution is grateful for the support by the Scandinavia - Sasakawa Foundation, enabling us to make a greater impact in Norway-Japanese cultural exchange. In addition to the video documentary, we hereby provide a short summary of our project and its immediate and expected outcomes.

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Report to The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation Norway (SJSFN)

1. Participation at JCI World Congress in Japan 5 members from JCI Evolution, Geir Arne Aune Hovd, Mats Kirknes, Andreas Ursin Hellebust, Mia Anfinsen and Alma Karabeg, participated actively at the JCI World Congress in Japan. We attended different official courses and activities together with JCI members from all over the world: in particular with Japanese members. We took part in the General Assembly where Mr. Yohei Sasakawa held a speech about the Nippon Foundation and signed a partnership agreement with JCI. At the Congress Paschal Dike was elected for the JCI World President for 2016 and he launched a new global movement called “Peace is Possible”. Part of the aim of JCI is to increase international understanding and to attain peace in the world.

Japan nourishes its tradition, temples, zen-gardens, and tea houses and is at the same time one of the leading nations in innovation. During our stay in Japan, we had the opportunity to see the modern big city: Tokyo, as well as green landscapes with mountains in the background during our trip with Shinkansen (新幹線), the tranquil countryside of the Fukui Prefecture and the traditional Samurai and Geiko (Geisha) districts of Kanazawa city.

In this report, we show what we have learned about Japan and how we have built lasting ties with its rich culture and its people. This knowledge, about the culture, society, geography and history, we are eager to share with the rest of the JCI members in Norway, Nordic countries and with our partners.

2. Established links with JCI members in Japan Opening Ceremony On the 3rd of November, 2015, the JCI World Congress was opened in Kanazawa, Japan, with a spectacular opening ceremony. Here, more than 8,200 people from 120 countries gathered to share best practices, exchange ideas, and shape the future of the non-profit organization, whose mission it is to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.

The ceremony was a beautiful introduction to a large event, but more so, it was a door to a new culture. We had arrived in Japan a few days earlier, traveling around the city of Tokyo, exploring

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with the help of guide books and travel apps. However, the congress was a unique opportunity to learn in-depth about Japan, and to connect and build friendships with the Japanese people.

During the official opening ceremony of the World Congress, her Imperial Highness Princess Mako of Akishino opened the ceremony and greeted the participants. She gave a speech on cultural and historical offerings of Kanazawa and thanked the delegation for celebrating the 100th Anniversary of JCI Movement in Kanazawa. Following Her Imperial Highness, JCI Japan President Kosuke Shibata welcomed the delegates to Japan. After the ceremony, we met Japanese people from all over the country who presented a taste of what the country offers, such as amazing sushi, spectacular treats, interactive painting, and lively music. Already from day one, the conference was a whirlwind journey into Japanese culture.

JCI Vice President 2016 One of our main established contacts in Japan, Ryoma Koyama, has been elected as JCI Vice President 2016 meaning that he is now in the international board of directors and will follow up several JCI national organizations in Asia. We met with Mr. Koyama in Kanazawa and he gave us an insight about Japanese culture, its food and traditions, and everyday life. During the trip and after, he has helped us navigate Japanese society with ease.

Enjoying japanese dishes in Kanazawa, with JCI members from Japan and Taiwan, and learning japanese phrases

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3. Learned more about Japanese culture Altruism We have learned a lot about altruism and have seen how JCI members in Japan collaborate to make positive change in both their local communities and the world. We observed how they work as one on the stage together and we learned a lot about team spirit.

Omoiyari is a Japanese concept that is being taught to members of JCI. The Omoiyari course has recently been introduced in Norway, but during our stay at JCI World Congress in Japan we have gained more knowledge about Omoiyari concept the way Japanese people practice it in their everyday lives. Omoiyari is often thought of as synonymous as compassion, however it comes from two verbs: “omou” (=to think/feel) and “yaru” (=to do). Thus, it is a more active form of compassion, of making positive change in society, which is one of the main tenets of JCI. After learning more about Omoiyari, we try to incorporate it in our actions, as well as communicate the concept of it to people in Norway.

Temples and Shrines Japan is replete with beautiful temples and shrines. The temples and shrines are places of worship and reflection for followers of Japan’s main religions: Buddhism and Shinto. Every municipality has at least one temple, while larger cities can have several hundreds. Temples are often an assembly of various buildings with different purposes, such as a lecture hall, a main hall and a cemetery. The purposes of the temples vary. The oldest temple in Tokyo, Sensō-ji is visited by people from far and near who come to worship and pray, as well as to see a beautiful sight. Others are for instance monasteries.

When we visited the Eihei-ji monastery in the Fukui Prefecture, we learned about how a monk's life is and how it is to devote your life to worship. We listened to the story of a monk who left his daily life as a doctor to study Buddhism for one year. We learned from him how to meditate, how to carry ourselves, and even how to eat slowly and mindfully so that you cherish every bite.

The temples represent different directions of Buddhism. Eihei-ji is for instance of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism, while Sensō-ji started out as a Tendai sect when it was founded in the year 645, and is now independent. It is also interesting to see that although Western countries are become increasingly secular, Buddhism is becoming more and more popular in Japan. It was great to see how people integrated the traditions of their religion into their everyday life, by for instance carrying small items, so-called Omamoris, with Japanese sayings for good luck.

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A popular tourist attraction is to dress in beautiful kimonos and take a walk around a traditional setting. Here, a group of girls are enjoying SensĹ?-ji

Mia Anfinsen outside the SensĹ?-ji temple. The temple is a popular tourist attraction, but also an important place of worship

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Prayer notes left at the SensĹ?-ji temple

The beautiful Eihei-ji temple is a large place of worship, where monks live and teach about how they practice Buddhism. Here, we learned how to meditate and how to live a life as a monk. This picture is of the entrance to the monastery. Only the high priest can enter here, except for men who are passing the gate to start their training

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Japanese Fashion We found that Japanese clothing was extremely varied, from the busy modern stores in the Shinjuku and Shibuya districts and popular styles, such as the doll-like Harajuku Girls in Tokyo, to traditional garments such as the kimono and the less formal yukata. The Japanese style themselves with creative intricate patterns, and we spoke with locals how you can use colors in a playful way, mixing and matching different styles for a new, modern look.

Beautiful watercolor patterns on silk paper, made at the opening night of the congress. Vibrant colors and patterns such as these are often seen in both modern and traditional Japanese clothing

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Dresses from Okinawa region The kimono is the traditional dress of Japan. Okinawa Traditional Costume is designed to match Okinawan climate of high temperature and high humidity. The sleeve is rather wide for airy construction reason, and the textile fabric is very thin. Textile is made by cloth of Bashofu – Okinawan specific perennial plants

Japanese Arts & Crafts Japanese arts & crafts are wide-ranging, from delicate watercolor paintings to robust sculptures.

During the trip, we saw an amazing variety of Japanese art, such as ancient temple paintings in Eihei-ji, traditional gold-leaf production in Kanazawa, and modern pottery by local artists. All have in common an amazing attention to detail, and a symbolism that draws on concepts of contrasts that can be seen through centuries of Japanese art.

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Beautiful paintings on the ceiling of the “Sanshoukaku” (伞松阁) room at the Eihei-ji temple. The 230 different paintings are made by 144 different artists, reflecting the style that was popular of the day

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A local Kanazawan artist is showing us the brass vases and bowls that he has made. The material, although solid and robust, is contrasted by delicate glazing that gives an impression of delicate drops of water. These contrasting themes are often seen in Japanese art, as they show the duality of the world and how that they together represent a complete and complex picture

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A Kanazawan man shows us the technique of using gold leaf in art. This workshop, inside the Sakuda Gold and Silver Leaf Shop, had many displays of how gold leaf could be used, ranging from small paintings, to covering large walls. It can be used for culinary enhancements, as well as it is a popular gift on common items, such as pens and golf balls. Kanazawa is known for the production of gold leaf, producing 99% of the total of Japan, and has been producing it since the 16th century

Japan Night Japan Night was an evening of cultural exchange organized by JCI Japan. We visited stands from different regions in Japan and tasted a wide variety of different food and drinks, including a great Matcha latte, local cakes and candy, and varieties of Sake. We learned a lot about different clothing styles, fashion, music and the main attraction of each of Japan’s regions.

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Playing nagado-daiko - a popular type of Japanese Drums. Japanese drums have been in use since the 6th century.

They have been used for different purpose, such as for communication, military use, theatre, religion and festivals.

Here, we are playing together during Japan Night.

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Every booth at Japan Night represented different areas of Japan. Here are people from Kyoto, teaching young and old alike to make traditional braided pearl bracelets

Culinary Experience We have visited many restaurant in Tokyo and Kanazawa. During Japan Night we also discovered many delicious dishes and tasted Japanese food and drinks from other parts of the country. We found that Japanese food contains a lot of seafood - a natural development since the country is surrounded by water on all sides. Meat is not as widely served; some say because the teachings of Buddhism emphasizes that the eating of four-legged creatures is taboo. Today, you will find some exceptions, such as Ramen noodles, which is accompanied by a slice of pork. However, the norm is to serve fish, poultry and vegetables.

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Cute cakes in a local bakery. It is not only Japanese arts & crafts that display and extraordinary attention to detail, the chefs are also particularly meticulous

Soba そば or 蕎麦 is the Japanese name for buckwheat. It is synonymous with a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, and in Japan can refer to any thin noodle. This soba noodles are served in hot broth as a noodle soup

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At traditional Japanese restaurants, you often sit on the floor. You remove your shoes before stepping on the tatami mat on the floor, and then sit on a pillow, with your legs underneath you. This position is called seiza. The seiza is the formal and correct way of sitting, but not without its challenges for those that are not used to it. However, with practice it gets better, and expert practitioners can sit with full pressure on their legs, without any constriction to their circulation

Tea Ceremony We enjoyed a traditional tea ceremony in Kanazawa. The Japanese tea ceremony is called Chanoyu, Sado or simply Ocha in Japanese. It is a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea. Preparing tea in this ceremony means pouring all one's attention into the predefined movements. The whole process is not about drinking tea, but is about aesthetics, preparing a bowl of tea from one's heart. The host of the ceremony always considers the guests with every movement and gesture. Even the placement of the tea utensils is considered from the guests view-point. Before returning back to Norway participants bought Matcha and Sencha tea in order to enjoy the great taste of Japanese tea. One of the participants enjoyed the tea and its traditions so much that she started importing Japanese tea to Europe.

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A tea ceremony in the Kenroku-en garden in Kanazawa. The tea ceremony is a about capturing a moment frozen time, so the surroundings play an integral part. The beautiful Kenroku-en tea house and its serene garden was the perfect setting for the traditional ceremony

Nature We visited Japan during the season of colorful leaves (koyo) that are to the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring. The viewing of autumn leaves has been a popular activity in Japan for centuries. We have noticed that japanese people are fond of different seasons, and during our stay we were fascinated to see leaves changing colors from green, to yellow, orange, red and brown.

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Alma Karabeg standing among the changing colors in the Kanazawa Garden

Garden party in Kanazawa Gardens in Japan are decorated and tranquil so that people can enjoy zen-moments in the nature. The gardens are all unique, but includes some of the same principles, showing a dynamic display of gardening excellence. In the beautiful Kenroku-en garden in Kanazawa, we found beautiful contrasts such as flowing water and hills, tradition and borrowed views. The latter is when you integrate a piece of the surroundings into the garden. In the case of Kenrokuen, you can for instance find new plants that are integrated with the Karasaki pine trees that were planted by the 13th lord Nariyasu from Karasaki. The garden party was arranged by JCI Osaka. Here we celebrated the combination of traditional and modern Japan, and the apex of Japanese culture. We watched the performance of traditional Nihon buyĹ? (=Japanese dance) and saw musical performances with traditional Japanese instruments, such as the threestringed shamisen, and the nagado-daiko drums.

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A beautiful music performance with Nihon buyĹ? and traditional instruments

A meeting between tradition and modern life. Here, a traditional Geiko with our camera-man Andreas Ursin Hellebust

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Megapolis Tokyo Tokyo is a large city, but at the same time, we found many areas that are quiet and peaceful.

The streets can be hustling and bustling with activity, but you are never far away from places to contemplate and relax. You can be surprised by just taking a turn off one of the main streets, and you will suddenly come to places where there are few people. There are many beautiful parks and places to enjoy great food in quiet. We found that in even large tourist attractions, such as the SensĹ?-ji temple in Tokyo, where thousands visit every day, there are quiet areas to reflect and take in all the amazing new views that the city has to offer.

In our talks with locals, we found that the calm nature of the people comes from more than just a mechanism for saving face. It comes from a profound feeling of belonging to a collective, to take responsibility for own actions, and to empathize with others. The result is that even in large cities such as Tokyo, people will be polite and respectful, even friendly and caring towards strangers, something we learned from and brought with us back to Norway.

Looking at the famous Shubaya Crossing, where locals and tourists are hurrying between famous Tokyo stores

Outside the Royal Palace in the Royal garden. A peaceful and quiet place in the large city

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The Ginza district - modern Japanese architecture meets foreign commerce

4. Japanese concepts Senshin (先心): purified spirit, enlightened attitude Seishin (精神): purified heart Senshin is a very important concept in Japan that we were very fond to learn about. It is a way of life that holds all beings sacred and it urges people to be compassionate. Seishin is similar in meaning. It translates as soul, but also means to be mindful or soulful. While it is difficult for some to grasp the definite meaning of senshin and seishin, we are fond of the interpretations of having a purified spirit and heart. The meanings connects with the concept of Omoiyari and the importance of compassion and consideration of the community.

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A peaceful part of the Sensō-ji temple area. A peaceful spot in a busy area

5. Meeting Mr. Yohei Sasakawa Expressing Gratitude During the JCI General Assembly in Kanazawa, we were fortunate to meet Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, who was attending the congress to sign a partnership agreement between JCI and the Nippon Foundation. We expressed our profound gratitude to him and the representatives of the Sasakawa Foundation for supporting projects that focus on spreading cultural awareness of Japan and building bridges with other countries. We talked about the Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation’s goal of enhancing friendly relations between the Scandinavian countries and Japan, and how to promote exchange and understanding. Moreover, we spoke about the importance of JCI as an organization that encourages collaboration between nationalities.

Mr. Sasakawa was also present at the JCI General Assembly to inform about the foundation’s work in eliminating leprosy, and removing the stigma associated with the disease. As an interesting conclusion, Mr. Sasakawa told us that it was the Norwegian physician Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen (1841-1912) that discovered the leprosy bacillus in 1873, thus giving us a pithy reminder of the importance of cross-country collaboration.

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A friendly meeting with the Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa (third from the left) and the Executive Director of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Tatsuya Tanami (first from the left) to express our gratitude for the foundation’s work

Mr. Yohei Sasakawa talked about the importance of removing the stigma of leprosy. People with leprosy are more than just the disease they are struggling with, and should be integrated into society

6. Documentary about Japan We had some challenges filming the short travel documentary. First and foremost because participants and interview objects had such busy schedules. Alma and Mia agreed to be the main presenters, while Andreas and Mats would work on the production and technical side. Geir Arne would be for the most part be busy as JCI Norway 2015 National President and with JCI Japan and their program.

When it came to interviewing Ismail Haznedar, he had many interviews and an extremely busy schedule. We scheduled a meeting with him in one of the less busy parts of the hotel. The setup 22

worked nicely and we did an effective interview using natural light from the windows. We finished in around 30 minutes and Ismail agreed it was an effective and fun interview.

Kanazawa as a city was culturally very exciting, and looks gorgeous in the video. The forces of nature also played its part on the video, with the heavy raining on the sessions with JCI Osaka.

Much of the outdoor material from Kenrokuen Garden from this day looked gray and uncomfortable, but still we got a lot of nice indoor activity. The Geiko hosts played traditional Japanese games with Andreas and Alma and we had a lot of fun.

We hope you will enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed making it.

Preparing for the interview with JCI 2015 President Ismail Haznedar, conducted by Alma Karabeg and filmed by Andreas Ursin Hellebust

Alma Karabeg and Mia Anfinsen are thanking JCI President Ismail Haznedar for his participation in the film

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Mats Kirknes and Geir Arne Aune Hovd accept the award for the JCI Best Local Millennium Development Goal Project

Geir Arne Aune Hovd and Mats Kirknes are showing the award the Norwegian JCI chapter JCI Evolution received for JCI Best Local Millennium Development Goal Project

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Many thanks to the Scandinavia - Japan Sasakawa Foundation for support to participate at the JCI World Congress to learn more about Japan and Japanese culture, as well as building lasting ties with the country and its amazing people.

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