東京大学公共政策大学院 | GraSPP / Graduate School of Public Policy | The university of Tokyo

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【奨学金】＜公益法人奨学会＞直接応募奨学会の募集について 希望者は以下のPDFファイルを確認の上、直接、各奨学会へ申請してください。 ・公益財団法人　芸備協会 掲示（ PDF,  7KB ） ・公益財団法人　朝鮮奨学会 掲示（ PDF,  7KB ）  

SIPA 2016.09-2017.05

One of the most important assets of SIPA is its diversity on campus. Students of MIA/MPA in 2016 represent 43 different countries, and international students account for 62 percent of the total. The average age is 26 with various unique experiences. The students choose one concentration (major) from six different themes and one specialization (minor) from another six different topics. I chose Economic and Political Development and International Conflict Studies. These were great combination for me because I wanted to study how to prevent conflict and move forward from conflict to peace. Here, I want to introduce two courses which I was impressed the most. Professor Elisabeth Lindenmayer teaches “The Security Council and Peacekeeping in Africa in the 21st Century.” The course consists of case studies of peacekeeping operations in Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Court d’Ivoire and many other missions which Professor had involved. Most of the time was spent on discussions. It also had some guest lecturers. One day, for example, a former head of UNMISS shared her experience and view with us which told me the reality on the ground. I learned a lot about different opinions of major powers, troop contributing countries, host governments and the UN Secretariat through the guest lecturers. Capstone is a group project most students do during the last 6 months of their student life. My project was about development policy of countries in Mekong region. We provided consulting to a NGO working on open data platform about SDGs and development. Based on the theory we learned during the first semester, we identified important stakeholders and conducted interviews to find out the unmet needs. Working closely with students with different backgrounds was another crucial purpose of Capstone. 7 members of my team were from 6 different countries. It was a great experience to work with them in Cambodia, Myanmar and the US. There were a lot of good memories other than study such as hiking in the upper state of New York, ice skating in Bryant Park, running in the Central Park and going around in the city by bike. It was also a lot of fun to bring my friends to Japanese restaurants. One of the most interesting events during my stay in the US was, of course, the presidential election. Although the result of the election was unexpected for most of us, active election campaigns in the city and discussions with my friends were unforgettable experience. Last but not least, I appreciate great support by many people including International Office at GraSPP, Professors and friends at GraSPP and SIPA, my parents, JASSO, and Okayama East Rotary Club and Rotary Foundation. Without those support, I couldn’t study abroad which is one of my goals in my life. The next step is to use this experience to contribute to the real world. I’ll do my best!   With the Capstone team after the final presentation International Affairs Building Oh! Okay, we both love Columbia!

I've done many "border crossings" after graduating GraSPP. Whether it was an academic discipline, an organization or a country, it was GraSPP that gave me the energy and courage to cross various borders. By reading the "Voices" of the alumni posted on this website, I've learned that they have also crossed many borders. Now, I'd like to take this opportunity to look back briefly on things I've done so far in terms of crossing borders. I hope you'll enjoy it as a message from an alumnus. While I was at GraSPP, I learned about the use of technology in the area of public policy by participating in a wide range of practical projects, such as utilizing ICT (information and communications technologies) in administrative organizations; and creating platforms for dialogue between the government and the public. By crossing a number of borders through having discussions with many people in various fields of study and organizations, I realized that I was able to have empathy toward others and create knowledge. [caption id="attachment_12971" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 1: Upon completion of the "The Government and IT" seminar[/caption] Greatly influenced by what I learned at GraSPP, I had the desire to try out various possibilities of technology in the education industry, which is a major public sector. Therefore, I joined a textbook company. It was when a debate had arisen on whether e-textbooks was suitable for public education or not. I'd felt like the technology was ready to make a full-scale entry into education at any moment, and long-established companies with a history of over 100 years had started to change. Those factors served as a great incentive for me to enter a company as well. After having experienced various types of work including sales, I worked in the planning department for digital educational contents, where I planned and developed new products and services for nearly four years. There was an atmosphere in which employees could work freely but, on the other hand, I was under constant pressure to continually come up with new ideas and create something out of nothing. [caption id="attachment_12972" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Picture 2: My final project at the textbook company. Both printed and e-books have their own advantages.[/caption] Meanwhile, I've met and worked with a lot of wonderful schoolteachers, and I began aspiring to a career as a teacher. I might have always wanted to be a teacher in the back of my head. So I started to take a correspondence course in teacher training while working. I was inspired by my classmates who also put themselves through college striving to become teachers while working. When the goal was about to be achieved, I turned 30 years old. I knew that, when I started, I would be ten years older than my fellow teachers who were new graduates. I'd also always wanted to study abroad. I decided to take the plunge and quit my job, study abroad and make a career move all at once. I had my fingers in three pies for a while-working at the company, studying to become a teacher and preparing to study abroad. I found myself in London three days after I quit my job. I had never lived abroad and had completely forgotten my English. That's how my life in a foreign country started. I set out on my journey holding my first ever one-way ticket in my hand, full of hope. However, I was soon consumed by anxiety: I was over 30 years old, unemployed and self-financed. It was a new field of study, and I even forgot my English, which was never that good. The list of factors causing anxiety was longer than I could list. Yet I picked myself up by telling myself, "The problem is, one fear creates another!" I gritted my teeth and immersed myself in study. When I got stuck on my thesis, I used to lie on my bed in my dormitory room staring up at the ceiling and groan. Not that it would bring a new idea, but I had no choice but just to write and read. Even as optimistic as I am, there were times when I was driven into a corner, but my colleagues helped me significantly. In those circumstances, I sort of identified my own life with the life of Soseki Natsume, a famous writer who's known for struggling in London. I read his books and diary about his life in London and empathized with his experience. Finally I managed to finish writing my thesis, and my second Master's course had completed as quickly as it started. [caption id="attachment_12973" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 3: Just before turning in my Master's thesis, feeling liberating[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12974" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 4: Wrap-up party at a college pub[/caption] Just a few days after returning to Japan, I taught as a trainee teacher at my alma mater. I gave lessons to high school students under the eye of fellow trainee teachers who were more than 10 years younger than me. In order to shake off my nervousness and dry the cold sweat, I used my conversational skills, which I fostered while studying in London, though it was with an American accent (I couldn't learn to speak with a posh accent in just a year and a half). [caption id="attachment_12975" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 5: Me as a trainee teacher, not so young but more excited than students[/caption] Finally, I'll become an English teacher this April. I'll be teaching at a junior and senior high school where a lot of students are probably better at English than me. I've been asking myself what an English teacher exists for and what one can teach. I'm already facing an identity crisis. In spite of the occupational identity crisis which I'm facing, I feel like I've formed my own identity, which I've come to realize through experiencing many "border crossings." I don't mean to sound presumptuous, but there's one last thing I want to tell those who are studying at GraSPP now and those who will in the future. Enjoy crossing as many borders as possible and keep the lead in "the tough UTokyo students" (the term might not be used anymore, might it?) while at GraSPP. Last but certainly not least, please take care of yourselves.

I've done many "border crossings" after graduating GraSPP. Whether it was an academic discipline, an organization or a country, it was GraSPP that gave me the energy and courage to cross various borders. By reading the "Voices" of the alumni posted on this website, I've learned that they have also crossed many borders. Now, I'd like to take this opportunity to look back briefly on things I've done so far in terms of crossing borders. I hope you'll enjoy it as a message from an alumnus. While I was at GraSPP, I learned about the use of technology in the area of public policy by participating in a wide range of practical projects, such as utilizing ICT (information and communications technologies) in administrative organizations; and creating platforms for dialogue between the government and the public. By crossing a number of borders through having discussions with many people in various fields of study and organizations, I realized that I was able to have empathy toward others and create knowledge. [caption id="attachment_12971" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 1: Upon completion of the "The Government and IT" seminar[/caption] Greatly influenced by what I learned at GraSPP, I had the desire to try out various possibilities of technology in the education industry, which is a major public sector. Therefore, I joined a textbook company. It was when a debate had arisen on whether e-textbooks was suitable for public education or not. I'd felt like the technology was ready to make a full-scale entry into education at any moment, and long-established companies with a history of over 100 years had started to change. Those factors served as a great incentive for me to enter a company as well. After having experienced various types of work including sales, I worked in the planning department for digital educational contents, where I planned and developed new products and services for nearly four years. There was an atmosphere in which employees could work freely but, on the other hand, I was under constant pressure to continually come up with new ideas and create something out of nothing. [caption id="attachment_12972" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Picture 2: My final project at the textbook company. Both printed and e-books have their own advantages.[/caption] Meanwhile, I've met and worked with a lot of wonderful schoolteachers, and I began aspiring to a career as a teacher. I might have always wanted to be a teacher in the back of my head. So I started to take a correspondence course in teacher training while working. I was inspired by my classmates who also put themselves through college striving to become teachers while working. When the goal was about to be achieved, I turned 30 years old. I knew that, when I started, I would be ten years older than my fellow teachers who were new graduates. I'd also always wanted to study abroad. I decided to take the plunge and quit my job, study abroad and make a career move all at once. I had my fingers in three pies for a while-working at the company, studying to become a teacher and preparing to study abroad. I found myself in London three days after I quit my job. I had never lived abroad and had completely forgotten my English. That's how my life in a foreign country started. I set out on my journey holding my first ever one-way ticket in my hand, full of hope. However, I was soon consumed by anxiety: I was over 30 years old, unemployed and self-financed. It was a new field of study, and I even forgot my English, which was never that good. The list of factors causing anxiety was longer than I could list. Yet I picked myself up by telling myself, "The problem is, one fear creates another!" I gritted my teeth and immersed myself in study. When I got stuck on my thesis, I used to lie on my bed in my dormitory room staring up at the ceiling and groan. Not that it would bring a new idea, but I had no choice but just to write and read. Even as optimistic as I am, there were times when I was driven into a corner, but my colleagues helped me significantly. In those circumstances, I sort of identified my own life with the life of Soseki Natsume, a famous writer who's known for struggling in London. I read his books and diary about his life in London and empathized with his experience. Finally I managed to finish writing my thesis, and my second Master's course had completed as quickly as it started. [caption id="attachment_12973" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 3: Just before turning in my Master's thesis, feeling liberating[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12974" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 4: Wrap-up party at a college pub[/caption] Just a few days after returning to Japan, I taught as a trainee teacher at my alma mater. I gave lessons to high school students under the eye of fellow trainee teachers who were more than 10 years younger than me. In order to shake off my nervousness and dry the cold sweat, I used my conversational skills, which I fostered while studying in London, though it was with an American accent (I couldn't learn to speak with a posh accent in just a year and a half). [caption id="attachment_12975" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Picture 5: Me as a trainee teacher, not so young but more excited than students[/caption] Finally, I'll become an English teacher this April. I'll be teaching at a junior and senior high school where a lot of students are probably better at English than me. I've been asking myself what an English teacher exists for and what one can teach. I'm already facing an identity crisis. In spite of the occupational identity crisis which I'm facing, I feel like I've formed my own identity, which I've come to realize through experiencing many "border crossings." I don't mean to sound presumptuous, but there's one last thing I want to tell those who are studying at GraSPP now and those who will in the future. Enjoy crossing as many borders as possible and keep the lead in "the tough UTokyo students" (the term might not be used anymore, might it?) while at GraSPP. Last but certainly not least, please take care of yourselves.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Japanese. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.

希望者は公益財団法人留学生支援企業協力推進協会（http://www.ryugakuseishien.com/) より直接応募してください。 参照URL：http://www.ryugakuseishien.com/?p=8526 対象：2019年3月卒業(修了）予定の留学生 応募締切日：2018年2月23日（金）午後3時（日本時間）　ただし、参加人数が定員になり次第締め切り チラシ 案内 参加企業一覧 参加申込書

In retrospect, I’ve taken a long route. I graduated from school in March 2007, and started working at Mori Building Co., Ltd. Learning at the seminar conducted by Prof. Akira Morita about Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which is a scheme where private firms are contracted to complete and manage public projects, inspired in me a desire to know more about the process of how private firms create public spaces while dealing with the government. [caption id="attachment_12470" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] A seminar camp with Prof. Morita in Sawara City (now Katori City), Chiba[/caption] The 2008 global financial crisis occurred the year after I joined the company. I was quite fortunate to have been in the hands of Mori Building while all of the emerging real estate firms were going out of business (It wouldn’t have worried me if I fell back on the government job for which a lot of GraSSPers aim). Since the management seems to have liked unusual personnel, a few years later I found myself working at the management planning division where I was given an environment that enabled me to discuss multibillion-dollar investments or the future of a company. Looking back, my ego might have been sky high. Then, the Great East Japan Earthquake happened, and it took my ego down a notch. It’s still fresh in our minds, and we had just never experienced anything like that before. My office was located in the building complex called Roppongi Hills. Fortunately, it wasn’t greatly damaged in accordance with its slogan for earthquake and disaster preparedness. In fact, there’s an enormous in-house power generator that’s not for emergencies installed in the basement of Roppongi Hills. It’s so reliable that it cannot only supply power without buying electricity from Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., but also sell electricity to others. That experience happened to show me what I had always wanted to know, the importance of the private sector in playing public roles. And yet at the same time, I become painfully aware of how powerless human beings were before the tsunami and nuclear accidents. I visited Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures as a volunteer a few times after the earthquake. In the meantime, I started to realize that the front-line of town development would be evident there in those affected areas. After seeing young people sharing the spirit of “making the most interesting town in the world” at places where they’ve lost everything, I couldn't help but jump into it. I eventually chose to make a career move to an American NPO and relocate to Ishinomaki City in Miyagi. [caption id="attachment_12471" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] A project that I supported after moving to Tohoku[/caption] A lot of things happened since then. Of course, the whole experience was rewarding, and I even left a small mark there through a few building projects. But whenever I had meetings on Skype with the headquarters in San Francisco and sponsors in New York, it was quite challenging for me to argue with them in English at around four or five o’clock in the morning. The headquarters of the NPO went bankrupt shortly after I left the organization, but that’s life. I’m actually taking the long way around in writing what I’m trying to say. Maybe it’s just my imagination. I’m currently working as a researcher at a think tank in Osaka. The work mainly involves administrative consignment projects, where I research and support the creation of various plans prepared by local governments. As I also help with the work for the central government, I'm sort of a ghostwriter of the industry that I once, for a brief moment, thought of pursuing after graduating. The wheels of fortune keep turning. What I’ve found very interesting recently is the process of reflecting on the opinions of the locals in their policies. The technique of opening a workshop and facilitating discussions between the people there and the administration has rapidly become popular in the past ten years, and its importance is getting better understood. I personally enjoy using graphics (pictures) to organize meetings and discussions, so I often go out to various places and draw pictures. [caption id="attachment_12472" align="aligncenter" width="816"] Organizing discussions by drawing graphics (pictures)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12473" align="aligncenter" width="815"] I’m at the bottom right[/caption] Now that you’ve read this far, have you noticed that the foreshadowing in the title hasn’t quite been explained yet? Well, let me start explaining. While supporting administrative work, I’ve found that they had two types of work. The first is to line up the reasons not to do something. Administrative resources and budget are limited. Also, their authority is determined by law. It’s natural that there are things they can and can’t do. The second thing is to come up with reasons to do things that you don’t really need to do. Their job is to put things in the rules of administrative planning and budget enforcement in order to surmise what the administrative heads come up with and then execute their plans. Just so there's no confusion, I’m not trying to criticize the government. I think the jobs there are extremely important, and the world wouldn’t turn if there were no one to work on them. Therefore, I’m grateful for it. However, work and career do not necessarily turn out the way you envisioned. An earthquake might come, or the company you work for might go bankrupt (even government employees have no guarantee). Nevertheless, it’s worthwhile to get the best from yourself to try to achieve your goals in the place of your own choosing. I wrote about the two types of work earlier, but of course, they aren’t everything. As for the third, I would like you to find a job that both you and people around you can enjoy, and I want to continue working like this too.

In retrospect, I’ve taken a long route. I graduated from school in March 2007, and started working at Mori Building Co., Ltd. Learning at the seminar conducted by Prof. Akira Morita about Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which is a scheme where private firms are contracted to complete and manage public projects, inspired in me a desire to know more about the process of how private firms create public spaces while dealing with the government. [caption id="attachment_12470" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] A seminar camp with Prof. Morita in Sawara City (now Katori City), Chiba[/caption] The 2008 global financial crisis occurred the year after I joined the company. I was quite fortunate to have been in the hands of Mori Building while all of the emerging real estate firms were going out of business (It wouldn’t have worried me if I fell back on the government job for which a lot of GraSSPers aim). Since the management seems to have liked unusual personnel, a few years later I found myself working at the management planning division where I was given an environment that enabled me to discuss multibillion-dollar investments or the future of a company. Looking back, my ego might have been sky high. Then, the Great East Japan Earthquake happened, and it took my ego down a notch. It’s still fresh in our minds, and we had just never experienced anything like that before. My office was located in the building complex called Roppongi Hills. Fortunately, it wasn’t greatly damaged in accordance with its slogan for earthquake and disaster preparedness. In fact, there’s an enormous in-house power generator that’s not for emergencies installed in the basement of Roppongi Hills. It’s so reliable that it cannot only supply power without buying electricity from Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., but also sell electricity to others. That experience happened to show me what I had always wanted to know, the importance of the private sector in playing public roles. And yet at the same time, I become painfully aware of how powerless human beings were before the tsunami and nuclear accidents. I visited Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures as a volunteer a few times after the earthquake. In the meantime, I started to realize that the front-line of town development would be evident there in those affected areas. After seeing young people sharing the spirit of “making the most interesting town in the world” at places where they’ve lost everything, I couldn't help but jump into it. I eventually chose to make a career move to an American NPO and relocate to Ishinomaki City in Miyagi. [caption id="attachment_12471" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] A project that I supported after moving to Tohoku[/caption] A lot of things happened since then. Of course, the whole experience was rewarding, and I even left a small mark there through a few building projects. But whenever I had meetings on Skype with the headquarters in San Francisco and sponsors in New York, it was quite challenging for me to argue with them in English at around four or five o’clock in the morning. The headquarters of the NPO went bankrupt shortly after I left the organization, but that’s life. I’m actually taking the long way around in writing what I’m trying to say. Maybe it’s just my imagination. I’m currently working as a researcher at a think tank in Osaka. The work mainly involves administrative consignment projects, where I research and support the creation of various plans prepared by local governments. As I also help with the work for the central government, I'm sort of a ghostwriter of the industry that I once, for a brief moment, thought of pursuing after graduating. The wheels of fortune keep turning. What I’ve found very interesting recently is the process of reflecting on the opinions of the locals in their policies. The technique of opening a workshop and facilitating discussions between the people there and the administration has rapidly become popular in the past ten years, and its importance is getting better understood. I personally enjoy using graphics (pictures) to organize meetings and discussions, so I often go out to various places and draw pictures. [caption id="attachment_12472" align="aligncenter" width="816"] Organizing discussions by drawing graphics (pictures)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12473" align="aligncenter" width="815"] I’m at the bottom right[/caption] Now that you’ve read this far, have you noticed that the foreshadowing in the title hasn’t quite been explained yet? Well, let me start explaining. While supporting administrative work, I’ve found that they had two types of work. The first is to line up the reasons not to do something. Administrative resources and budget are limited. Also, their authority is determined by law. It’s natural that there are things they can and can’t do. The second thing is to come up with reasons to do things that you don’t really need to do. Their job is to put things in the rules of administrative planning and budget enforcement in order to surmise what the administrative heads come up with and then execute their plans. Just so there's no confusion, I’m not trying to criticize the government. I think the jobs there are extremely important, and the world wouldn’t turn if there were no one to work on them. Therefore, I’m grateful for it. However, work and career do not necessarily turn out the way you envisioned. An earthquake might come, or the company you work for might go bankrupt (even government employees have no guarantee). Nevertheless, it’s worthwhile to get the best from yourself to try to achieve your goals in the place of your own choosing. I wrote about the two types of work earlier, but of course, they aren’t everything. As for the third, I would like you to find a job that both you and people around you can enjoy, and I want to continue working like this too.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Japanese. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.

陸前高田市「学びの部屋」学習支援ボランティアの募集について（H30年2月） ※ This information is only for students who have high Japanese language ability 東京大学救援・復興支援室ボランティア支援班事務局より「学習支援ボランティア」募集の案内がありましたのでお知らせいたします。 東京大学救援・復興支援室ボランティア支援班では、これまでに引き続きまして、 陸前高田市「学びの部屋」学習支援ボランティアの募集をすることとなりました。 詳細は、ポスター及びＨＰをご覧ください。 ポスター（353,KB）          

I had the great privilege of being one of the selected Japanese youth delegates to participate in the APEC Voices of the Future program. I am also deeply grateful to have been a part of a team of bright, talented young women to represent Japan in an international youth dialogue.  Founded in 2007, the APEC Voices of the Future is the key platform for youth dialogue which is held in conjunction with the annual APEC CEO Summit and APEC Economic Leaders’ Week. The program aims to encourage students to know more about the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, promote cross-cultural exchanges, and prepare youth delegates to become future leaders of their economies. Upon arrival in Da Nang, the weather may have been damp and somber, but the welcome of the city was warm and friendly in contrast. As I exited the airport doors, I was greeted with the cheerful smiles of the Vietnamese APEC volunteers who kindly assisted me and introduced me to the city. The first three days consisted of the youth delegate program followed by three days of the APEC CEO Summit. I had the opportunity to present a speech on behalf of the Japanese delegation, regarding the need for more inclusivity in Japanese society and the importance of nurturing an environment conducive to innovation. It was a valuable learning experience to hear the youth’s perspectives from each of the participating economies on this year’s theme of “creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future.”   One of the most endearing moments of the trip was our community visit to the Quang Nam Peace Village, which is home to over 100 orphans, disabled, and elderly people. The young children graced us with their lovely dance performances and the APEC VOF participants presented the children with gifts. During the CEO Summit, we had the chance to listen to talks focusing on the future of globalization, the digital age, new job creators, and new frontiers of trade. The speaker that made the most impact was, unsurprisingly, Mr. Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group, when he discussed the challenges that governments and businesses face in a globalized world. In his “tell-it-as-it-is” approach, Mr. Bremmer assured that despite growing trends in anti-globalization, ultra-nationalism, and trade protectionism, globalization will continue to move forward. He warns, however, that the benefits of globalization will continue to scatter unevenly and that it’s important to address this inequality. The Japanese youth delegates were also able to have a sit-down discussion with the OECD Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Masamichi Kono, in which we were able to gain valuable insight into his perspectives on the evolution of work.  The highlight of our trip was being able to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in person and shake hands with him. It was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. We were also able to listen to keynote addresses given by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China and President Donald Trump of the U.S. Although the program flew by quickly, it was a fulfilling week full of new experiences, friendships, and adventures. The students from all the economies participating in the VOF ranged from high school to Ph.D. students and came from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. It was a pleasure to learn about each of their cultures, perspectives, and hopes, and we realized that despite our differences, we also had many things in common. This was my first time in Vietnam, and it certainly won’t be my last—I have made many new friends in Vietnam whom I would like to meet again in the near future. Overall, I believe that the APEC VOF program has left me with great friendships, lasting impressions, new perspectives, and a renewed passion for learning.   Related webpage APEC Vietnam 2017

From November 5th to November 11th, I had the opportunity to attend the APEC Voices of the Future Program 2017 as a delegate representing Japan. Prior to attending the summit, our delegation had the privilege to meet with members of the APEC Business Advisory Council and government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs Bureau. The meetings included Mr. Kanji Yamanouchi, Director-General of the Economic Affairs Bureau, and representatives from the APEC Division. These insightful meetings enabled us to understand the challenges Japan faces, Japan’s stances, and its role in the Asia-Pacific Region so that we could better prepare for the program. One of this program's highlights was the opportunity to hear from global leaders. At the opening ceremony, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, former United Nations Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), spoke about how youth play an important role in shaping the future, and encouraged us to take action to make a change. Such words allowed me to think about the privilege we have and our responsibility to make the world a better place. Furthermore, she spoke about global challenges that we must tackle, such as climate change. During our stay in Vietnam, I saw how the beautiful city of Hoi An was heavily affected by flooding. Seeing such damage with my own eyes showed me how global issues cannot be resolved by one economy. During the APEC CEO Summit, we were able to meet Mr. Masamichi Kono, the Deputy Secretary General of OECD, who was one of the panelists in the APEC CEO Summit session on the theme “Future of Work.” As a student who will be working soon, it was encouraging to hear what kind of policies are taken internationally, both in the public and private sectors, regarding “robotification” and the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Having the chance to meet and discuss with other delegates from around the world widened my view. Delegates ranged from students in high school to those already working. Being able to have discussions with such diverse counterparts enabled me to broaden my perspective and allowed me to understand more about each economy. As a declaration writer, I took part in writing the youth declaration for the sub-theme of “Human Resources Development in the Digital Age.” Throughout APEC, one of the main topics discussed among both political and business leaders was the impact of AI and big data on the future. As a youth, we included in the declaration “the importance of establishing a platform to enhance education through big data and to increase opportunities where talents among economics can engage with diverse business and society.” By discussing with my counterparts from around the world, I learned there is still a huge gap between developed and developing countries. For example, I was astonished to hear from the delegates of Papua New Guinea that a large amount of their population still does not have access to the internet and smartphones. This experience made me realize the importance of first understanding and hearing directly from different economies. Despite our different backgrounds, I learned that we all share the same passion for trying to make the world a better place. I am certain that the friendships we have developed over the past week will continue, and I hope someday that we will be able to work together in the future. Last but not least, I would like to say thank you to Professor Nishizawa, Ms. Aoi Ohno, Pengru Tan, and the Japanese delegates (Miyuki Tsuru, Midori Nishida, Asami Takahashi, and Kasumi Fujita) for giving me the opportunity to participate in this program, and for making my experience at APEC unforgettable.