JICA FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM SCIENCE STUDENTS 1987: PART 2: GENERAL ORIENTATION IN JAPAN (FIRST WEEK)

Here we are now in Japan!

Philippine Science Students with General Students and Teachers Groups for 1987

together with the Philippine General Students and Teachers Groups

Today, we start with our new journey!

The JICA ASEAN-JAPAN Friendship Programme for the 21st Century Philippine Students and Teachers 1987 Group has arrived in Japan.
We came in spring with a cool and sunny weather and when we arrived at the airport, Vic-san said, " Wow, Japan has centralized air-conditioning!" 

By this time, the Science Students group seemed like one big barkada, and someone in the airport (whom I didn't know) asked if we were already friends for a long time. We may have been too noisy or too happy for someone to ask us that.

We are now in Tokyo and here is a write-up about Tokyo in 1987...

We stayed at the  Hotel Metropolitan in Ikebukuro, which is very central in Inner Tokyo and part of the Yamanote Loop. 

before going to the Philippine Embassy

Here is our schedule for the next six days...

Our General Orientation was held in the Hotel Metropolitan, Tokyo from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. And after 5 p.m., we had our free time to go around Tokyo since it was easy to get around their subway loop. If you rode, the wrong train, you could still reach your destination but just longer.

Here are some of our official activities:
OFFICIAL PHOTO OF THE DELEGATES OF THE ASEAN-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY First Batch for the Year 1987: Philippine General and Science Students and Teachers Group

EVENING OF JAPANESE MARTIAL ARTS AT THE NIPPON BUDOKAN

From Wikipedia: The Nippon Budokan (日本武道館 Nippon Budōkan?), often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.

The Nippon Budokan is located in Kitanomaru Park in the center of Tokyo, two minutes' walking distance from Kudanshita Subway Station, and near Yasukuni Shrine. This 42 m (140 ft) high imposing octagonal structure holds 14,201 people (arena seats: 2,762, 1st floor seats: 3,199, 2nd floor seats: 7,760, standee: 480) and is modeled after Yumedono (Hall of Dreams) in Hōryū-ji in Nara.

Though it still functions as a venue for big musical events, its primary purpose is for Japanese martial arts (indeed, the name literally means "Japan Martial Arts Hall"). The national championships of the different branches of the martial arts (judo, kendo, karate, aikido, shorinji kempo, kyūdō, naginata, etc.) are held annually at the Budokan. For wrestling fans the Budokan means professional wrestling's big shows. Now, the Budokan is mostly used by Pro Wrestling Noah, who often hold major events there.

we were also given the chance to do the Martial Arts...I think this is Kendo,  the Way of the Sword!
But at my back, the others are doing the Naginata, where they used the long curved blade

All of the Delegates have the chance to visit the Budokan, and I was very happy that in 1991, we, in Cebu had a chance for the Karatedo-expert to have his homestay with us. How pleased he was, and how pleased we were that his picture is in each of our albums!

VISIT TO THE NISSAN MURAYAMA PLANT
At this time, we saw the production of the Nissan March and the use of robots in the assembly line.

on the bus to the Nissan Murayama Plant

VISIT TO THE SAYAMA STADIUM

The Sayama Stadium is the Home of the Seibu Lions, one of Japan's baseball teams. Baseball is a favorite sport of the Japanese.

at the Sayama Stadium gift shop

for our lunch and we had to learn how to use the chopstick fast because we had a tight schedule

VISIT TO THE NTT (Nippon Telephone and Telegraph) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SCIENCE HALL

At a time when the computer age was still in its infancy, the electronic developments they showed us were very amazing. In the present years, these may be considered part of our daily life and other projects we saw, may even be obsolete.

VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN TOKYO
We were welcomed warmly by the staff of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.

It is interesting to be a Philippine Delegate to another country. We have to present the Philippines well, but be ourselves enough to enjoy it.

In the next part (Part 3), I will show some of the unofficial places we visited during our free time in Tokyo and Yokohama after our scheduled activities.