“Tamagawa Conference” is an annual event organized mainly by executive committee students, and the purpose is to hone a force that one can play an active role in the international community.
This year’s theme was “Japan that makes us”. About 70 students participated from July 14th to 16th, and a variety of workshops and discussions were conducted.
On the first day, participants joined “Model United Nations”, which is the discussion from the positions as ambassadors of different countries. Like every year, there were vigorous activities.
On the second day, workshop was held by Ryohei Abe and Toru Yasuda from UNIQLO, and they explained the project that they are working on; “Let’s Deliver the Power of Clothes”.
“Why do we wear clothes?”, The students learned the fundamental meaning of clothes, while be surprised to the fact that the life of refugees is threatened by the absence of clothes. They were able to realize the significance of the project.
After sharing what they felt from the lecture in teams, they created “box to collect the clothes” to cooperate in the project.
“How can we make this box to make people to donate the clothes?”, While discussing ,there was constant laughs from fun ideas.
In the afternoon, they gave presentations about the design concept of the box to collect the clothes.
“I thought children of the refugees are different from me, but I now understand that they are the same. We want to give the same pleasure to children of the refugees.” “I think “Power of Clothes” is “the smile that comes from the delivery of clothes “. They spoke what each member learned and understood what they can do for the sake of international problem-solving.
After the presentation, they listened to the talk about “Tamagawa Adventure Program (TAP)”, which is a program to challenge a problem in teams, by Katsumi Naniwa who is the head of Tamagawa University TAP Center. the challenge to the challenges in cooperation with the team, “Tamagawa Adventure Program (TAP)”.
“Adventure is “to welcome new self”.” Everyone were excited to the lecture interspersed with examples and humor.
After the lecture they experienced the workshop, such as drawing a picture of the house with one pen by two people together, and clapping hands one by one in a circle. They learned the mechanism of the brain and the method to change perspectives. Though these activities they realized the joy from the problem-solving that corporates with their classmates.
In the morning of the third day which is the last day, the practiced the overall work of the TAP.
After the ice break, they shared “what they cherish” which they wrote on a paper petal of the cosmos to the team.
Some of the students struggled to face inner self, but they were able to notice the important things that was in themselves through talk with peers. Petals with letters gradually increased.
“Please stick your hands and leg with the person next to you, and stand up together with your own timings.” They learned the importance of cooperate with peers through the physical activities.
The students, while repeating the failures and discussions, finally achieved the challenge with innovative ideas, and shared the joy.
In the afternoon, they greeted 6 Brazilian students, and challenged to “create a dance that fits to the Japanese song”.
The concept of this work was, “knowing about Japan in order to interact with foreign people.”
When the repertoire was passed to students, even exchange students who are not good at Japanese and students who are not good at dance got involved into deciphering the lyrics together, shared images, and went to create a dance to express the view of the world of the song.
“That’s wonderful!” “That is adorable.” The venue was full of applauses from the audiences after every teams’ performances.
They were able to grasp the response that leads to the problem-solving through understanding themselves and communicating openly beyond the differences of the country and grade.
Finally, they were set in the atrium of the school center, and recalled the three days.
“By making up thigs through listening to the opinion of the exchange students, I was able to learned the power of challenging and communication”
“I was able to participate actively into discussions and gained the skill to understand the world”
“Everyone enjoyed the dance today. We were able to interact with students from different grades. We can interact with people around the world through dance. I want to enjoy not only from Round Square activity.”
After everyone shared their impressions and felt sympathy, they watched a photo slide show of the three days.
With this time spent in their heart, “Tamagawa Conference” of this year has ended.
Along with the fellow who are walking toward the future together, students gained lots of tops for success in the international community in these three days.
【Lecturer profile】
Ryohei Abe
Belongs to UNIQLO CO., LTD Sales Division, Sales Support Unit, FC · Business Cooperation Team SV.
After graduating Tamagawa University Faculty of Literature in 1996m he joined UNIQLO CO., LTD., in August, 2000. Through being a store manager in a variety of branches, he is in his current position since 2013. He is also providing a class project “Let’s Deliver the Power of Clothes” to elementary and middle schools.
Yukiko Abe
Works as a store manager of UNIQLO Sagami-Ono Station Square store. Graduating Tamagawa University Faculty of Literature in 2003, she joined UNIQLO CO., LTD. as a new graduate. Since 2006, she works as a store manager and was in charge of stores in Shizuoka, Iwate, Miyagi, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. In 2015, she was assigned to the current store.
Toru Yasuda
After graduating Tamagawa University, Faculty of Literature in 1999, he worked at Tokai University Sagami High School’s Physical Education. He joined Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., and was assigned to Shizuoka City. After working as a store manager in various places of Japan, he experienced working in China Shanghai office in 2012. He is in his current position since 2015.
Katsumi Nanba
Chair of Tamagawa University TAP Center.
Studied pedagogy and sports psychology in University of Louisville, and Springfield University. Also completed Tamagawa University PhD Graduate School of Engineering Brain Information in 2010. In 1995 he founded Project Adventure Japan and involved in the dissemination and education of leaders. He is now focusing on practical activities in the field of education and research at the university.