2014.09.01

CAMPUS Asia Summer Program: Fortnight at GRIPS 2014 Completed!

On 12-25 August 2014, GRIPS CAMPUS Asia hosted a 2-week intensive summer program titled “Fortnight at GRIPS 2014” in a sequel to last year’s program.

This year, 9 students from School of Public Policy and Management at Korean Development Institute (KDIS) and 5 students from Tsinghua University School of Public Policy and Management (SPPM) attended the program. After a brief campus tour and program guidance, students attended the opening reception before launching into the 15-session Urban Development Policy course by Mr. Suzuki in the evening.

On Thursday, August 14, students participated in a field trip to Honjo Life Safety Learning Center run by the Tokyo Fire Department. In the two-hour guided tour, students went through earthquake and urban flooding experience, rainstorm simulation, and fire fighting drill.

Rainstorm Simulation Experience	Experiencing Intensity 7 Earthquake

The following activity was tea ceremony experience at Hotel New Otani, co-organized by Japanese Student Council on Saturday, August 16. The ceremony involved preparing powdered Japanese green tea, called Matcha, according to custom and enjoying its bitter taste together with traditional Japanese sweets quietly and serenely. Students also enjoyed a nice little walk around the beautiful Japanese garden with large ponds, bridges to cross, tea house, and a waterfall.

For the second field trip of the program, the group visited National Diet of Japan in Nagatachō district, Tokyo in the afternoon of August 18. After a brief introduction by Mr. Kamimura, a staff at National Diet who is currently studying at GRIPS, the students toured inside the House of Councillors’ builiding including the Committee Room, Chambers of House of Councillors, the Central Hall, and the Emperor’s Room. After the tour, the participants had a Q&A session with the tour guide, which covered a wide range of topics such as Japan’s bicameral legislature, and the economic growth strategy of the current Abe administration.

In collaboration with GRIPS Development Policy Program, participants were joined by 16 Japanese students on the two-day “Infrastructure Legacy and the Olympics” workshop on Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23. The purpose of the event was to learn about the forefront of infrastructure development in the metropolitan area for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and to share the experiences of China, Japan and South Korea for the Olympic Games’ impacts on the national spatial development. The first day of the field trip included visits to Urban Renaissance Agency, Sumidagawa Bridge construction site, Institute of Technology of Shimizu Corporation, construction site of Shinagawa Tunnel of Metropolitan Expressway & Taisei Corporation, as well as dinner reception with special guests from Shimizu Corporation and Taisei Corporation. On the following day, in the half-day workshop, ideas, strategies and experiences for sustainable and inclusive legacy of Olympic games were shared.

Joint Field Trip & Workshop with GRIPS Development Policy Program

All participants concluded their two-week program with the Completion Ceremony and Farewell Party on Monday, August 25. The ceremony began with awarding of certificates and speeches, then continued with dinner, conversation and a slideshow in the lounge joined by GRIPS students, faculty and staff.

Traditional Dance Performance by Ms. Lena Okada, a Masters’ student of Cultural Policy Program at GRIPS	Thank-You letter from Ms. ZHANG Xiaoran of SPPM

GRIPS CAMPUS Asia would like to congratulate all the participants for their effort and achievements over the past two weeks!