As part of the KAKEHASHI Project, a fully-funded, large-scale youth exchange program between Japan and North America promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 19 students from the University of Toronto (U of T) visited GRIPS Monday, February 15th 2016.

GRIPS was honored to take part in the program aiming to foster interest in Japan among youths from Canada and the US, as well as to promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and these two important partners.

The Canadian students and a number of GRIPS students were given a series of lectures by academics on the introduction to Japan, the Japanese energy policy after Fukushima as well as security issues in East Asia.

GRIPS Japanese students introduced Japanese culture, geography and tourist hotspots of Japan. A particular highlight was being treated to a traditional dance by Cultural Policy Program student Lena Okada, evoking the four distinct seasons of Kyoto. (pictured below.)

Later in the afternoon the students separated into three groups to discuss Japanese foreign policy, the territorial disputes of the South China Sea as well as the TPP & RCEP multinational trade agreements. GRIPS students Yuka Ando (Ph.D. Security and International Studies Program, SISP), Jeff Ordaniel (SISP) and Nicholas Latimer (Young Leaders Program) led lively debates allowing the students to learn from each other and engage in invaluable intercultural debate.

One of the visitors, Amy Bronson, a Master’s student from the Munk School of Global Affairs, U of T was said she was impressed by the diversity of the student body at GRIPS.

‘To talk about the TPP which Canada is a signatory to with all of these people from the Asian region – in Canada you don’t necessarily have that opportunity.’

GRIPS Development Policy Program student Yuichiro Taniguchi who presented the characteristics of northern Japan such as Tohoku and Hokkaido to the group was also particularly happy with the day’s events.

‘I was really glad I got the opportunity to talk about Japan to my new Canadian friends.’

This coming March as part of the same exchange program, 6 Japanese students from GRIPS including Taniguchi are due to visit the U of T as well as the capital Ottawa on a 8 day program. He stated he was looking forward to reuniting with some of the invaluable connections he made on the day.

Article by GRIPS Public Relations Department