The 12^th JOPCA Tour for the JICA Training Course Participants on 15^th June 2019

JOPCA member Hidetoshi KUME (Mr.)

1. Introduction

On 15^th of June 2019, JOPCA conducted a guided tour for trainees of JICA training course to enjoy traditional culture in Tokyo.

The name of the JICA training course is "Sustainable Port Development and Planning (for port engineer)". 15 trainees came from 13 countries. The tour was guided by 10 Japanese people, who are government officials and JOPCA members.

On 12^th of June, I conducted a guidance of the tour to the trainees. On this occasion, I asked their intention for joining the tour, because the weather forecastis heavy rain on 15^th of June. I was surprised that all trainees showed their strong willingness for joining the JOPCA tour. I decided to carry out the tour by considering strong and hot willingness of all the trainees.

Fortunately, we could hold the tour. I think that the Heaven understood trainees' willingness and reduced the power of the rain.

On 15^th of June, we slightly changed the course to Hama Rikyu from Shimbashi Station in order to avoid wetting by the rain. On the way to Hama Rikyu, we conducted the grouping of the trainees and Japanese guides into 4 groups.

Finally, the preparation for JOPCA tour was completed!

　2. Stroll in Hama Rikyo

The first event is to stroll in Hama Rikyu. Even though it was raining (it was Japanese rainy season), it seemed that trainees enjoyed a lot. They were taking pictures of Hydrangea flowers, and themselves in front of the flowers.

After the strolling in the garden, the participants enjoyed the experience of tea ceremony. Tea in Japan is now becoming very famous in the trainees' mother countries. So, they tried to follow the traditional procedure for tea ceremony. The tall and muscular guys tried to sit on Tatami mats, which made us smile.

3. Cruising by Water Bus

Next event was to ride a water bus in Sumida River from Hama Rikyu to Asakusa for one hour.　Every time the water bus passed under bridges, the trainees cheered by the thrill for passing narrow space between water surface and bridge.

The trainees enjoyed the scenery from the water bus, such as buildings and greens along the river.

4. Lunch for enjoying Japanese food

JOPCA invited trainees for Japanese food lunch, the menu of which was tempura at SANSADA restaurant.

Trainees tried to use Japanese chopsticks for eating tempura. Some trainees finally abandoned to use chopsticks and ate tempura by folk and knife. Some trainees could use Japanese chopsticks very well. The participants enjoyed the lunch a lot.

5. Visiting SENSOUJI Temple

The last event was to visit the ASAKUSA SENSOUJI temple. It was good opportunity for the trainees to experience the Japanese traditional religious culture.

Some trainees drew the fortune at the temple. One trainee felt happy by drawing DAIKICHI or big fortune. Another trainee drew KYO or bad fortune and tied it to a tree in the temple in order to leave the bad fortune in the temple.

At the end, pictures were taken of all the participants in front of the gate of the SENSOJI temple. It was happy for us to find smiles in the faces of the trainees.

6. At Last

I was disappointed as we could not see the Sky Tree from the building we mounted in ASAKUSA because of the rain and thick fog. However, I felt that trainees could enjoy the tour for experiencing Japanese traditional culture.

I herewith express my appreciation to all of the trainees for joining the tour with very good spirit, full of curiosity to Japanese culture and cooperative manner. And I also appreciate the Japanese colleagues for their good cooperation to the trainees. I believe that our friendship reach to the trainees.