皆さんこんにちは！2023年10月28-30日、世界各国から参加者が福島浜通りに集まり、英語でのスタディツアーを行いました。

2023年10月に行った福島スタディツアーの模様を参加者の皆さんよりお届けしています。トップバッターはPascoさんです！

Hello everyone! I'm Fedir Pasko from Ukraine, and I have participated in the Fukushima study tour in October of 2023. I have an interest in studying about world events and this interest has brought me to Fukushima-bu! 

The Russian invasion of 2022 has hit me and my family hard. In April of 2023 I came to Japan and since then I am a first-year student at Japan Aviation Academy High School in Hokkaido.

I was "recruited" to this tour at the Hiroshima Junior International Forum held in August of 2023 - Global Shapers Community has advertised this tour to attract students. As a result I came, and also became the first participant of the Fukushima-bu study tour under the age of 18.

Here I will tell you about the tour and my general impressions of it!

DAY 1 - Local food, Tomioka Winery, The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum, Air Kaol textile Company

At first we gathered in Tokyo near the bus station and rode to Fukushima from there. We were introducing ourselves on the bus while we were going to Fukushima.

Then we arrived at Iwaki to eat some local fish from Fukushima. It was delicious!

After that we came to the Tomioka Winery near Futaba town and saw how local people are very eager to rebuild the place. They will have a harvesting season sometime soon so we would all love to come there for kanpai!

Next, we arrived at the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum. It was very educational.

The last visit of the day was at the local textile company. We were given the ability to buy some of the company's produce. Personally for me buying their products felt as if I were contributing to the revival of the area.

DAY 2 - Visit of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, entrepreneurship lecture in Odaka, visit to evacuated parts of Futaba town

One of the most important things in the tour was the visit to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant itself - the sole place where the disaster in 2011 has occurred. During the visit we had the opportunity to see remains of the catastrophy and current efforts to decomission the power plant. We were also let to take a look at the purification systems and protocols of the famously rumoured Fukushima radioactive water.

Later that day we had a lecture about the enterprenuership at Fukushima, and how it can help rebuild the community. There were two lectures: one from mr Wada, who created multiple projects in Odaka ward of Minamisoma city, including Odaka worker's base we were in, and mr Satou, the CEO of Hakoba sake brewing company based in Fukushima.

Then we went to walk around evacuated areas of Futaba town that were recently reopened for the public. At the time of our visit Futaba's population was just 95 people, compared to 16thousand before the disaster. Walking around Futaba town was heartbreaking and hopeful. The sight of stopped life, and the sight of hope of revival at the same time.

DAY 3 - Debriefing, video contest

From the start of the tour there was an assignment - for every group to make a video about the tour. On the last day we compiled all the footage from my group and presented it to the video contest. My group has won!

Impressions

I loved the tour!

It was a very interesting and refreshing experience. I myself have an interest in learning about such occurrences so it was an insightful and educational tour for me! 

I also love the Global Shapers community and their efforts to create connecting experiences for the world. One of their efforts of bringing diversity was evident: the tour had very diverse participants, all who joined with different reasons - some were involved in the electricity production, some had knowledge on nuclear power, and some just wanted to learn more about Fukushima. It was truly a "A Connective Experience Connecting Messages".

ふくしま部とは

Global Shapers Community について

文章：Fedir Pasko