Past Programs for Students

Eighty-eight students from Japan Women’s University participated in a field study (academic credits granted).

They stayed for three days and two nights, and participated in the following activities:

・Agricultural Experience
・Hazard Recognition Trainin
・Country Cuisine Workshop
・Discussion and exchange with university students of the Koriyama area

Future leaders gathered in Ouse and experienced life in the countryside. It was a wonderful learning experience. The university students and the farmers had a great time.

Four students from Japan Women’s University took part in a countryside experience exchange. They stayed for three days and two nights, and participated in the following activities:

・Study group with students living in Koriyama (reflections on nuclear accident and 2011 Tohoku earthquake)
・Agricultural Center Observation (explanation of radiation dose monitoring equipment, explanation of damage caused by misinformation)
・Agricultural Experience (vegetable picking, seed planting, etc.)
・Country Cuisine Study Group (miso kanpura [potatoes], karashi dango [mustard dumplings], botamochi [red adzuki beans in glutinous rice cakes], countryside vegetable soup)
・Relaxation at the farmhouse pension

The exchange of ideas with students from the Koriyama area was a success, with both groups of students finding the experience to be stimulating. From this year, experiences in Ouse will become a formal class, with academic credits granted, at Japan Women’s University. We’re looking forward to next year!

Twenty students in total from Bunkyo Gakuin University, Tamagawa University and Tokyo Denki University participated in an experience exchange. They stayed for three days and two nights, and participated in the following activities:

・Lecture on radiation and the actual conditions of Koriyama (lecturer: Professor Yoshizawa, WIZ International Information and Automobile Engineering College)
・Workshop discussing damage caused by nuclear power generation and the restarting of nuclear power plants
・Country Cuisine Study Group (countryside temaki [hand-rolled sushi], countryside pizza)
・Ouse’s traditional performing art, Hyottoko Odori, workshop and socializing
・Nature Experience (mountain snow sledding)

We look forward to continuing to offer programs that broaden the minds of university students.

A total of 20 students from Japan Women’s University participated in a countryside experience exchange, separated into two sessions. They stayed for two days and one night, and participated in the following activities:

・Agricultural Experience (vegetable picking, seed planting, etc.)
・Countryside Cuisine Study Group (countryside nagashi somen [somen noodles served flowing down a bamboo chute], countryside pizza, countryside stone oven cuisine)
・Ouse traditional performing art, Hyottoko Odori, workshop

Though the program was short, participants were able to enjoy the abundant nature of Ouse.

Students from Bunkyo Gakuin University participated in a newly developed workshop which consisted of the following activities:

・Lecture on the current status of radiation in Koriyama (lecturer: Professor Yoshizawa, WIZ International Information and Automobile Engineering College)
・Visit to a farm-direct sales promotion workshop

As it was our first program outside of agricultural workshops, we were nervous. But it was a great success and the students enjoyed themselves.

◯ The meals we enjoyed in Ouse were delicious, and the people were so kind. Waking up in the morning and hearing insects singing outside—you can only truly understand how wonderful that is by experiencing it first-hand. (August 2015)

◯ They accepted me like I was one of their grandchildren, and it made me so happy. Ouse is now my second home. When I have children of my own, I want to bring them here. (August 2015)

◯ It was refreshing that there were so many differences between Ouse and Tokyo. Everybody who welcomed us was wonderful. I’m so glad I participated. We ate delicious food, harvested vegetables and enjoyed hot spring bathing. For those of us from Tokyo, it was a valuable experience. Thank you so much. (August 2015)

◯ It was a short stay of only two nights and three days, but the warmth and closeness of the people—I felt something that I don’t feel in the city. It’s a place of healing, and I want to visit again. (August 2015)

◯ Even though it was my first time back to Ouse in three years, the farmers remembered my face. It felt like a homecoming. I was really happy. (February 2015)

◯ My first impression of Ouse was that it didn’t have any convenience stores. But after experiencing life in Ouse, I came to realize that I don’t need convenience stores. Life without waste in Ouse is the best! (February 2015)

◯ I’ve been to Ouse many times, and no matter how many times I go, I never get tired of it. I want to visit again. (February 2015)

◯ The husband and wife of the farmhouse pension were incredibly kind to me. The food was also delicious. In the evening, sitting under the kotatsu heated table and listening to stories from the husband’s childhood and about the changes after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, I was able to learn about things that I can’t in my home area. (February 2015)

◯ Nakamura-san from Nakamura-Sanchi told us that the future of agriculture in Japan will be decided by children who don’t know about agriculture. These words left a big impression on me. I came to strongly believe that those of us who will carry the future of Japan need to first become familiar with Japan. Thank you so much for the valuable experience. (February 2015)

◯ I’ve visited Ouse many times, and the food is always delicious, and the people are always kind. It really feels like I’m visiting my grandmother’s house. It’s very fun. I want to go back to see the cherry blossoms. (February 2015)

◯ It was a short agricultural experience, but it required a lot of energy. Everything is done by hand, so I thought I could grow delicious vegetables. It was good to learn that the townspeople do so many things every day, like animal control. (August 2015)

◯ In the study group, I was able to speak with students from other universities and heard the important stories of those affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. It was a shock to hear how people my own age suffered. It was a good experience because I got to interact with various people from the world and expand my worldview. (August 2015)

◯ Even now, radiation is a problem in Fukushima Prefecture. In the study group, we discussed such things as well as the future. I once again sensed the importance for those of us about to enter society to think about nuclear power in this way. (August 2015)

◯ In the study group, we were able to hear stories from people who lived in Fukushima at the time of the disaster and who still live there. We heard stories that we don’t hear in Tokyo, and it was good that we got to have those discussions. (August 2015)

◯ Listening to locals talk about nuclear power and radiation was a good experience. (February 2015)

◯ We were able to exchange ideas with the farmers and have discussions about nuclear power generation with the other participants. After considering what others said, I now want to do what I can to help Fukushima’s reconstruction. (February 2015)

◯ Hearing many different opinions about restarting nuclear power plants was good. (February 2015)

◯ Reflecting on home from a distance reminded me of the comfort of my own home and the warmth of my own family. (August 2015)

◯ I was able to exchange ideas with students from other universities, and it was a very good opportunity. (February 2015)

◯ I was deeply moved to see how many university students are helping the farmers of Fukushima. (February 2015)

◯ I don’t have much experience in the countryside, but I enjoyed myself. A life surrounded by nature is therapeutic. (February 2015)