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| Courtesy photo |
| The group showed Hoosier pride at the ambassador’s residence. U.S. press attache David Marks is far left. |
Student Reports:
March 19, 2010By Shabrelle Pollock
Our final day in Japan began with a visit to the Nissan plant and headquarters, located in Oppama and Yokohama respectively. The Oppama location is one of the few auto assembly plants that still offers tours to the public. Seeing firsthand the work that went into producing cars whose brand name holds such global esteem was interesting.
Following the tour, we traveled to Nissan headquarters where we were treated to lunch with a few professionals. We chatted with our host Yoshie Yamasaki and members of the corporate communications and social responsibility group about their jobs working with an international organization.
From Nissan, several of us visited Tokyo’s own Chinatown before embarking on the final trip destination: Harajuku. Time Out: Tokyo called the infamous location “rammed, noisy, lurid and often obnoxious.” Translation for us: the teen to 20-something Mecca.
Located on a somewhat cramped Takeshita Dori, Harajuku was like stepping into an assault of the senses. Between the vibrant colors and decadent smells, it’s the perfect place to waste time after a busy day. It’s also the perfect place to close the chapter of a wondrous overseas adventure.
Despite the fact that I couldn’t get that silly Gwen Stefani “Rich Girl” lyric out of my head (“Come together all over the world, from the hoods of Japan, Harajuku girls…”), our final destination this trip proved itself to be one of fun-filled reflection. We explored shops, ate crepes and talked to a few people our age. These conversations gave us great closure for our trip.
While we may not speak each other’s languages, the ability to relate to others—especially those with cultures so different than our own—can teach us a lot. Not only does it make the world feel like a more connected place, but relating to others is at the core of what many of us will be doing in our careers and for the rest of our lives.
For each and every one of us, our week in Tokyo will not only be the launching pad for something great, it will be an experience we’ll never forget.
Located on a somewhat cramped Takeshita Dori, Harajuku was like stepping into an assault of the senses. Between the vibrant colors and decadent smells, it’s the perfect place to waste time after a busy day. It’s also the perfect place to close the chapter of a wondrous overseas adventure.
Despite the fact that I couldn’t get that silly Gwen Stefani “Rich Girl” lyric out of my head (“Come together all over the world, from the hoods of Japan, Harajuku girls…”), our final destination this trip proved itself to be one of fun-filled reflection. We explored shops, ate crepes and talked to a few people our age. These conversations gave us great closure for our trip.
While we may not speak each other’s languages, the ability to relate to others—especially those with cultures so different than our own—can teach us a lot. Not only does it make the world feel like a more connected place, but relating to others is at the core of what many of us will be doing in our careers and for the rest of our lives.
For each and every one of us, our week in Tokyo will not only be the launching pad for something great, it will be an experience we’ll never forget.
March 18, 2010
By Alexi Turbow and Rachel Elman
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| Photo by Rachel Elman |
| Samantha Israel (left) and Cassie Goldstein taste the offerings at the Tsukiji fish market, the largest in the world. |
The group coincidentally reconvened in front of a restaurant getting ready to cut a large tuna, the killing of which has become a worldwide controversy. The debate revolves around whether or not blue fin tuna should continue to be hunted. Ironically, CNN International happened to be filming this particular event for a piece on the issue. Two students, Shabrelle Pollock and Sam Glover, were interviewed by CNN correspondent Kyung Lah regarding the issue. (View the clip at CNN’s Web site.)
After the tuna slicing, we headed to a popular sushi restaurant in the market for lunch. We tried a multitude of different types of sushi and sashimi. After a more than satisfying lunch, we continued to explore the market and came across another fish slicing demonstration. All of a sudden a rush of excitement came over the crowd. We looked in the direction of their gaze to spot a well-groomed man walking towards us with his entourage close at hand. People in the crowd informed us that the man in question was a TV host, actor and musician whose name is pronounced Much. This was then confirmed by his stylist who stopped to chat with us for a while.
From the exciting market, we headed to a quieter side of town where the U.S. Embassy is located. After successfully clearing security, we were taken to a press briefing room where we engaged in dialogue with the embassy’s press attaché and IU alumnus David Marks, ABC reporter Margaret Conley and U.S. Ambassador John V. Roos. They shared insightful tips on U.S.-Japanese relations, getting involved in the Foreign Service and being an American journalist abroad.
When it was time for the ambassador to return to his political duties, he suggested that Marks take us on a tour of the ambassador’s residence. The magnificent residence where Douglas MacArthur once lived left us in awe and with a desire to enter public affairs. We joked about one of us becoming president and assigning the rest of the group to ambassador positions in the countries of our choice.
It has been another successful day in Tokyo. As the day winds down, a small group of students will have dinner with professionals. We are all looking forwarding to partaking in the traditional Japanese pastime of karaoke this evening and are excited to see what tomorrow brings.
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| Photo by Rachel Elman |
| Student Shabrelle Pollock, center, became "the news" when CNN interviewed her about the hunting of blue fin tuna. Sam Glover, behind Pollock, also talked to CNN’s Kyung Lah. |
When it was time for the ambassador to return to his political duties, he suggested that Marks take us on a tour of the ambassador’s residence. The magnificent residence where Douglas MacArthur once lived left us in awe and with a desire to enter public affairs. We joked about one of us becoming president and assigning the rest of the group to ambassador positions in the countries of our choice.
It has been another successful day in Tokyo. As the day winds down, a small group of students will have dinner with professionals. We are all looking forwarding to partaking in the traditional Japanese pastime of karaoke this evening and are excited to see what tomorrow brings.
March 17
By Alexandra Brown
Tuesday evening, the students went to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan for dinner. I was fortunate enough to snag a seat next to Akihiro Tanaka, the business editor of Nihon Keizai Shimbun (also known as the Nikkei Shimbun. Shimbun means “newspaper” in Japanese). Though I had never heard of the newspaper until recently, Nikkei is the largest business newspaper in the world.
After weeks of studying the topic in the classroom, there was really only one thing I wanted to discuss with Japanese media professionals—the Toyota recall crisis. I still had trouble grappling with it. People think of Japan as a country that is ahead of the game. Even during a recession, Japan is the second largest economy in the world. How then did Toyota fall behind in its communication response?
It is the million-dollar question with a million different answers. Less discussed is how local Japanese citizens reacted. They reacted very similarly to those in the U.S, Tanaka said, unable to understand the slow response. It is unacceptable as one of the largest auto companies in the world and one of Japan’s greatest successes. Now Toyota serves as a warning to other local organizations to re-organize and evaluate their reaction skills, he said.
Even more questions were answered Wednesday during our trip to the Tokyo office of Kreab Gavin Anderson, a global PR agency. Kyoko Wada, director at Kreab Gavin Anderson, said most Japanese companies are resistant to change and very risk averse unless they hit a brick wall.
In many ways, Japanese public relations differs from that of the U.S. The mindset of Japanese PR, Wada said, is more to protect the organization. It contrasts to the PR textbooks we read in the U.S that constantly echo “transparency” as one of the most important aspects of the job. This may explain why president and CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, went missing for weeks on end before making a public apology.
Wada said that advice from PR practitioners is sometimes neglected in Japan even though it is critical to the future of an organization. It makes me think that even if he had the right person telling him the right thing to do, the Toyota president may not have listened. As president and CEO of Kreab Gavin Anderson Tokyo said, communications is one of the most underrated professions we have.
So even though Japan triggers thoughts of innovation and progression, public relations in Japan is a craft yet to be perfected. Hopefully, Toyota’s dilemma will serve Japan as a strong push in the right direction and motivation for change.
Even more questions were answered Wednesday during our trip to the Tokyo office of Kreab Gavin Anderson, a global PR agency. Kyoko Wada, director at Kreab Gavin Anderson, said most Japanese companies are resistant to change and very risk averse unless they hit a brick wall.
In many ways, Japanese public relations differs from that of the U.S. The mindset of Japanese PR, Wada said, is more to protect the organization. It contrasts to the PR textbooks we read in the U.S that constantly echo “transparency” as one of the most important aspects of the job. This may explain why president and CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, went missing for weeks on end before making a public apology.
Wada said that advice from PR practitioners is sometimes neglected in Japan even though it is critical to the future of an organization. It makes me think that even if he had the right person telling him the right thing to do, the Toyota president may not have listened. As president and CEO of Kreab Gavin Anderson Tokyo said, communications is one of the most underrated professions we have.
So even though Japan triggers thoughts of innovation and progression, public relations in Japan is a craft yet to be perfected. Hopefully, Toyota’s dilemma will serve Japan as a strong push in the right direction and motivation for change.
March 16
By Shabrelle Pollock
Around 9:40 a.m. today I found myself standing on a giant Wall Street stock ticker beneath a brilliant royal blue hallway next to Tokyo but not too far from Sendai.
This was Bloomberg.
The office was impressive— chic yet laid back—and even the professionals oozed a sense of cool that most suit and tie guys fail to muster. The meeting with managing editor Brian Fowler only reinforced the idea of this innovation in the office. Possible future workplace? A girl can dream.
On the informational tour, we heard that Bloomberg’s office design stemmed directly from its founder’s vision of transparency. One of the top sources for financial news and data, Bloomberg prides itself on transparency and connectedness, this reflected in the literal transparency of the office, every door and wall made of glass.
Just looking out the window put you in awe of the grandeur of the city. Though a worldwide company, Bloomberg Tokyo also reflects the culture of the region. Each of the many rooms within the office was named for a major city or region of Japan (hence the Tokyo and Sendai rooms).
Following Bloomberg, our host for the day, Yas Nakano, treated us to okonomiyaki at a local restaurant. The D.I.Y. dish gave everyone the chance to play chef¬— for better or worse. The food was delicious and seemingly endless. We walked it off with a tour of the Edo Tokyo Museum followed by more food and mingling at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Japan.
While the day was definitely a mix of modern Tokyo and old (or “Edo “as the city was once called), it worked. I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed with cultural workplace innovation while being so astounded by the working class of the 20th century in the same day. But hey, I’m in Tokyo.
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| Photo by Shabrelle Pollock |
| From left, Alex Brown, Bene Viera, Paula Kramer and Ashlee Green pose at the Edo Tokyo Museum, their second stop after touring Bloomberg. |
Following Bloomberg, our host for the day, Yas Nakano, treated us to okonomiyaki at a local restaurant. The D.I.Y. dish gave everyone the chance to play chef¬— for better or worse. The food was delicious and seemingly endless. We walked it off with a tour of the Edo Tokyo Museum followed by more food and mingling at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Japan.
While the day was definitely a mix of modern Tokyo and old (or “Edo “as the city was once called), it worked. I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed with cultural workplace innovation while being so astounded by the working class of the 20th century in the same day. But hey, I’m in Tokyo.
March 15
By Kalyn Hippleheuser and Angela Solomon
A Day in Nikko …and a Night in Shibuya
We started the day with a two-hour train ride to Nikko, and our friend, Mr. Inoue, graciously lead us through the train system, insuring we wouldn’t miss our connecting route. The ride itself gave us a full-spectrum view of Japan as we rode from the city through the suburbs to the country. Nikko rests in foggy, snow-capped mountains, and upon arrival, we were all taken aback by the city’s beauty.
From Nikko Station, we had a mile walk uphill past stores, restaurants, and houses to the shrines. Our group managed to get (slightly) lost, but an older Japanese lady appeared out of nowhere and happily showed us back to the road. It was a genuine display of Japanese friendliness that left our group in awe.
The beauty of the mountains, trees and waterfalls, paired with the beauty of the shrines, temples and pagodas, were unlike anything we have ever seen before. We are an enthusiastic, loud bunch of American travelers, but the serenity and spirit of Nikko left us speechless.
We did, however, attract our fair share of attention as fellow visitors kept coming up to us to say hello and ask why we were in Nikko. Everyone was so friendly and excited to talk to us – we would say one word in Japanese, and they jumped, “Oh! You speak Japanese?!” Even though we don’t, our enthusiasm, smiling and bowing seemed to make up for any language barrier, and our class made a several friends during the day.
Our lunch of green tea and soba noodles was delicious, and we all had fun sitting on the floor of the restaurant. After eating, we walked back downhill to Nikko Station, stopping in stores along the way, and we boarded the train back to Shinagawa after a lovely day.
…. A Night in Shibuya
Six train stops from our hotel, we congratulated one another for successfully navigating the Tokyo train system and arriving at our destination. The “Times Square” of Tokyo, Shibuya is the place to be, even on a Monday night.
After a culturally packed afternoon, nine of us stood breathless, allowing ourselves to soak in the brilliance of Shibuya. We used our free time to venture out and explore Shibuya, walking up and down the streets filled with restaurants, stores, bright lights, video screens, music, excitement and Japanese pop-culture.
Blond haired-Japanese youth, Krispy Kreme and Karaoke bars, Shibuya has it all. High fashion and technology characterize this busy section of Tokyo, which is an extreme contrast to our morning at Nikko.
Our visit showed us the dynamic character that defines Tokyo and reminded us that we are on a trip of a lifetime.
The beauty of the mountains, trees and waterfalls, paired with the beauty of the shrines, temples and pagodas, were unlike anything we have ever seen before. We are an enthusiastic, loud bunch of American travelers, but the serenity and spirit of Nikko left us speechless.
We did, however, attract our fair share of attention as fellow visitors kept coming up to us to say hello and ask why we were in Nikko. Everyone was so friendly and excited to talk to us – we would say one word in Japanese, and they jumped, “Oh! You speak Japanese?!” Even though we don’t, our enthusiasm, smiling and bowing seemed to make up for any language barrier, and our class made a several friends during the day.
Our lunch of green tea and soba noodles was delicious, and we all had fun sitting on the floor of the restaurant. After eating, we walked back downhill to Nikko Station, stopping in stores along the way, and we boarded the train back to Shinagawa after a lovely day.
…. A Night in Shibuya
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| Courtesy photo |
| After a day exploring the Nikko temples, some students found their way to Shibuya, where bright lights and international chains abound. |
After a culturally packed afternoon, nine of us stood breathless, allowing ourselves to soak in the brilliance of Shibuya. We used our free time to venture out and explore Shibuya, walking up and down the streets filled with restaurants, stores, bright lights, video screens, music, excitement and Japanese pop-culture.
Blond haired-Japanese youth, Krispy Kreme and Karaoke bars, Shibuya has it all. High fashion and technology characterize this busy section of Tokyo, which is an extreme contrast to our morning at Nikko.
Our visit showed us the dynamic character that defines Tokyo and reminded us that we are on a trip of a lifetime.
More on Nikko:
By Ashley Nichols
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| Photo by Ashley Nichols |
| Kris Kegley headed out early to get breakfast. The students spent Monday is Nikko. |
Another beautiful sight was a dragon hand-painted on the ceiling of one of the temples. It looked so fierce as it looked down at us with its piercing eyes: I’m surprised it didn’t swoop down from the ceiling. Every temple was full of intricate paintings and wooden carvings. They were so colorful and bright that my eyes kept jumping from place to place as I tried to take it all in.
At some temples, we had to remove our shoes before we entered. It was fun to walk around in my neon green and purple puppy-dog toe socks while bowing my head in reverence.
One last note: it you’ve ever heard of the “Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil” monkeys, you’ll be interested to learn that I saw the original wooden carvings of them today. The original monkeys are found outside one of the temples at Nikko.
One last note: it you’ve ever heard of the “Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil” monkeys, you’ll be interested to learn that I saw the original wooden carvings of them today. The original monkeys are found outside one of the temples at Nikko.
March 14
By Ashley Nichols
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| Photo by Ashley Nichols |
| Students Shabrelle Pollock and Kayln Hipplehauser (foreground, right) walk towards a temple after "cleansing," a practice where visitors uses mountain water to wash their hands. |
The traditional part of Asakusa was a beautiful experience. Kris Kegley and I paid at least 1,000 yen each to participate in the rituals and the traditions: We donated yen to enter a temple, to pray, to rub the head of the Buddha and to receive our fortunes. While it was fascinating and exciting to participate in these rituals, the feeling of tourism was much stronger than the feeling of spirituality.
As much as I enjoyed the traditions and beauty of the Asakusa temples, my trip today has made me look forward to seeing Nikko. Nikko is similar to Asakusa in that it is a home to temples and shrines, but it is more historical and spiritual.
After Kegley-san and I had explored the temples, we began to explore the area around Asakusa. We avoided the main street that was teeming with tourists and ventured a few streets away from the main temple. There we found incredible little alleys teeming with stores and restaurants.
Once we were done in Asakusa a group of us headed over to Akibara, the electronics district. After Kris and I figured out the train route and Kris helped everyone purchase our tickets, we hopped onto a train and traveled across the city. Akibara reminded me of Times Square: big signs, flashing lights, even a news ticker that ran around an enormous store.
We walked around the area for a while and found a three-story arcade and a few small shops in the area. However, the crown jewel (of that exploration, anyway) was an enormous six-story electronics store. It was astounding! Each floor was full of different things: CDs, DVDs, video games, make-up, workout equipment… if you could imagine it, it was there.
Once we were done in Asakusa a group of us headed over to Akibara, the electronics district. After Kris and I figured out the train route and Kris helped everyone purchase our tickets, we hopped onto a train and traveled across the city. Akibara reminded me of Times Square: big signs, flashing lights, even a news ticker that ran around an enormous store.
We walked around the area for a while and found a three-story arcade and a few small shops in the area. However, the crown jewel (of that exploration, anyway) was an enormous six-story electronics store. It was astounding! Each floor was full of different things: CDs, DVDs, video games, make-up, workout equipment… if you could imagine it, it was there.
March 14
By Bene Viera
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| Photo by Shabrelle Pollock |
| Alexi Turbow, Bene’ Viera and Ashlee Green study a menu at a restaurant in Asakusa. |
After a 12-hour flight, our minds were solely set on checking into the hotel and showering. Many of us wondered how in the world we would stay awake until 9 p.m. as we were advised by professor Bright. Our first day consisted of very little exploring, but we all rested well in anticipation of our trip to Asakusa.
Sunday, we met in the hotel lobby to take the JR Railroad train to Asakusa. Asakusa is located in Tokyo’s Taito district, which consists
of temples, shrines, shopping strips and Japanese cuisine. Asakusa is the home of the Sensoji temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple.
Amid crowds of thousands of people walking the strips and taking pictures, we felt like foreigners in an unfamiliar land. Most of the day was spent taking pictures as we were all intrigued by everything we saw.
There were several tiny stores on the strip leading to the temples. Everything from Hello Kitty watches to traditional Japanese fans to tea sets were sold in the various stores. Buying trinkets was also a challenge for most of us as we tried to figure out how much 1,500 yen is in U.S. dollars. But the money conversion did not stop us from buying souvenirs for family and friends.
We observed the Japanese purify themselves with water before entering the temple to pray. Although we weren’t the only ones taking pictures, we immediately said, “We are taking pictures while they are praying,” reflecting on how this may be rude. The Kaminarimon Gate leads to the Sensoji temple and behind the gate on both sides are gigantic statues of the protective Buddhist deities.
All in all, we fell in love with Asakusa. Some of us experienced our first authentic Japanese meal, we saw shrines and temples and purchased items only found in Japan. What better way to spend our first full day in Tokyo.
There were several tiny stores on the strip leading to the temples. Everything from Hello Kitty watches to traditional Japanese fans to tea sets were sold in the various stores. Buying trinkets was also a challenge for most of us as we tried to figure out how much 1,500 yen is in U.S. dollars. But the money conversion did not stop us from buying souvenirs for family and friends.
We observed the Japanese purify themselves with water before entering the temple to pray. Although we weren’t the only ones taking pictures, we immediately said, “We are taking pictures while they are praying,” reflecting on how this may be rude. The Kaminarimon Gate leads to the Sensoji temple and behind the gate on both sides are gigantic statues of the protective Buddhist deities.
All in all, we fell in love with Asakusa. Some of us experienced our first authentic Japanese meal, we saw shrines and temples and purchased items only found in Japan. What better way to spend our first full day in Tokyo.
The trip
By Shabrelle Pollock
At some point during the 13-hour flight to Tokyo, I awoke with the acute fear that I’d lost my legs. Hours of sitting cramped in my seat had put them to sleep and left me unable to turn my head without my muscles screaming in pain. This plane ride could end soon enough.
Our trip began Thursday night when we left Bloomington for Indianapolis with the rest of the journalism school travel courses. From there, we had a short flight to Chicago followed by a three-hour layover before our voyage via Japan Airlines.
After being jarred from sleep by a 4 a.m. wake-up call, lugging around heavy baggage and passing through airport security twice, we were all less than amused. In hindsight, it was quite possibly the perfect combination of conditions to allow 16 classmates to get “good and comfy” with each other; people get a little crazy when they’re sleep deprived.
Once I finished reading as much as my tired eyes would allow and completed as many crossword puzzles as I could stomach (it’s not cheating to flip to the answer page just to save time every now and then is it?), I checked out the in-flight entertainment. Among other things, it included a game that taught Japanese survival phrases. Interested, I tried a few.
Arigatoo! Air-e-ga-toe! Sumimasen! Sue-me-ma-sin! Hajma-mashite! Well, we can’t all be fluent…
Though the trip seemed endless many times throughout, the first view of the Japan coastline from our tiny rectangular windows was more than worth it. Whether reinvigorated or running on fumes, I was excited. This was Japan. After months of anticipation, if I could be this awed from a glimpse of the city thousands of feet above, I knew the week could only be that much better.
Once I finished reading as much as my tired eyes would allow and completed as many crossword puzzles as I could stomach (it’s not cheating to flip to the answer page just to save time every now and then is it?), I checked out the in-flight entertainment. Among other things, it included a game that taught Japanese survival phrases. Interested, I tried a few.
Arigatoo! Air-e-ga-toe! Sumimasen! Sue-me-ma-sin! Hajma-mashite! Well, we can’t all be fluent…
Though the trip seemed endless many times throughout, the first view of the Japan coastline from our tiny rectangular windows was more than worth it. Whether reinvigorated or running on fumes, I was excited. This was Japan. After months of anticipation, if I could be this awed from a glimpse of the city thousands of feet above, I knew the week could only be that much better.