Two students, Yuko Watanabe, a third-year economics student, and Kaneko Azuma, a third-year law student, participated in the HPAIR "Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations" held at Harvard University from February 17th to 19th.

The conference aims to connect today's global leaders with the future leaders of the younger generation and to discuss political, economic, and social issues with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. 180 participants out of more than 1,000 applicants took part in the conference, and two students from Soka University represented Japan. This year's HPAIR2023 included cultural exchange events and problem-solving work with guest speakers.

The following comments were received from participating students.

• Yuko Watanabe (3rd year, Faculty of Economics)

I met many excellent people and made many new discoveries during the three days as I listened to their diverse cultures, experiences, and studies. One of the most memorable moments was a small-group dialogue with Ms. Lesly Goh, Senior Technology Advisor at the World Bank. I learned the importance of designing ways to use technology in such a way that it is equally accessible to minority groups, as technology is both useful and neutral. The conversation with Ms. Lesly, who is working on policy advocacy and eliminating disparities using digital technology at the forefront of her field of interest, was a valuable experience that made me rethink my own future. I will always remember the friendships I made during the conference, regardless of my title or nationality.

• Kaneko Azuma (3rd year, Faculty of Law)

I was particularly impressed to hear from Seth Sheldon, one of the representatives of ICAN, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 for its work toward a world without nuclear weapons. As a current student in the U.S., I myself have often felt frustrated between the reality of the U.S. military power and the idea of building a world without violence. However, after participating in this conference, I realized that no matter how high the tension in the world situation may rise, the most important thing is to remember to make efforts to build a peaceful world through dialogue. I would like to cherish the bonds of friendship I have formed with the participants from around the world, and I would like to share the ideas of peace that I have learned and deepened during the rest of my study abroad experience.