Soka University students, Ms. Akari Nakazawa (fourth year, Faculty of Letters), Ms. Yuka Takeda (fourth year, Faculty of Letters), Ms. Ai Ninomiya (second year, Faculty of Law), were selected as representatives of Japan to attend the Japan-Russia Youth Forum 2019 in Russia sponsored by the Japan Russia Youth Exchange Center (JREX), which took place from September 24th (Tuesday) to October 1st (Tuesday) in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Through the Japan-Russia Youth Forum, the Japan Russia Youth Exchange Center, which was established based on the governmental agreement between Japan and Russia, dispatched Japanese youth in a short-term program to promote exchanges of views with Russian youth and to promote their understanding towards Russia, thereby deepening mutual understanding. This time, 30 youth from Japan and approximate 40 youth from Russia participated.

In the forum, the participants split into four sub-committees, “The Role of Youth towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals,” “Development of Youth Volunteer Activities,” “Development of Youth Entrepreneur Spirit,” and “Youth Exchange in Cultural Areas,” where youth from both nations held discussions.

Students who participated shared the following comments:
Ms. Akari Nakazawa:
I was able to build friendships with Japanese and Russian members having various backgrounds. In the sub-committee, under the theme of the “Role of Youth towards Achieving Sustaining Development Goals,” I shared my views on the field of education, my experiences in volunteering and supporting foreigners in a Japanese elementary school, and the precious opinions I received from the Russian people. I will cherish the friendship that we established and strive to further polish my language abilities, improve my expertise and do my best to become the bridge between Japan and Russia.”

Ms. Yuka Takeda:
I have participated in several JREX sponsored events, but this Russian trip had many more things to learn. While we struggled with how discussions are held in Russia, we cooperated with each other, and I was able to find my own challenges. I am extremely happy and grateful to have spent a week enjoying the history, culture, and art of Russia.”

Mr. Ai Ninomiya:
In this one week, I was able to look at my own self while comparing Japan and a country that belongs both to Europe and Asia. I learned the importance of not forming an arbitrary image of the Russian people and Russia based on information available in Japan. Since there are few Russian exchange students, I rarely interacted with Russian people. As a result, I had an arbitrary image that “Russian people are cold and quiet and don’t laugh.” However, the majority of members we interacted with at the main conference were extremely friendly and laughed a lot, to the extent that they made us forget our shyness, which is a characteristic of Japanese people. That was when I realized that I had formed within me an image of the Russian people with a distorted idea. Some Russian participants struggled to communicate in English, but still, sincerely explained to me, a Japanese, what they wanted to say, and I was extremely happy, feeling their warm welcome. I believe that such a free, open exchange between students is the path towards peace.”