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| Presentation／Hiroshima Group （Teacher
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UNESCO International Youth Meeting
on
"World Cultural Heritage" in GRAZ 2003
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| Osamu SHINOHARA |
I think it is very wonderful programs
for participating high school students that UNESCO International
Youth Meeting on "World Cultural Heritage" which were
held on June 12-18, 2003 in GRAZ Austria.
This program is one of great successful "Diversity Program",
which purpose of understanding cultural differences among EU countries.
Each of participants respects the other cultures through "World
Cultural Heritage". EU countries are going toward the unity
since 1993, nowadays EU countries have new currency "Euro".
Next year, 2004, ten more countries will join with EU and the president
of EU will be appeared.
Not only 13 countries of EU but also Japan, Russia and Guatemala
sent delegates to this UNESCO International Youth Meeting. Especially,
for Japanese high school students this program is attractive and
fruitful. One of reasons is that most of Japanese high school students
have few opportunities for visiting to EU countries. Some of them
have been to USA and Australia, of which mother tongue is English.
Also official languages of this program are English and Germany.
For Hiroshima Jogakuin High School students this program is good
opportunities for introducing "Atomic Bomb Dome", which
is "World Cultural Heritage". They had to deeply consider
about "Sprits of HIROSHIMA", which is the desire of survivors
for making a peaceful tomorrow. They had to prepare the presentation
for workshop of this program concerning about the history of "Atomic
Bomb Dome" and the importance of making peace by ourselves.
At the high school of BHAK Grazbachgasse, students of International
Business Class of this school held the photo-poster exhibition on
"HIROSHIMA and NAGASAKI: Under the Mushroom Cloud" during
this program. This exhibition was well prepared and well organized
by these students. Therefore, the presentation of Hiroshima's students
was more understood by participants of workshop.
Finally, I would like to say thanks lots to staffs of this Youth
Meeting and EU Japan Fest. I am very proud of all of high school
students for participating to this program, because of well preparations
and well presentations.
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| Presentation／Hiroshima Group （Student
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Trip To GRAZ
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| Mai SHINOHARA |
Japanese life style and Austrians'
are so different that sometimes I am not sure that I really was
in such a beautiful European city, Graz. It might happen to many
Japanese customers who visited o Europe. The city of Graz is the
first place I have visited in Europe. It is very beautiful and clean.
I was really impressed by the old buildings and wonderful sculptures.
This unique European scene that I had often seen in magazines was
just in front of me. Graz is very unipue. Old and quite new matched
each other so well.
I saw this beautiful city and scene, listening to music which came
from a corner of the city.
I thought this was very luxurious.
The same young generation as me in Graz has individuality. Although
Japanese young generation is very fashionable, Graz young people
know what is good fashion for them. I though that is why they grew
up in an artistic and cultural city, Graz.
Well, I visited this city as a representative of a people in Hiroshima,
Japan for participating in World Cultural Heritage International
Youth Summit in Graz 2003. I gave a presentation on "World
Heritage of Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome" there. Yes, it was
a very heavy topic. Although I had something to tell others about
the Atomic Bomb and a wish for peace, I was anxious. My school does
peace study and we have learned important things. I had a little
bit confident about it, but what is difficult is that I had not
studied the Atomic Bomb Dome specifically and also thinking about
the world of today.
My friend, Sakiko Yoshida, who went Graz with me and I collected
materials and read them during the spring vacation. Also we went
to peace meetings and the protest demonstration against the war
in Iraq. There, we interviewed several people and listened to their
opinions, and thought about these ourselves. After the spring vacation,
Japanese schools begin a new year. As you know, Japanese school
is very busy and we couldn't find time for preparing for this presentation
so much though I always cared about it. I felt stress at that time,
but Sakiko and my other friends helped me. Mid-term examination
finished two weeks before we were to go to Graz, we began to prepare
a final manuscript for it. We finished our manuscript just before
we departure.
For two weeks, we were really helped by our English teacher with
our poor English. I thank him a lot. And also I am sure that we
couldn't finish preparing it without him. I prepared it hoping that
people who listen to our voice will start thinking about war and
peace it will at least a good opportunity for them. I can't forget
my English teacher saying the day before we left Japan,
" You have made very good preparation. Do your best and tell
people what you want to."
When we gave our presentation, there were over 50 students who are
about the same age as me. They were people who just knew Atomic
Bombs in history and didn't know what it was like to be a victim
or to be an assailant. But it was good for us because we made our
speech just for those people and wanted them to listen most. When
we presented, I couldn't relaxed enough to look around and see how
the people reacted. But I noticed that they were listening to it
eagerly and trying to understand what we wanted to say in spite
of our a little bit long (or quite long) presentation. After it,
we watched the video of "Mothers' Pray" which we had brought
from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. There were many brutal scenes
and attacked us. One boy had told me very seriously, " I was
moved." The students who had invited us had researched very
well about Hiroshima and the Atomic Bomb. I hope the young people
who were there will think about peace seriously through this heavy
task.
At this conference, I met high school students from sixteen countries,
talked with them and made friends. I can just also say it was enjoyable!
I worried about my school and studied during my staying, I am really
glad to join it. My host family was really nice and thoughtful.
Especially my host sister who is a student of the school which had
invited us, was very nice and did best things for us during the
week. At first, we were puzzled by the differences in culture, but
soon we had a good time with her good friends. Also I became friend
with Spanish girls and made promise that someday we will visit each
other's country. Saying good-bye is always very sad, but I am glad
now that we can keep in touch with each other through the Internet
easily. I met important persons for me in the foreign country.
Last but not least, I would like to thank everybody who was involved
in this World Cultural Heritage Youth Summit in Graz, 2003 and gave
us this opportunity. I had very good experiences and got excitement
from teenagers from other countries. I realized for the second time
it necessary for young people to study history and protect world
heritages and make a better new world. Also I became aware of the
necessity that we have to preserve the Atomic Bomb Dome until it
is no longer needed.
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| Presentation／Hiroshima Group （Student
） |
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| Sakiko YOSHIDA |
I got so many things from joining
Youth Meeting in Graz Austria, which EU cultural capital 2003. And
I'd like to write about 2 big things I've got from it.
First, because we live in Hiroshima, content of our presentation
was about "Atomic Bomb Dome". We wrote our presentation
not only about introduction of Atomic Bomb Dome but about why it
is the World heritage, and what it likes now. It was like a Peace
education through Atomic Bomb Dome. I think that not only one week
that I spend in Graz is the time I joined this Youth Meeting but
also the time I spent for preparation and studying.
Because we had school on weekday, collecting stuff for the presentation
and write it, especially translate in English took me long time
so I was in trouble a bit. But at last, I barely finished it up.
I don't know whether it is perfect or not, but I can say I did my
best. I have learned about Atomic bomb and peace since I was elementary
student, but there I found many things I didn't know in correcting
stuffs and studying for e presentation.
Before going to Graz, I worried about what they
think about Atomic Bomb dropping on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. People
I was going to give a presentation were not Japanese, and not
American. And they were students. I didn't know their thought.
We gave this presentation on 3rd day of this meeting,
Friday 13th. We projected photo of Peace Park and the city of
Hiroshima we took and read our manuscript. It took about 30 minutes.
There I regret that it was too long or many things, but everybody
listened to our presentation seriously. Student of the school
have studied about Japan and Atomic Bomb, so they had basic knowledge
for that, and that helped to understand the presentation. For
this presentation, I regret that I had to read it many time before
giving presentation. After that we watched a video from Peace
Museum named "Mother's prayer". I haven't seen this
video. There was many sad and misery scene. After watching, Spanish
girls said "That was beautiful" to me. First, I thought
that the word "beautiful" didn't fit to this video,
but it was right. There were parts you can only say beautiful.
I think our presentation would succeed when they think about something
from our presentation. I thought many things through this. Youth
Meeting were ended, but I won't, I don't want to, we must not
to, stop thinking about Atomic bomb dome and peace.
Second, is that I could spend time with, and
get friend with other country's, other culture's people. Generally,
we don't have so many chance to spend time with foreign students.
It was precious experience for me. I was happy to talk like normal
friend not only talk about Japan or taught about foreign countries.
We walked around city and went to the party together. I was so
sad that we have to say good bye in just one week! It's not easy
to meet them again, but I'll never forget them and won't stop
sending mail to them.
Finally, I have to say thanks to many people. I have to say thanks
to my host sister Barbara, whom I spent most time with her during
this meeting and I spent fun time with her, my host family, local
high school we went, my foreign friend, whom we spent wonderful
time together, EU Japan which gave me this chance, and Mai Shinohara
who joined this meeting together, and Mr. Shinohara who lead us.
By grace of all of them, I could spend fruitful, wonderful time
and safely came back to Japan. Thank you.
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