Institute for Global Leadership | Thinking Beyond Boundaries, Acting Across Borders

Inquiry in Japan - Day 1

Photo Galleries | Posted Feb 11, 2011

Program: Inquiry

Sunday, January 2

We met up after breakfast as a whole group at Kyoto Tower, and surveyed the city from its only 360-degree viewpoint. Then we traveled by train to the Kyoto suburb of Nara, where we observed hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the New Year in Japan. Read more...

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Inquiry in Japan - Day 7

Photo Galleries | Posted Feb 10, 2011

Program: Inquiry

Saturday, January 8

In our final stop on the official program, we toured Yasukuni Shrine, the national memorial for those who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan. In memorializing Japan’s history with war, the shrine has aimed to be an exclusively religious and apolitical symbol since the separation of Shinto and the Japanese government in 1945. The accompanying museum provided us with additional perspective on Japan’s now ambivalent but controversial past relationship with war. Read more...

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Inquiry in Japan - Day 6

Photo Galleries | Posted Feb 10, 2011

Program: Inquiry

Friday, January 7

We met with representatives of the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), an organization that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy as an integral vehicle for economic development and the improvement of social welfare in Japan. JAIF’s main activities include working with government officials, citizen groups and the media to promote nuclear energy in Japan, training nuclear industry personnel throughout Asia, and facilitating international cooperation for the development of the nuclear energy industry around the world. Read more...

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Inquiry in Japan - Day 5

Photo Galleries | Posted Feb 10, 2011

Program: Inquiry

Thursday, January 6

We began our stay in Tokyo with a meeting at Nihon Hidankyo, the national confederation of hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). We were privileged to hear the stories of the organization’s Secretary General Terumi Tanaka, Vice-Secretary General Mikiso Iwasa and Assistant Secretary General Michiko Kodama, with the poignant and moving assistance of Japanese interpreter and University of Maryland Professor Michele Mason. Read more...

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Inquiry in Japan - Day 4

Photo Galleries | Posted Feb 10, 2011

Program: Inquiry

Wednesday, January 5

In the morning we crossed the city to Hijiyama Park to visit the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, a scientific organization that was established as part of an agreement between the governments of the U.S. and Japan in dedication to the health of atomic bomb survivors and all of humanity. We were given a tour of the facility and a presentation on the study of the medical effects of radiation from the Associate Chief of Research, Dr. Evan Douple. Read more...

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Inquiry in Japan - Day 2

Photo Galleries | Posted Feb 10, 2011

Program: Inquiry

Monday, January 3

In the morning we visited the stunningly beautiful Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine. Honoring Inari, the god of rice and patron of business, the shrine is known for the some 10,000 red-orange torii (gates) lining its footpaths, all donated by Japanese businesses.

We then made our way to Tofuku-ji, a Buddhist temple modeled after those in Nara. Serving as the head temple of the Tofuku-ji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, the temple is known as one of the Kyoto Gozan, or “five great Zen temples of Kyoto.” Read more...

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Inquiry in Japan - Day 3

Photo Galleries | Posted Feb 10, 2010

Program: Inquiry

Tuesday, January 4

We spent most of the day at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park, built on the site of the U.S.’ first nuclear attack on Japan on August 6, 1945. Paying our respects to this hallowed ground, we laid a wreath at the Senotaph monument, and toured the Peace Memorial Park. Read more...

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