A Remarkable Experience with Sakura Science Program

Firstly, I would express my gratitude since I am given such a great opportunity to join this Sakura Science Program. When the announcement showed up in my email, I was very excited and ever since that time, I could not wait until November to come. I met Professor Wada for the first time at his last visit to UGM. He was so nice and kindly introduced Shizuoka University to us. We prepared all the things we needed, including our visa, the ticket, etc. with excitement. 

We departed on Monday, November 7^th 2016 from Yogyakarta. We had a transit in Jakarta before we left for Japan. The next day, on Tuesday, we arrived in Haneda International Airport and suddenly it turned into a breezing morning. Yes, it was a winter season in Japan. It never feels like home because in Indonesia, we only have two seasons, dry and rainy season. After dealing with the baggage and immigration stuff, we went directly to Keikyu Line. We used the train to transport from Haneda Airport to Shinawaga Station. It was really challenging for me because I had to walk in rush with the big luggage. We did not have to buy the ticket because Wada Sensei had given us the ticket for the train and Shinkansen. But, unfortunately, we entered the wrong train so that we have to stop at the first station and looked for the other train to come.

In Shinagawa Station we had to transfer using Shinkansen. I was so excited because it was my very first time using this so called “one of the fastest train in the world”. I had to admit that the public transportation in Japan is far better than in Indonesia. Everything is well arranged and based on the time table it has. And the people here are very organized to obey the rules. From inside the train, we could see Fuji Mountain and Japan’s district along the way to Hamamatsu. 

 

We arrived in Hamamatsu by noon and Wada Sensei had already there to show us the Court Hotel, the place we lived as we stayed in this city. After that, we went to Shizuoka University by bus to be greated by Wada Sensei and given a brief explanation about our schedule within a week. The bus station was very near from our hotel. And we don't have to be surprise since Japanese people have a very great culture. They will definitely make a tidy queue without having to be asked even in the peak hours. And it is very common there to use the escalator in the left side, so people who are currently in rush can use the right side to walk faster. Or we can see the view of young people who will give the priority for the elder people. 

We then had lunch at the canteen and met some Indonesian students. They were all so nice. They exchanged their interesting stories about Japan. In the evening, we went back to the hotel and had dinner at Sukiya with Wayan Sensei. Fyi, Sukiya in Japan is a quite cheap restaurant for Japanese people. But, in Indonesia, we can find it become luxurious in some big malls. Hahaha.

On the second day, November 9^th, we met Wada Sensei on S-port (one of the corner in the campus and we decided to make it an everyday's meeting point) at 10 AM. Japanese people appreciate the time in the best way. So, we barely can see the culture of being late like Indonesian people do as their habbit most of the time. Everyone is very punctual. And it is somehow became a mind blowing for us. The plan for that day was going to Hamaoka Nuclear Power Museum. It took 1,5 hours to go there using bus. We were introduced to Wada Sensei’s students who are going to Indonesia this December. They came with us for the trip. They were Ling, Tobita, and Subota. We tried to exchange our stories and experience in the bus, but mostly we were the ones who talked too much. They were very nice to us. We did a tour in Hamaoke Nuclear Power Museum, but unfortunately we couldn’t take photos at the rooftop whereas it was very fascinating view. I was amazed by nuclear power plan which is developed in Japan. My lecturer said in the class that Japan has the safest nuclear power plant in the world and the electricity power in Japan depends on Nuclear Power in huge amount. But regrettably, this plant is still off because of the tragedy of Fukushima. 

After lunch time, we met the Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Sako. He introduced his campus to us and it was interesting. We also took some photographs together. We did the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory tour afterwards and met Professor Ashama. He was the nice person and he presented us with his Indonesian students, Fajar, Dany, and Beni. I do not really understand about mechanical engineering since my basic is not about that, but from the things they told, it ought to be an interesting topic. At night, Wada Sensei took us for dinner by walking near our hotel. The Japanese food is basically not tasty but healthier!

 

 

 

On November 10^th, we tried to go for a walk in the morning. And ultimately found the good spot for photoshoot. In Japan, we don't have to be worry at all while being in the street. Pedestrian are appreciated a lot. The driver of car or motorbike will always wait for us just to cross the street. It is totally safe for new people here to walk alone. Or we can find that it is totally safe to use the bike without worrying of the hectic street. There are a lot of car and motorbike parking inn.

 

 

 

 

The Shizuoka University, the place I went to everyday is like this. It's such a peaceful place.

 

We met on S-port at 10 AM  with Wada’s Sensei colleague as he could not come that day. She was so friendly and later I found out that she was responsible in international affair of Shizuoka University. She does so many promotions to some Asia countries. She took us to Lecture of Environmental Engineering with Profesor Matsuda. The lecture was about ozone and the kind of stuff that make ozone depleting. I was quite understand about this topic because in Chemical Engineering we also study about the environment and waste of the product we produce. After we had our lunch, she took us to Shizuoka University Motor. It was so interesting since we also had this kind of activity at our campus and they join the same competition every year in Japan. The students were very friendly and kindly gave us some explanations about their activity. 

 

 

 

After that, we went to Suzuki Motors Museum by bus with the Japanese students too. In Suzuki, we were given a presentation about the company. This company is one of the biggest company in Indonesia and it was really such an honor to visit the center of this company here in Japan. We enjoyed our visit here since we could see many cars and motors. We also learned about the production process. We went back to the campus by train and it was our very first time to buy the train ticket from the machine.

 

 

The next day on November 11^th, as usual, we took a walk near the hotel just to enjoy the morning winter season and at the campus, we went to Bio Chemical Engineering laboratory to meet Mr. Kong. He explained about his research with the topic Supercritical Substances. He made graphine from graphite. This graphine is very useful to be applied in many materials. But, what I learned from him is that this research is still the itinerary so that this research is still for laboratory scale.  It was so interesting. Next, we moved to see the presentation for Shimizu Sensei about his research, which is Application of Atmospheric Microplasma. This research is absolutely will be very applicable for us in the future in so many fields. Some of his students also showed us the plasma they had been researched. 

 

At 12.30 PM, we met on S-port after lunch time and we went directly to Yamaha Motors Headquarters office with bus. Many new students who we had not met before also came with us and mas Fajar, mas Dani, mas Beni as well. Many people came with us that day and that’s so fun. We saw a lot of collections of Yamaha in the exhibition room. After taking photoshoot session, we went to a room to see the company’s profile and how Yamaha could successfully become multinational company. One word can describe it, hard work. With the slogan, revs your heart, Yamaha has about more than 30% market in Indonesia. That is why I found some Indonesian language on some explanations. The movie was also in Indonesian too. We met several Indonesian employees there. Most of them are trainee for about a year then after we studied some skills there, they will go back to Yamaha Indonesia. We were taken to see the manufacture of the motorcycle, but sadly, we were prohibited to take some pictures. It was my first experience to enter the automotive manufacture. And I was amazed by them.

In the evening, we went to Sushiro to have dinner with Wada Sensei and the Japanese Students. But, before we went there, we went to go shopping to several shops to buy some souvenirs. At the dinner, Subota and Tobita teached me how to eat wasabi. But I think the taste is too strong. Sushi is delicious. Maybe, after I came back to Indonesia, I will eat it frequently.

On November 12^th, we went to Shizuoka Universiity to attend the University festival. It was like an open house so that all people can come and see so many exhibitions held by students. But, before that, we went to Hamamatsu Castle first on our way to campus.

 

Every department has its owns exhibition, started from the research exhibition until the small games for the children. Outside, we also could see many food and drink stalls. We were divided into small groups so that we could enjoy the festival comfortably. I was belong to Tobita’s group with Mas Hermawan and Mas Alam. I saw lot of things and all of those things are fascinating. But, I was interested the most on the Robot I saw at the Organization of Innovation Building. The robot is very smart. Everytime I tried to move my body, its eyes would follow my presence. In my opinion, this kind of activity is very well for people to get to know this university better and it definitely will be good for children to increase their knowledge. There are so many entertainments too, such as break dance and accapella. The Japanese students also took us to Tayaki shop near the University. I chose custard for cream and it was very delicious. The Japanese students are very lovely. And today, I met my brother again since he left for Japan few months ago to pursue his master degree. He came from Tokyo.

In the evening, we went to Science Museum to see many interesting stuff. The most interesting one for me was the planetarium session. We did not have the thing like that in Yogyakarta, so I think that was so beautiful to see so many stars above. We met Kinoshita-san at the museum. He could speak Indonesian language since he has the relationship with Indonesia in terms of his work. He was kindly took us to have dinner on Halal Kebab near Zaza City and then to Mega to go shopping again and again.

On Sunday, we had our free time so we used it to explore Hamamatsu City. Wayan Sensei took us to go to Hamamatsu Flower Park and Hamanako Lake by bus. We were planning to see the city’s view from the top in ACT Tower. But the fact that the place was used for wedding made us have to change the plan. Finally we went to the Hamamatsu Castle to enjoy our evening there.

On Monday, November 14^th, we took a morning walk in the campus then we atteneded the Japanese class with some of others International students. The topic for that day’s lesson was about the sentence for estimating something. We learned about the sentence using “omoshiroi”. Nevertheless, the time’s provided was very limit so we have to leave this interesting class while it was still going on. We then moved to the meeting room to see the presentation of Asia Bridge program. This program is very engaging. I havel spread this information to my friends shortly when I came back to Indonesia because I think it is such a big opportunity for Indonesian student who has desire to study abroad especially in Japan and enter some of big Japan’s manufacture company. At lunch time on the canteen, we met Kinoshita-san again. He made his time to meet us and we talked a lot. I think that he misses Indonesia so much. We then had a brief lecture of Modern and Future Automobile Manufacturing form Professor Horii from Suzuki Motors. We learned about the green technology applied in Suzuki automobile especially in weight reduction. The technology is taken to make the more efficient cars. The topic would be very useful in the future.   

After that, finally, we went to Wada Sensei’s Telecommunication Laboratory. The topic I was interested the most was about the meteor burst communication (MBC system) and visible light communication system. All of his students gathered on the laboratory (I mean the students who will come to Indonesia next December). They kindly demonstrated about their research. And we were taken to the roof toop to see the antenna they made. At night, Wada Sensei took us for the dinner again, but it was the farewell dinner. That’s so sad.

 

 

 

The day after that was our last day in Hamamatsu. We went to the campus just to write our report and receive our certificate from the dean. It was truthfully our saddest moment because 8 days felt so quick without really noticing. 

We departed to Tokyo using Shinkansen afterwards. Wada Sensei accompanied us until we safely arrived in our hotel in Tokyo. He was the very kind person I met from this program. Could not be thank for more, Wada Sensei! We arrived at Tokyo by evening. I met my brother again. He accompanied us to spend our last night in Tokyo by taking us to several renowned places, like Shibuya, Harajuku, and Tokyo Tower. Needless to say that exploring Tokyo just in a limited time was not enough until we had to use the last train at 23 PM. Fortunately, there was one we could catch up.

Japan has been an important place fulfilled with memories for both of my parents even for my brother too as he is currently still creating moments of his pursuance of the better education. So many good values I could take during my visit there. It was so brief, but good things will easily remain in our heart. It is frankly would be one of my best memories in my life. Hopefully, I will catch many others big chance to see the world. Because the more we travel, the more we will realize that we are just a little creature in this big world. The more we travel, the more we will feel blessed about everything we have.