1. What is your main objective in participating this event/project/trip?

The main objective in participating this event/project/trip is to comprehend the culture,

economic, heritage, history, belief and lifestyle of Japan as a whole in order to
heighten my knowledge about Japan and serve it as a tool or an experience to express
the identity of Japan to others.

2. What do you hope to achieve in the end?

I hope that I can reach to a new level of understanding about japan in the aspect of
culture, economic, heritage, belief, lifestyle and history. Example: the history of Japan,
the development of Japan and the language of Japan. Furthermore, I wish that I can
learn from the Japanese in the ways they interact with each other, such as the ways of
speaking, greeting and the passionate they are having when dealing with difficulties
and dilemmas. Furthermore, I hope that I can build a strong bone with Japanese and
increase the relationship of students from different nations, culture and lifestyle.

3. What have you observed as interesting during this event/project/trip?

The things that I observed during this trip and I feel interesting are the ways Japanese
spend their time, the ways they nurture their own child and the vending machine that
appears at everywhere. First, when I reach Japan I saw the first vending machine in
the airport and found a myriad of it around japan. I personally estimated that I have
come across around 70+ vending machine only for 13 days in Hachioji, Japan. We
can purchase drinks such as mineral water and carbonate water, or some food such as
bread and ice-cream. Next, I realized that Japanese have their own unique ways of
spending their time such as the situation that I come across when I were in the train.
Majority of Japanese will hold a book when they are in the train. This situation is very
interesting even the train was full of people. It shows the passionate of Japanese in
seeking for knowledge. Besides, on the last day we stay at japan we saw a small girl
going back home alone by walk. For many other countries this is consider as
dangerous as the number of cases of children kidnapped has been increased
tremendously world widely. However, in japan the parents allow their child even in
primary school going back their home alone by walk, bus and train. This is one of the
ways Japanese train their child to suit to the busy foot step of japan.

4. What are the differences between your current life experience and this new one and
explain why you think this is happening?

The differences between mine current life experience and this new one are the
technology, the transportation and the discipline. The reasons why I think all of this is
happening are because Malaysia lacks knowledge and skills to produce advance
technology in order to enhance our economic and heighten the standard of living of
the citizen. Furthermore, Japan has a very strong aware of environmental issues such
as air pollution, sound pollution and water pollution. Majority of people in japan use
bas or bicycle as their main transportation as using car might create carbon monoxide
and other gases that will influence the purity of the air. Besides, the discipline of
Japanese is something that ought to be learnt by other countries. This is because in
japan the parents teach their children very well since there are young in the ways of
greeting and speaking, attitude and others.

5. In your observation, is there anything that you have experienced/ seen that you wish
could also be adopted in Malaysia/ our community for the betterment of all?

From my observation, the thing that I have been experienced or seen that I wish could
also be adapted in Malaysia or our community for the betterment of all is the
discipline that are being practice by the Japanese. They will greet to anyone even you
are their friends, family, teacher, elder, younger or even an acquaintance. This simple
act will make your day and make you feels warm, happy and being respect by others.
In japan greeting is an art or knowledge because you have to use the proper words and
language when you talk to different people. It shows the culture of respecting the
elder and be formal at appropriate places. The Japanese emphasis on the image they
are presenting to another as they're aware that they are parts of the nation and
sometimes representing as the whole nation. Furthermore, in japan people or
bystander will have first priority following by bicycle, car and heavy vehicle
respectively. It is a culture or action that highly recommend or imitate in all the states
as its able the country to reduce the number of accidents. So, I hope that all of these
things can be implement in our country for better future.

6. What are the unique and soulful places that you have seen and explain why are they
so special?

For the unique and soulful places that I have seen during the trip are Odawara Castle,
Fuji mountain and Sensoji Temple. First, I feel Odawara castle is so special is because
it is a building, heritage and monument that has been existed for 392 years. How
grateful I am to be able to see the building that has been built by the past generations
and see it still standing firmly in the land of japan. It serves as a symbol of history and
to remind the younger generations about the era that has been existed during the time.
At Odawara castle also we can view the scene of the city of Shiga from the top floor
of Odawara Castle. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to stand at the building as
it was in the middle of city. I feel so happy that the castle can be cherished and be
protected in the perfect form by the citizen of Shiga.

Mountain Fuji will be the second places I feel its a unique and soulful places because
it serves as the symbol of Japan. Well, we didnt really approach mountain Fuji but
we observed it from a distant. By looking at mountain Fuji I feel so happy to have the
chance to see the magnificent scene of mountain Fuji. Even Japan has strong sun;
however, the top of mountain Fuji is still cover with snow which created the amazing
scene that we hard to find in other country.

Next, the third places that I feel its a unique and soulful places is Sensoji Temple
which is located at Asakusa. Well, I am a devote Buddhist and the reason why I feel
this places is so special to me is because I feel grateful that Buddhism has been
worshipped by the Japanese. Sensoji temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in japan and
has been protected by the citizen for centuries. I feel happy that the day when I went
to Sensoji temple I saw many people go there to pray and to run their obligation as a
Buddhist. People pray to Buddha for safety, peace and wisdom that will lead everyone
to enlightment. Besides, there was some festival organised by local people which
created the memory and experience that will firmly etched in mine mind.

7. Who are the people you met that left a special mark/ impression on your mind?

The first person that I met and left a special mark or impression on mine mind is a
woman that I come across when I am praying to Buddha in Sensoji temple, Asakusa. I
didnt ask her where she came from but I can feel the faithfulness of her towards
religion. It makes me feel touched as she seen as a tourist and came to pray. She
strengthens my connection with Buddhism and taught me to become a better
worshiper.
The second person that I met and left a special mark or impression on mine mind is
our dorm leader. His name is Masataka Akiyama. He can speak either English or
Japanese. The reason why I remember he so much is because I can saw the passionate
he has in his study and still play his roles as a dorm leader. He will make sure all of us
return to our room on time as the owner of the dorm will close the main gate at 11pm.
He tries his best to bring us to variety of places in Hachioji and expose us with
heterogeneous of japan culture and cuisine.

8. If you have a choice to create change or improvements (after this visit/experience
project), what would it be? Why?

If I have a chance to create change or improvements after this visit or experience, it
will be the ways of interact with other and the language of japan which are Hiragana
and katakana. The reason why I want to make a change on the ways of interact with
other is because Japan emphasis on the politeness they present to other. So, it is
something that we should learn as it can reduce the conflict among people and people
can gain their respect from the elder or younger. It can help me to become a better
person in the ways of talking and make the society more harmony, more respectful
and more politeness.

The reason why I want to improve my Hiragana and katakana is because I found out
that it is very import to learn a new language. It allows us to communicate with others
well and deliver our message more efficiently. Furthermore, japan has built the
relationship with Malaysia for long period of time. Because of that by learning
hiragana and katakana allows us to strengthen the bond of two nations. It allows
Malaysian to understand Japan culture, history and others in a better/ effective way.
9. How do you think you can contribute to help create this change/ improvement? State
your roles.

First, I will make the change by implement it in my daily life. When I talk to other or
having a conversation with other I will make sure that I use the appropriate and
suitable words to communicate with them in order to prevent conflict. Besides, I will
share my experience with my friend so that their can also adapt this culture, attitude
and behaviour into their life. I will also post some pictures or video of how Japanese
greeting to each other to let others have a clear vision of the polite ways to
communicate with other people.

Next, I will make the improvement by introduce it to my friend, family and public. I
can expose the public with the mass media such as newspaper, magazine, internet and
etc. I might even write some letter or stories to publicity to adhere interesting and
attractive event by using hiragana or katakana; so, this might derived the desired or
interest of public to learn japan language. Furthermore, I might post some interesting
essay or statement by using hiragana or katakana accompany with English letter. It
allows others to learn japan language with another form of approach.