Hello, This is Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku Office.
 From Tuesday, August 6th, 2024, to Thursday, August 8th, 2024, the Summer Camp 2024 was held at the Hakusanroku Campus. A total of 29 junior high school students, ranging from 1st to 3rd year, participated in the 3-day, 2-night camp. The participants worked on a single project, from brainstorming ideas to prototyping and giving presentations. They learned in English through Engineering Design and STEAM Education, which is implemented by ICT using Design Thinking.

 

Day 1: Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

 In the morning, after greetings from President Masaaki Shikada and Vice President Mamoru Mukai, Omihito Matsushita sensei gave an introduction in English about the unique features of ICT, such as STEAM Education and Engineering Design Education.
 After lunch, an icebreaker activity was held. First, the students asked each other questions about their hobbies and favorite colors. Then, they introduced themselves in front of everyone, and the other students had to judge whether the information was true or not, raising a “×” for false and a “✓” for true. Next, the students were divided into groups and played a game where they had to guide a ball into a designated area. One person was blindfolded, while the other three took on the role of giving instructions, helping to develop their teamwork skills.
 After that, the students returned to the classroom, where the project theme, "Imagineering a Dream Company Aimed at the Future We Want to See!!” was announced. In recent years, while the concept of a corporate purpose or vision statement is becoming more of a reason to choose to work at a particular company, many young students tend to be attracted to tangible factors like company names and salaries when choosing their careers. Therefore, this project involved a workshop aimed at helping students understand the importance of the role that companies should play in society. The workshop was divided into two main phases. During the first phase on the first day, students explored why certain everyday social issues are considered problems. They deepened their understanding of the core of these issues and used "Why" questions to investigate the root causes, ultimately identifying the real challenges. From there, they generated specific solutions to address these problems.
 In the evening, a Thai Kite Making activity was held together with the students from the Global Summer Camp, which was being held simultaneously at the Hakusanroku Campus. The students were divided into groups consisting of both Summer Camp and Global Summer Camp participants, and under the guidance of Lapananrat Pantawat, a 1st year student from Thailand, they used paper and bamboo to build kite. After designing the kites, they enjoyed flying them in the courtyard of the Hakusanroku Campus. Later, the students participated in a bouldering activity.

Day 2: Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

 In the morning, as part of the English activities, a game called Running Telephone was held. The first student in each group was given an English sentence, which they had to memorize and accurately pass on to the next person. The last student had to deliver the message exactly as it was first relayed to the teacher. The students’ ability to memorize the sentences perfectly was impressive. The smooth communication made everyone appreciate their focus and memory skills. 
 After that, an idea generation activity called My Worst Idea was conducted. Each group was given items such as boxing gloves, ab rollers, and jump ropes, and had to present the worst possible way to use these items.
 Afterwards, the project activities continued from the previous day. In the second phase of the workshop, the focus was on the companies that would implement the generated solution ideas. The students examined how these ideas could be applied to solve real-world social issues. They also delved deeper into the purpose (the reason for a company's existence in society) underlying the solutions. Additionally, to further clarify the company’s impact and significance in society, the students considered the company’s logo and slogan as well.
 After that, students conducted an experiment on crystals as part of the STEAM Science Experiment. First, the students played a game where they searched for mineral crystals, such as quartz, with distinctive appearances among a variety of stones. Following this, they attended a lecture on the structures of crystals found in everyday objects and chemical substances. Afterward, they observed recrystallized chemical substances under a microscope, examining the shapes of the crystals and how they sparkled with colors when viewed through a polarizing filter. Finally, using beads, the students created keychains inspired by the crystal structures of chemical substances. 

Day 3: Thursday, August 8th, 2024

 The first activity of the day was called Penguin Line, where students practiced communication using various methods. This activity aimed to strengthen team unity in preparation for the final presentations and rehearsals.
　In the final presentations, many parents gathered at the Hakusanroku Campus to witness the students' achievements. The students presented their ideas in English based on the theme “Imagineering a Dream Company Aimed at the Future We Want to See!!” Their presentations included the social issues they focused on, the challenges arising from these issues, an analysis of the causes, and two proposed solutions. In addition, students introduced the name of the company that would provide these solutions, the company’s purpose and mission, and its logo and slogan, offering concrete solutions to the social problems.
 After the presentations, the parents voted on the most outstanding team in a mock investment session. As a result, two teams were selected for an Excellence Award, and ICT Coins (certificates) were presented.

 The Summer Camp brought together participants from diverse backgrounds, differing in age, school, and hometown, allowing them to share ideas from various perspectives based on their unique knowledge and experiences. The thinking methods, processes for generating new value, and experiences of collaborative creation and storytelling will undoubtedly be valuable for the students in their future learning. I hope that many of them found this experience inspiring and that it will lead them to consider enrolling in ICT.

Yuri Makada

 Hello, my name is Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku office. From Monday, August 26th to Monday September 2nd, 2024, I traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, for a business trip to recruit future ICT students, along with Mr. Tossa Mebusaya sensei, Mr. Rikichi Izumiya, the Deputy Secretary General of the ICT office, and Ms. Rattiya Mebusaya. I had the impression that Thailand would be extremely hot, but since Ishikawa Prefecture also experienced a heatwave of over 35 ℃ the week before, the temperature and humidity were almost the same. I had heard that August is the rainy season in Thailand, characterized by heavy downpours, but fortunately, we were blessed with sunny weather without being caught in any heavy rain.

 From Monday, August 26th to Friday August 30th, 2024, we visited several institutions in Bangkok. Among them were the Bangkok Japanese School, Japanese cram schools, the Japanese Embassy, Kosen Kmutt, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and its affiliated startup institution (Knowledge Xchange), and Sripatum University. During these visits, we introduced our school, discussed the recruitment of international students and returnees, toured the facilities of each institution, and exchanged opinions on the COOP Project and startup initiatives.

 From Friday, August 30th to Sunday September 1st, the Bangkok Japan Expo 2024 was held. At the Expo, the 45th Bangkok Study Abroad Fair was also held by the Jeducation Bangkok Japan Expo Executive Committee. ICT had a booth at the event. At the Bangkok Japan Expo 2024, many booths showcased various aspects of Japanese culture, such as travel to Japan and Japanese culinary traditions, creating an atmosphere filled with enthusiasm and interest in Japan.
 Many Japanese children living in Thailand, as well as Thai middle school students and their parents, visited the ICT booth. Some families engaged in serious discussions about studying at ICT for over an hour. Additionally, many high school and university students expressed strong interest in KIT, our affiliated school, and numerous questions were asked.
 At the Bangkok Japan Expo 2024, there were a total of 118,104 visitors over 3 days. Many attendees already had an interest in Japan, which created an environment conducive to discussions about Japan and studying abroad. The ICT booth was bustling with visitors from morning until evening, and our team worked together to assist them. We were amazed by the high level of interest from the Thai people in studying in Japan. We hope that this exhibition will lead to increased enrollment at ICT.
 This trip to Thailand was filled with new experiences, making it a very fulfilling time. Unfortunately, I had case of food poisoning and had to visit a hospital in Thailand, which was quite challenging. Despite this, the trip to Thailand was an unforgettable experience.

Yuri Makada

Hello, this is Hitomi Nanto from ICT Kanazawa Office. Today, I am introducing our facility,” The Learning Commons”.
The Learning Commons was launched on the first floor of the Kanazawa Campus in September 2023. This room is a large learning space for independent learning activities such as self-learning, group studying, preparation of presentations, and discussion. It is mainly used by 4th and 5th year students who commute to the Kanazawa Campus and is designed to help them spend their precious free time after school.
Students at ICT can use this room freely which contains interactive and movable whiteboards and multi-purpose outlets on the tables. After school, I often see students sitting in the box seats by the window, enjoying self-study and conversation with their classmates. It is exciting to think that we can spend time with our friends and create new possibilities together in a place like this.

Tables and chairs in the middle of this room can be used not only for self-study but also for group work by rearranging the tables. Movable whiteboards and projectors can be used for seminars, workshops, and group brainstorming sessions.

These are booth seats like those in a diner. Some students can be seen relaxing with their classmates, spreading out their lunch boxes and snacks, or engaging in self-study. The center of the table is equipped with an electrical multi-purpose outlet, which is very convenient for charging computers and tablets.

This is the counter area and a casual space for learning and discussion. Large displays and whiteboards on the walls can be used for effective group study and discussion by displaying images from PCs.

　Hitomi Nanto

Hello, I'm Tenzing Deguchi, currently studying abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand, during my 3rd year in ICT. I'm really enjoying my time here, especially with all the sports and music activities I do with my friends. But without a doubt, the best memory of my study abroad experience so far has been the ski trip to Queenstown.

Early in the morning on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024, the teachers and students gathered on campus, and we took a bus about 160 km to Wanaka. On the bus, we had a blast singing karaoke, using a speaker we brought along to play music. On the way, we stopped to eat New Zealand’s famous meat pies and played in a park before getting back on the bus. After a while, we arrived at “Puzzling World”. Puzzling World is like an optical illusion museum, with a lot of art that plays tricks on your eyes. There were rooms and mazes we could actually walk into and interact with. It was so much fun watching my normally tall friend suddenly appear short!

Our accommodation was nearby, with six of us in one room. After unpacking, we immediately headed to Lake Wanaka, which was right in front of us. Since we’re a group of energetic boys, it didn’t take long for an impromptu shoving match to start by the water, which got super intense and fun. In the end, Natsuki lost and had to return with wet clothes and shoes. That night, we had Mexican food and stopped by a supermarket to grab snacks and dessert (ice cream, of course).

On the second day, we went to Cardrona Alpine Resort—this was the main highlight of the trip. We've had a lot of fun skiing and snowboarding during our stay at Hakusanroku Campus, but everyone agreed that this was our best skiing experience yet. New Zealand doesn’t get as much snow as Japan, so the ski resorts are at higher altitudes, and most of the snow is artificial. The snow was light and powdery, and while there were a lot of people, the breathtaking scenery more than made up for it. We skied under a bright blue sky, with stunning mountains stretching out to the horizon. Since there weren’t any trees on the slopes, we could ski anywhere we wanted, which really ignited our sense of adventure. However, amidst all the excitement, one of my friends lost his phone. We tried using Snapchat’s location feature, but it wasn’t helpful, and he was devastated as he hadn’t seen his phone in two hours. Thankfully, one of the ski shops had it—apparently, a kind tourist had found and handed it in. That night, we made burgers for dinner, went to the supermarket again, and played card games before going to bed.

On the last day, we headed down to Queenstown to ride the luge carts, which are like go-karts that race downhill. Before that, we stopped at a famous local McDonald's for a bite. I couldn’t finish my Big Mac, so I took it to-go. Feeling all excited, I was carrying the Big Mac and fooling around when I tripped and broke my front tooth. At that moment, my mind went blank, and I had this terrible vision of living out the rest of my life with a goofy smile and no chance of finding love, which really brought my mood down. During the luge ride, I was the only one who crashed my cart into a wall and got thrown out, which made me feel even more clumsy and sad. But then we went bungee jumping, and it was so thrilling that I completely forgot about everything. I was the first to jump, and although I was a bit scared at first, once I was strapped into the harness, I got excited and just went for it. It felt like flying through the sky, and it was the best feeling ever. On the bus ride back, I slept, and before I knew it, we were back at school.

It was hands down the most fun I’ve had during my time in New Zealand.

Hello again! It’s me, Domyson Abuan, a Learning Mentor at ICT Hakusanroku campus. I am back with my second journal entry. This time, I have a story to share to mark my first anniversary of working at ICT!

My best friend gifted me a shirt that says, “EPIC FAIL.” At first, wearing something that labels me a failure seemed odd, but I proudly wear it anytime. “EPIC FAIL” has become a popular slang term for funny or ridiculous mishaps, usually made while doing something simple.

 It all started two years ago when the two of us joined a sports event in Ishikawa—wall climbing, BMX, parkour, all packed into one venue! So exciting! We drove a few hours to get there—only to discover that the event was mainly for kids!

 We were the only adults lining up to do parkour with children, looking like two out-of-place chaperones. To make it even funnier, I struggled with the course, and the kids easily beat me! We laughed so much that we dubbed the day an “EPIC FAIL.”

 Despite the mishap, we had a great time, and it became the start of more epic adventures—a race in Hokkaido, firefly squid fishing in Namerikawa, and even backpacking in the Philippines. Every trip brought more epic failures, but with each one, we picked life lessons. My friend gave me the shirt, and it reminded me of how much we’ve learned from those moments.

 Fast forward to August 7th, 2024. I wore my “EPIC FAIL” shirt during ICT Hakusanroku campus’s summer camp, where students from various schools gathered for STEM workshops. The theme of the camp was “Imagineering a dream company aimed at the future we want to see!!”, and I was assigned to introduce the concept. Imagineering blends imagination and technical skills, encouraging students to create innovative solutions for pressing social issues.

 I secretly hoped someone would ask about my shirt so I could tie it into the importance of failure in engineering. But to my surprise (and true to the spirit of an epic fail), all the workshops finished, and no one asked.

 Later that afternoon, while playing badminton with the participants in the gym, I finally got my chance. Three students from Thailand approached me, and one of them, a boy named CJ, noticed my shirt. He giggled and asked why I was wearing it. It was music to my ears! I felt like the universe was behind me, cheering me on to seize the moment.

 I told them about the meaning of the slang. We also discussed that in engineering—and in life—we often encounter failure. To my delight, they were genuinely engaged in the conversation. We discussed how failure proves that we’re trying, taking action, and learning. It pushes our ideas forward, eventually leading to better versions and successful outcomes. One of the boys chimed in saying, "As long as we keep trying, failing is okay." I couldn’t agree more, adding, "And if you’re going to fail while trying, make it epic so you always remember the lessons!"

 That conversation felt like a mission accomplished for the day.

 I saw the boys again later at the workshop venue. They smiled and waved, recognizing me as “the guy with the epic fail shirt.” Even if they didn’t remember my name, I was happy they recalled the conversation we had that night.

On the last day of camp, I was playing the ukulele with Sin, another participant. CJ approached me, holding something in his hands. He gave it to me and said, “This is for you.” He told me he enjoyed our conversation and wanted to give me a gift.

 I was thrilled to know that our talk had resonated with at least one student. As I write this, I’m marking one year of working at ICT. I’m incredibly grateful for moments like these, where we get to share engineering insights with students—lessons I hope will serve them as life skills as they grow.

 Oh, and by the way, CJ’s gift was a pair of traditional Thai pants! I’m sure they’ll go perfectly with my “EPIC FAIL” shirt. I can’t wait to wear the combo at a future workshop.

 Looking ahead, I’m excited to experience more realizations, “EPIC FAIL”, and eventual successes with the school community as we continue striving toward ICT’s goal of fostering global innovators. I’ll be sure to share more stories in future journal entries!

Domyson Abuan, Learning Mentor