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 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

アグリビジネス班

　Hello, this is Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku office. This time, I would like to write about the harvest of Beniharuka sweet potatoes by the Engineering Design IIA (2nd year) class.

 In the 2nd year Engineering Design IIA class, students are tackling issues facing the mountainous regions in HAKUSANROKU (Foothills of Mt. Hakusan), such as abandoned farmland, and increasing animal damage. The students are divided into two groups, the Agribusiness Group and the Tech Group. The Agribusiness Group grows sweet potatoes called Beniharuka in a fallow field across from the school and experiences managing an agricultural business through the process of sales, marketing, and accounting. The Tech Team is working to develop an AI and IoT enabled animal damage prevention system. 

 On Thursday, September 12th, 2024, the Agribusiness Team worked on harvesting Beniharuka sweet potatoes in extremely hot weather with temperatures over 30 ℃ around HAKUSANROKU. President Masaaki Shikada also participated in the harvest. Also, this year, there was no animal damage because an electric fence was installed to prevent monkeys from entering the fields. Additionally, there were fewer small sweet potatoes than previous years, and it seemed that the climate conditions this season were more favorable than last year. However, it was extremely hot that day, and after harvesting about one-third of the Beniharuka sweet potatoes in about two hours, we finished for the day.

 I also participated in the harvest of Beniharuka sweet potatoes on that day, and I found that cutting the vines at the base of the sweet potatoes, removing the mulch, and the actual harvest itself were much more physically demanding than I had expected. It was also a battle against the heat. The students with their faces flushed from the heat, took breaks, stayed hydrated, and diligently focused on their work. I was truly impressed by their dedication.

 On the evening of Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, the rest of the Beniharuka sweet potato were harvested. Unlike the previous harvest day, the temperature was a bit cooler, and the cloudy weather made for a more comfortable working environment. Students spent about three hours harvesting the potatoes. Although not all Agribusiness Group members could attend due to other extracurricular activities, a few members from the Tech Team came to help, and we successfully finished harvesting the remaining Beniharuka sweet potatoes. Overall, many of the Beniharuka sweet potatoes were of excellent size and shape. Despite planting the same number of plants as last year, we harvested 349 kg this year, about 1.7 times more than last year—a record harvest!

 The harvested Beniharuka sweet potatoes will be aged in the warehouse inside the school for about a month, allowing the starch to convert into sugars. They are scheduled to be shipped as raw sweet potatoes to Sena Roadside Station across from the school on Monday, October 28th. On Sunday, November 3rd and Monday, November 4th, the students will be selling baked sweet potatoes and original goods featuring the Kosen Beniharuka at Sena Roadside Station. Additionally, our school will hold an open campus on Sunday, November 3rd. If you are planning to attend on this day and have the time, we are looking forward to seeing you at Sena Roadside Station!
Click here for open campus details

Yuri Makada

ハーバード大学の創立者ジョン・ハーバード像

こんにちは、2年生の贄田 耀です。今年の夏休み、「海外英語研修」の科目として、私はアメリカのマサチューセッツ州ボストンのEF語学学校（EF Education First）へ留学に行ってきました。アメリカでは日本とのギャップに何度も驚かされたので、このジャーナルにてその一部を紹介したいと思います。

　最初にアメリカに到着した時の印象は、「広大」でした。建物も自然も街並みも目に入る何もかもが新鮮かつダイナミックで、ただ街道を歩いているだけでも心が躍りました。ボストンはアメリカにおけるもっとも古い町の一つなので、近代的な建物と歴史のある建造物が混ざり合った不思議でありながら美しい街並みを楽しめました。
　日常生活の中にもギャップはいくつも潜んでいました。バスや電車などの公共交通機関は絶対時間通りには来ないし、チップのシステムを知らないままだったので思い返せば失礼なこともしてしまいました。そんな中で私が最も驚いたギャップが、日本人とそれ以外の人種との積極性の違いです。もちろん、現地のアメリカ人はよく話し、よく質問をし、よく議論します。しかし、私のクラスメイトの大半だったスペイン人やフランス人も、アメリカ人と同じように振舞っていました。彼らの国の文化なのかはわかりませんが、彼らは公の場で自分の意見を発信することにためらいが一切ないように見えました。それに比べると、日本人は少し内気すぎる気がします。先生方は非常に親切で、生徒の話もよく聞いてくれるし、自分の意見を言うのが楽しいと感じる授業でした。

　今回の留学はアメリカの文化を学ぶとても良い機会でした。日本とのギャップに困ることもありましたが、それ以上に素晴らしい経験と思い出を与えてくれました。

贄田 耀

 Hello, I’m Yoh Nieda, a 2nd year student. As part of Overseas English Program, I went to Boston, Massachusetts., in the US, this summer vacation to study English and American Culture at EF Education. I saw a lot of gaps between Japan and the US that surprised me many times, so I would like to introduce some of them in this journal article. 

 When I first arrived in America, my first impression was "huge". Buildings, nature, and cityscapes were dynamic, so I had fun while I was just walking down the street. Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US, so modern buildings and historical structures are mixed into one cityscape. It was mysterious but beautiful.

 I saw other gaps in my daily life. Public transportation was late almost every time. I was surprised by the tipping system. However, the gap that surprised me the most was the willingness to speak up between Japanese students and students from other countries. Of course, Americans talk a lot, ask a lot of questions, and discuss a lot, but not the Japanese. Most of my classmates were French or Spanish, and they had no hesitation in speaking their minds. They always talked to teachers as if they were friends. In comparison, the Japanese students seemed a little shy. By the way, the teachers were very nice, they always listened to the students so it was easy to share our opinions in class. It was easy and pleasant to share my opinions.

 This trip was a good opportunity to learn about American culture. Sometimes, I was worried because of the gaps between Japan and the US, but this trip provided totally wonderful experiences and memories.

Yoh Nieda