An Eye Opening Experience!

(Above: Cosmos garden mural in Iwate, Japan)

Participating in the Kakehashi program was truly a unique and eye-opening experience! After staying in Japan for 9 days I learned so much about Japan from its culture to it’s traditions, technology to architectural layout transportation networks. Collaborating with students from UTSC, Ryerson, Waterloo, and undergraduates at the University of Tokyo and Waseda made it the most thrilling experience!

My most memorable experience on the trip was taking a bullet train to Kamaishi, a port city in Northern Japan that was suffered tremendously from the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. As it was still a reconstruction zone I was inspired by the effort and planning that went in to creating safer buildings for the community and seeing the plans in person. Furthermore, staying with a host family allowed me to see how everyday life unfolded and made the experience even more emotional and unforgettable!

My favourite community project was the sentimental Cosmos garden and playground built by community members and international volunteers to boost community morale following the disaster. It also taught me that we should be grateful for the little things in life including friends, family, and our home. After participating in the Kakehashi program I am inspired to pursue a career in urban planning and would like to use some of the Planning knowledge I gained from this trip in the future for Toronto.

I hope to visit Japan again very soon and thank everyone who made this opportunity possible including Professor Sorenson, JICE, Embassy of Japan, our friendly hosts throughout the trip, and more! Arigato gozaimasu!

#japan #urbanplanning