We’re in Mito City!

Introduction of New Members


Introduction to Mito City

Now WCI participants have started the 2nd program of WCI for this summer in Mito city, which has many beautiful parks and special historical backgrounds. In the morning, they had an introduction of Mito city with the members of the local organizing committee and after lunch, a guest speaker taught about some history and famous people of Mito city such as Mitsukuni Mito. Then they went to Kairakuen and Koudoukan where they enjoyed the great mix of traditional housings and beautiful gardens. WCI members are getting excited to learn more about Mito city!!

Summer 2009 Arigato Evento in Tama!

Tama Arigato Evento

Program One ended perfectly with a superb Arigato Evento! Attended by Tama VIPs, host families, and the local organizing committee, the event connected each person that has touched us during our short stay in Tama and celebrated all the happy memories we have created. When saying good-bye to eight of our members (David from Austria, Hasiyna from USA, Yulin from Taiwan, Matt from Canada, Xury and Kun from China, Rie from Japan, and Torsten from Denmark), we could not help but feel sadness as the program comes to an end for several members. In just a couple of weeks, our group built strong relationships and felt unity.

Now, although we will be separated from the close friends, we have also gained new ‘kizuna’. Let’s persist with such energy as the summer tour continues!

Crazy Day in Akihabara

Crazy in Akihabara

For the Tokyo Metropolitan tour, among many different choices, I decided to go to Ueno and Akihabara, the street of “otaku”. After a walk in Ueno Park, where we saw a Japanese person in a Scottish kilt playing a Chinese game, our stomachs needed food. So we went for lunch at a spaghetti restaurant! Japanese spaghetti is not the same as the Italian one, but I have to confess, it was not so bad!

After lunch, we went to Akihabara, where we discovered a crazy world created by manga addicts, cosplayers and cute maids. All of us wanted a picture with a sweet maid who was selling sweets, but she would not agree to unless one of us bought something. So then, one of the Chuo University students who came with us bought dorayaki for everybody and the maid cast a spell on them…kawaiiiii! Lastly, we enjoyed the Akihabara atmosphere by walking in the crowded street, going into manga and anime shops, trying cosplay costumes and visiting a nine floor shop of electronic goods… But the most important thing is that I really had a lot of fun with my new friends!! Thank you guys 🙂

(Adriana Sanzone, Italy)

Personal Day in Tokyo!

Personal Day at Tsukiji


Personal Day at Bean Shop

More fun stuff from the tour! 

Every day is packed full of fun programs during the tour. But other than those programs, we have a personal day that we arrange by ourselves and get the opportunity to enjoy the city on our own. Even though I’m Japanese, there are still many places where I haven’t been to in my country.

In Tama city, I took this opportunity to have a small trip to Tsukiji, Shimokitazawa, and Roppongi with Janice, who is from the U.S. In the very warm sun, we had a lot of fun looking around stores in Tsukiji, trying to eat many different things, taking pictures, and especially we relished the awesome Salmon roe bowl.

The unplanned personal day can be fun and at the same time cause problems. Our mistake was that we bought a round trip ticket from the nearest station to central Tokyo and the free pass ticket of Tokyo Metro. The problem was, Tokyo Metro doesn’t go to Shimokitazawa from Tsukiji. Instead, it could take us only to Yoyogi-uehara, so we had to take a long walk from Yoyogi-uehara to Shimokitazwa. An employee at the station told us that it would take about 20 minutes, but it took much more than that, an hour! In addition, when we thought we had finally arrived at Shimokitazawa, we realized we had passed Shimokitazawa and actually arrived at the next station. We had to pay for another train ticket BACK to Shimokitazawa station which was the same amount that we paid for two GariGari-kuns while we were walking. But it was a good memory anyway. We had fun in doing window shopping in Shimokitazawa.

After that, we headed to Roppongi. Then we got together with Yuki Yoshida, who used to be on staff with the 3rd tour of World Campus – Japan. Reunion with former staff and participants in the city is also fun during the tour. We ate together and spent a good time with them talking about the old days and this program.

Personal day is only one day each tour city and despite it being an off day, it can be more tiring than daily programs. But, it is perfect for refreshing my feelings. I feel like I will make my days worthwhile and fun with the members of WCI and people in Tama city again starting tomorrow.

(Rie Hayase, Japan)