TYCA Vol. 5 report
Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO) held Toshiba Youth Club Asia (TYCA) Vol. 5,
one of TIFO-initiated programs to foster the next-generation leaders of Asia, for the weekfrom March 20 to 27 March, 2019. The goal of this program is to stimulate interest inJapan among high-school students from ASEAN countries by offering them the chanceto visit Japan and to jointly conceive a vision of the future of Asia. In this latest meetingof TYCA, two students and an advisors from each of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Vietnam and Thailand teamed up with 6 students and 5 teachers fromJapan at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo. During the week,participants worked in four groups (T, Y, C, A) on various tasks under the theme of“Vision of Asia toward 2040”.
On the first day, the participants from ASEAN arrived in Japan over the course of themorning. The opening ceremony was held in the afternoon, with a warm welcome from
Keisuke Omori, the President of TIFO.
The second day started with Omori first giving the participants a short talk on Japan.
The youth clubbers then explained their pre-assignments, and the larger group weredivided into four, for their first discussions on social issues and environmental issues inAsia, and common problems and differences.

Getting to know each other and learn the diversity of Asia

Following on from this, Ms. Tomoko Hoshino, Vice-chair, Environmental PartnershipCouncil conducted a workshop on the SDGs, the UN’s sustainable development goals fora better future, providing the teams with a shared framework for understanding theSDGs and allowing each team to choose a theme to work on.
Day 3A morning visit to Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum introduced the history of waterand sewerage management in Japan, and technology and facilities dating from the Edo
period. In the afternoon, Dr. Naoki Ishibashi, an Assistant Professor of Global MediaStudies, Komazawa University spoke to the students about the history of technology andthe innovative changes of society. After that, it was off to Toshiba Science Museum so see
the latest technologies and a wide range of world- and Japan-first products, plus ademonstration of a wind-up doll made by Hisashige Tanaka, one of Toshiba’s twofounders.

A visit to the Toshiba Science MuseumDay 4
Professor Taikan Oki, Senior Vice-Rector at United University, opened the day by
speaking about the world’s water issues and how they relates to the goals of SDGs. Theafternoon session was given over to a workshop on the relationship between
environmental issues and the economy, using the "Logy & Nomy" educational tool.
Participants seemed to find hints about how to realize a sustainable future while
enjoying the game.

Logy & Nomy game, an excellent source of insights into environment and economy.

Day 5
The ASCOJA Advisors’ Session was held in the morning. Each advisor introduced theback story and the problems that have occurred in each country, and explained thedifferences and similarities between Japan and each country. Students examined“Vision” in each of the four groups T, Y, C, and A in the afternoon. In the evening, a cosponsor, ASJA International's government-funded international students (collegestudents and graduate students) introduced an introduction to Asian students' lives inJapan, and high school students seriously listened to their stories.
Day 6To close the TYCA, each of the teams had to complete a presentation in which they
developed a vision of Asia 20 years from now. On day six, the teams got down toshaping their arguments. But it was not all work. There was also an opportunity tovisit nearby Meiji Shrine, a natural ecosystem in the heart of Tokyo, which also offeredvaluable insights into the coexistence of cities and nature.
Day 7The last day of the youth club, and the culmination of all that had gone before. The
four teams offered their "Asian Vision in 2040-" in front of an audience ofrepresentatives of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassies of theparticipating countries, and other executives and guests associated with and interested
in TYCA. Mr. Masashi Muromachi, chairman of TIFO, gave an opening remarks tothank the students for their hard work. The students’ presentations ranged over

current and growing problems such as youth education or plastic waste disposal, anddemonstrated how young minds can come up with innovative solutions that draw ontechnology and an appreciation of the natural desire to live a better life.

Mr. Masashi Muromachi, Chairman of TIFO

Presentation of Team “T” focused on community-based lifetime education system

The participants in TYCA came together for only a week, but by engaging with theprogram and its content, through questions and discussions, and with the support oftheir advisors and visiting lecturers, they achieved great results.
(Cf. The video of students presentation is available at https://tyca.asia/archive/tyca-vol5/tyca-vol-5-video/.)