SAKURA SCIENCE Exchange Program

SAKURA SCIENCEHigh School Program
Activity Report 2019

Table of Contents
3
About the SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program ......... 4
About the Sakura Science Plan ...........................................

Courtesy Visit to Ueno Michiko,State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology ............................................................................

5
Group 1 .................................................................................. 6Group 2 .................................................................................. 7Group 3 .................................................................................. 8Group 4 .................................................................................. 9Group 5 .................................................................................. 10Group 6 .................................................................................. 11Group 7 .................................................................................. 12Group 8 .................................................................................. 13Group 9 .................................................................................. 14Group 10 ................................................................................ 15
Results of Participant Survey ............................................... 16

2

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019

About the Sakura Science Plan
The Sakura Science Plan is a program that invites youth from Asian and other countries to Japan so that they canexperience firsthand Japanese culture, science and technology. Beginning in 2014, and for a period of six years, morethan 30,000 promising young people have visited Japan on this program.
By exchanging ideas in the fields of science and technology among the participants of the Sakura Science Plan, the programaims to contribute to the following: upport the development of talented people overseas who have the potential to contribute to innovation in scienceSand technology, and support continuous interaction between Japan and other countries and regions
Promote globalization of Japanese education and research institutes
Strengthen good relationships between Japan and other countries and regions

Eligibility Criteria for the Sakura Science PlanStudents, researchers and others engaged in science and technology who are 40 years old or younger from the following 41
countries and regions:

Central Asia

East Asia

Other Regions*Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

China
Mongolia
Republic of Korea
TaiwanArgentina
BrazilChile
Colombia
MexicoPeru

Southwest Asia
Bangladesh
BhutanIndia
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka

Southeast Asia
Brunei
Cambodia
Indonesia
Malaysia
MyanmarPhilippines

Laos
Singapore
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Viet Nam

Pacific Islands
Fiji
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Palau

Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga* Trial basis

Two Programs of the Sakura Science Plan
The following two programs have been prepared by the Sakura Science Plan.
Programs

Open Application Program

JST Direct Invitation ProgramFeatures

How to Apply

Invitation
PeriodJST supports the necessary expenses forthe programs selected as Open Application
Program.

Overseas and Japanese organizations
jointly plan the program, and theJapanese organization sends applications
to JST within the designated period.

Seven days
to threeweeks

JST plans the programs and implements
the programs as a host organization. There
are two types: SAKURA SCIENCE HighSchool Program and SAKURA SCIENCE
Supporters Program.

Not open for public application

Seven days

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 20193

About the SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program
SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program (SSHP) started aspart of the Sakura Science Plan to invite youth from 14
countries and regions in 2014.

Number of Participants by Country and Region in FY2019
Students

Supervisors

China

284

29

313

Republic of Korea

30

6

36

Taiwan30

5

35

Mongolia

10

2

12

Indonesia

39

8

47

Malaysia

30

5

35

Myanmar30

535

Philippines

30

5

35

Thailand

30

5

35

Viet Nam

30

5

35

Cambodia

10

2

12

Laos

10

2

12

Singapore

10

2

12

SSHP in FY2019

Brunei

5

2

7

India

210

34

244

In FY2019, the SSHP invited a total of 1,083 outstanding
high school students and supervisors to Japan from 39
countries and regions in Asia, the Pacific Islands and otherregions (six Latin America countries). The students weredivided into 10 groups and participated in specially plannedand diverse programs over the course of seven days and six
nights over the period of early April 2019 until early
December 2019.

Pakistan

15

3

18

Bangladesh

15

3

18

Sri Lanka

10

2

12

Nepal

10

2

12

Bhutan3

1

4

Maldives

3

1

4

Uzbekistan

5

1

6

Kazakhstan

3

1

4

Central Asia Kyrgyzstan

3

1

4

Tajikistan

3

1

4

Turkmenistan

3

1

4

Fiji

3

1

4

Samoa

3

1

4

Marshall Islands

3

1

4

Micronesia

3

1

4

Papua New Guinea

3

1

4

Palau

3

1

4

Tonga

3

1

4

Brazil10212Colombia

10

2

12

Mexico

10

2

12

Peru

10

2

12

Argentina

5

1

6

Chile

5

1

6

The SSHP, which JST plans and implements as a hostorganization, invites promising high school students, as wellas supervisors, from Asia and elsewhere to Japan toparticipate in an exchange program. The students take part in
special classes taught by top scientists in Japan (including
Nobel laureates), visit prominent universities and researchfacilities, interact with Japanese high school students andexperience Japanese culture. The program aims to enhancethe visiting high school students’ interest in science andtechnology in Japan, and to further their talents as global
human resources that are required by Japan’s universities,
research institutions and companies. In doing so, theprogram seeks to contribute to the development of scienceand technology globally.

Visiting Japan for the first time, the participating students
encountered advanced science and technology that fully
engaged their curiosity, before returning to their homecountries. In a post-participation questionnaire, approximately
97% of the high school students responded that they hope toreturn to Japan, creating expectations that the students will
act as bridges between their countries and Japan in the future.

Number of Participants by Area
Latin America
Pacific Islands
Central Asia

Area

East Asia

Southeast
Asia

Southwest
Asia

Pacific
Islands

28 60
22East Asia

Southwest Asia
312

396

Southeast Asia
265

Latin
AmericaCountry/Region

Total

4

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019

932

Total

151 1,083

High school students who visited Japan on the SSHP madea courtesy call on Ueno Michiko, State Minister of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Representatives (6 high school
students, and 5 supervisors) of thetenth group of the SSHP for FY2019
from each country (Argentina, Chile,
China, Peru and Uzbekistan) that
arrived in Japan on December 1(Sunday) visited the Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science
andTechnology (MEXT) on December
6 (Friday) to pay a courtesy call on
Ueno Michiko, State Minister of
Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology.
The high school students appeared to be slightly nervous, but State Minister Ueno warmly shookeach student’s hand and welcomed them into her office. There, she received a bouquet of flowers
from the students.
Initially in the meeting, State Minister Ueno kindly asked the students about the impressions of the
program and of Japan. They asked her for advice regarding becoming a foreign student in Japan, andabout her work. State Minister Ueno responded warmly and politely to each of the questions. From
beginning to end, the conversation moved along in a peaceful mood.
Lastly, State Minister Ueno offered words of encouragement to the high school students. All thestudents seemed to hang on her every word. The time ended all too quickly, and finally the State
Minister shook each student’s hand and left the meeting.

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 20195

Group 1
Date

Sun, April 14 – Sat, April 20, 2019

Arrival in Japan; orientation

India and BangladeshCountry/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

April 15 (Mon)

Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters; tour of Kamakura

Bangladesh

15

3

18

April 16 (Tue)Visit to CYBERDYNE STUDIO and JAXA

India

47

7

54

April 17 (Wed)

Visit to Shibuya Junior & Senior High School (Special lecture by Professor Noyori Ryoji, interaction with highschool students)

April 18 (Thu)Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)

Sri Lanka

10

2

12

Viet Nam

30

5

35

April 19 (Fri)Visit to Shibaura Institute of Technology (Campus tour, interaction with students)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

Total

102

17

119

April 20 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

Tour of CYBERDYNE STUDIO

Visit to Saitama University (Campus tour)

Visit to the University of Tsukuba (University
introduction, interaction with students) and JAXATour of the Disaster Prevention Experience-learning
Facility “Sona Area Tokyo”

April 16

Visit to Shibuya Junior & Senior High School April 17

Students experienced the robot suit called HAL at CYBERDYNE
STUDIO, where they were exposed to leading-edge robot
technology. HAL is the world’s first robot that reads imperceptible
biological signals from our extremities, which are emitted fromthe wearer’s brain to assist in movement. The students were
extremely excited to be able to actually wear the sensors on
their arms for a real trial.

Students were separated into smaller groups and joined theschool tour, after which they participated in the “newspaper
tower game.” In this game, 10 sheets of newspaper are used.
The team that is able to build the tallest tower wins. The
members who had become familiar with each other during theschool tour actively put their ideas together and tried hard as ateam to build the tallest tower than the others.

When you wear the sensors and move your arms, HAL responds in the same way.

Taking on the newspaper tower gameSpecial Lecture by Professor Noyori Ryoji

6

Sri Lanka and Viet Nam

April 14 (Sun)

April 17

Visit to Saitama University

April 18

Students participated in a special lecture at Shibuya Junior &Senior High School by Professor Noyori, the Nobel laureate in
Chemistry in 2001. Professor Noyori talked about interesting
stories including how his interest in science originated fromwhen he was small and learned that rayon is made from coal,water and air, and how he was inspired by the Nobel Prize of Dr.
Yukawa Hideki to become a scientist.

The students were given a lecture by Professor Kawamoto Ken, who is
involved in joint research with Viet Nam in the Science and Technology
Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS). The lecture
was with regard to appropriate control of construction waste materials,
recycling and protection of the environment in Asia. The discussion
conducted with the foreign students not only covered research topics but
also involved coming up with a life plan and advice regarding scholarships.

Professor Noyori speaking to students

Exchanging opinions with the foreign students from their home country

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019

Group 2
Sun, April 20 – Fri, April 26, 2019

Date

Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

Bhutan

3

1

4

India

57

10

67

Indonesia

19

4

23

Marshall Islands

3

1

4

Mexico10212Micronesia

3

1

4

Total

95

19

114

April 20 (Sat)
April 21 (Sun)

April 22 (Mon)
April 23 (Tue)April 24 (Wed)April 25 (Thu)
April 26 (Fri)Indonesia,
Marshall Islands
and Micronesia

India

MexicoBhutanArrival in Japan; orientation
Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Tour of the Disaster Prevention Tour of Panasonic Center Tour of Sony ExploraScience
Experience-learning Facility
Tokyo, visit the Indian"Sona Area Tokyo"
Embassy
Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters; tour of Kamakura(India A+Mexico) Visit to National Institute ofVisit to Tokyo University ofTechnology, Kisarazu College(India B+Bhutan)
Marine Science andTechnology
Visit to Salesian Polytechnic
Visit to Senior High School at Sakado, University Tsukuba (Special lecture by Professor Ohsumi Yoshinori,interaction with high school students)
Visit to Kanagawa Prefectural Atsugi High School (Interaction with high school students)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony
Departure from Japan

Courtesy Call to the Ambassador of India in Japan April 21

Visit to Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology April 23

The high school students who were visiting from India were allowed
to visit the Indian embassy in Japan and pay a courtesy call on the
Indian ambassador, Sanjay Kumar Verma. The ambassador kindly
encouraged the students to “not only gain exposure to the leading
technologies where they were touring but also to learn about thebehind-the-scenes processes, and to become aware that scienceand engineering were being developed for society and the end user.”Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology is the only
national university in Japan that conducts training and research in
the field of marine science. After the high school students were
given a lecture on “the status of Japan’s hatchery fish” by Professor
Shuichi Sato, they toured the research room. Research of the ocean
is a field of deep interest to those high school students who live inPacific Islands surrounded by an ocean like Japan.

Ambassador Verma encouraging Indian high school students

Commemorative photograph in front of skeleton of world’s largest whale

Special Lecture by Professor Ohsumi Yoshinori April 23

Visit to Kanagawa Prefectural Atsugi high School April 24

The high school students were given a special lecture byProfessor Ohsumi, who was given a Nobel Prize in physiology
and medicine for his research in “clarifying the system of
autophagy (cell autophagy).” Professor Ohsumi explained
autophagy in a way that was easy for the high school students
to understand, and encouraged them by saying “find what you
are interested in and move forward to attain it.”After the school tour, the students were separated into three groups. Afterallowing the students to introduce their own countries in a “presentationand discussion” session, they talked in pairs, and had an enjoyable timetrying their hand at origami and sugoroku in the Japanese culture
experience session. In the science experiment, the students used a pump
to decompress a laboratory container and observed a variety of objects
placed inside the container before and after decompression.

Professor Ohsumi speaking to students

Students observing what happened inside the container after it is decompressed

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 20197

Group 3
DateSun, May 19 – Sat, May 25, 2019

May 19 (Sun)

Arrival in Japan; orientation
Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)
Visit to Tokai University Takanawadai Senior High School (Interaction with high school students)

Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

May 20 (Mon)Cambodia

10

2

12

May 21 (Tue)

India

42

7

49

Tour of Edo-Tokyo Museum
Travel to Nagoya City by bullet train; tour of Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

May 22 (Wed)

Laos

10

2

12

Tour of GIFU-KAKAMIGAHARA AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM
Visit to NAGOYA ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.

May 23 (Thu)

Mongolia

10

2

12

Visit to Nagoya University (Special lecture by Professor Amano Hiroshi, interaction with students of Nagoya
University Affiliated Upper Secondary School)
Travel to Tokyo by bullet train

Philippines

30

5

35

May 24 (Fri)Visit to Yokohama National University (Campus tour, interaction with students)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

Total

102

18

120

May 25 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

Visit to NAGOYA ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD. May 22

Special Lecture by Professor Amano Hiroshi May 23

The students visited NAGOYA ELECTRIC WORKS, whose core business is Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS). This company is working with the Indian Institute ofTechnology on the international joint research program (SATREPS) to help alleviatetraffic congestion in Ahmedabad City. The students learned about their research andhigh-quality manufacturing capabilities. Many students seemed surprised by imaging
the scene of doing this kind of work, that directly links themselves to the path theywant to take in the future, and that they would like to come and study in Japan.

At the Higashiyama Campus of Nagoya University, Professor Amano,
the Nobel laureate in Physics in 2014 and also the Director of the Center
for Integrated Research of Future Electronics at Nagoya University, helda lecture for high school students. He spoke on why he chose blue lightemitting diodes as his research theme, and how he now devotes
himself to research on electric cars with enhanced energy efficiency.
The students in attendance looked focused on the lecture.

Group commemorative photograph, everyone was moved by the bright and harmonious company atmosphere

Questions and answers with Professor Amano

Interaction with Students of Nagoya University
May 23Affiliated Upper Secondary School

8

Visit to Yokohama National University

May 24The students visited Nagoya University and were given an overview of theuniversity and explanation of the information necessary for studying abroad. The
students were allowed some time to interact with the students at Nagoya
University Affiliated Upper Secondary School. In the afternoon they split into
groups and went on a campus tour. The students visited the Disaster Mitigation
Research Building, the Nobel Prize Exhibition Room, Nagoya University Museum,and Newton’s Apple Tree (a tree grafted from the home of Sir Isaac Newton).

The Yokohama National University campus is full of greenery andextremely beautiful. As soon as the high school students arrived, out
came their smartphones for mass photo taking. Of the approximately
10,000 students at Yokohama University (including the graduate
college), students from abroad make up 10%. It has an internationalfeel, and there are scholarships and dormitories for foreign students.
So, all of the students who heard that expressed great interest.

The high school students interacting in a lunchtime gameThe students on a campus tour with university students from their home country

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019

Group 4
Sun, May 26 – Sat, June 1, 2019

Date

TaiwanIndia

Papua New
Guinea, Samoa
and Tonga

MyanmarCountry/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

May 26 (Sun)

Arrival in Japan; orientation

India

30

5

35

May 27 (Mon)

Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters; tour of Kamakura

Myanmar30

535

May 28 (Tue)Tour of JAXA Tsukuba Space Center
Visit to University of Tsukuba

Papua New Guinea

3

1

4

May 29 (Wed)

Visit to Chiba Prefectural Funabashi High School (Special lecture by Professor Kajita Takaaki, interaction withhigh school students)

Samoa

3

1

4

May 30 (Thu)

Visit to National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)

Taiwan

30

5

35

Tonga

3

1

4

May 31 (Fri)Visit to Tokyo City University Setagaya Campus (Campus tour, interaction with students)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

Total

99

18

117

June 1 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

Tour of Daiichi Sankyo
Kusuri Museum

Tour of JAXA Tsukuba Space CenterMay 28

Tour of The Railway
Museum (Omiya)

Tour of the JAL Factory

Tour of Kawasaki Eco
Gurashi Mirai-kan

Tour of Nissan Motor Company Yokohama Plant

Visit to the University of Tsukuba

May 28At JAXA, the students learned by video about the history of developments
made thus far, and were given an overview of the facility, then they weretaken on a tour of the facilities. The students were given a chance to look up
close at the “closed environment practical training equipment” thatappeared in the movie “Space Brothers,” and is used in selection testing ofastronauts, and the operation control room of the space station Kibo. The
students showed great excitement and took a great many photographs.

After the students were given an overview of the University of Tsukuba, which
has welcomed many foreign students from all around the world, they got
together with the foreign students and exchanged information on campus life,
their background to becoming a foreign student and what kinds of procedures
they need to implement to become a foreign student. Also, they were allowed
to tour the next-generation, multi-compound computing acceleration
supercomputer Cygnus, which has only just begun operations in April 2019.

Touring an actual size model for the Space Station Kibo, at the Japan Testing Building

Exchanging information with foreign students from all around the world

Visit to Chiba Prefectural Funabashi High School

May 29Special Class by Professor Kajita Takaaki

May 29In the poster session, the students gave presentations on thecontent that they prepared according to subjects they were
given in advance. There was a broad variety of subjects ranging,from genetic modification to environmental problems, robots,
and flying drones. There was even a high school student from
Taiwan who gave a presentation on flying with bubbles, who got
his inspiration from the animated film Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

The students attended a special class by Professor Kajita, theNobel laureate in Physics in 2015. Professor Kajita spoke tostudents about how he quit as captain of the archery club inuniversity and decided to go into physics because of his interestin the subject. Later, he explained how it was his meeting
Professor Koshiba Masatoshi that moved him to do research
into neutrinos.

High school student from Papua New Guinea giving presentation

Professor Kajita speaking to the students

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 20199

Group 5
DateSun, June 9 – Sat, June 15, 2019
Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

Brunei

5

2

7

China

30

3

33

India

16

2

18

Thailand

30

5

Total

81

12

India and Brunei

ThailandArrival in Japan; orientation

June 10 (Mon)

Visit to Saitama Prefectural Urawa
High School

June 11 (Tue)Visit to RIKEN
Visit to Edo-Tokyo Museum and Senso-ji

June 12 (Wed)Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)
Tour of Nissan
Motor Company
Yokohama Plant(China)Visit to Rikkyo University (Campus tour, experiment lab with Professor
Shirakawa)Tour of the JAL Factory

Tour of JAMSTEC Yokosuka
Headquarters

June 13 (Thu)

Visit to Rikkyo University (Campus tour,
Visit to Senior High School at Sakado, University of Tsukuba (Projectexperiment lab with Professor Shirakawa) studies, soil experiment, exchanges)

35

June 14 (Fri)Visit to Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (University introduction, student exchange)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

93

June 15 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

Visit to Saitama Prefectural Urawa High School

June 10Visit to RIKEN

June 11

Forty-five students from China and India visited Urawa High School. They
were separated into four groups, and each toured classes for geography,
mathematics, English and physics, and were allowed to participate in
the classes. Students were able to speak freely in small groups inEnglish about their own countries during the English class. Soon,
despite the enjoyable atmosphere, it became lunchtime, so the students
were able to deepen their communication around their obento.

The students toured the state-of-the-art accelerator facility. The facility is able
to generate about 4,000 types of unstable atomic nuclei (radioactive isotopes(RI)), for all elements from hydrogen to uranium, in the form of the mostpowerful beams in the world. This is the 113th element called Nihonium,
recognized by international organizations as the first element to be discoveredin Asia. It was discovered by this facility. The students were treated to an
explanation into the episode that led to the discovery of Nihonium.

In the mathematics classHigh school students photographing the giant nuclear chart created using Lego blocks

Visit to Senior High School at Sakado,
University of Tsukuba

10

China and India

June 9 (Sun)

June 13

Visit to Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus June 14

Principal Tamura Kenji is also a professor at the University ofTsukuba. His field is soil science. On that day, Principal Tamura
dug a hole for the class in the school ground in the morning. He
taught the students about how to identify soils in the class. His
class followed the schools educational philosophy of placing
importance on practice. All of the students were able to confirm
with actual experience that soils differ in hardness and color.

The students learned during an overview of the university that Fukuzawa Yukichi, who
was the founder of Keio University, is the man whose face appears on the ¥10,000 notein Japanese currency. This got their immediate interest. Also, they were given a detailed
explanation on the GIGA program, in which students can earn credits required for
graduation by taking classes that are conducted in English. Lastly, Associate Professor
Hasebe Youko from the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies gave instructionin which students had an interaction session, and deepened their debate in groups.

Class on soil science by Principal Tamura

Casual group discussion on the floor

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019

Group 6
Date

Sun, June 16 – Sat, June 22, 2019

China and Singapore

Malaysia and Republic of Korea

June 16 (Sun)

Arrival in Japan; orientation

June 17 (Mon)

Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters;
tour of Kamakura

June 18 (Tue)Visit to Saitama Municipal Omiya Kita High School (Interaction with high school students)

Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

China

29

3

32

Republic of Korea

10

2

12

June 19 (Wed)Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)
Tour of Edo-Tokyo Museum

Malaysia

30

5

35

June 20 (Thu)

Visit to Rikkyo University (Campus tour, experiment labwith Professor Shirakawa Hideki)

Singapore

10

2

12

June 21 (Fri)Visit to the University of Tokyo (University introduction, campus tour)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

Total

79

12

91

June 22 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters

Visit to Rikkyo University (Campus tour, experiment labwith Professor Shirakawa Hideki)

Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters;
tour of Kamakura

June 17

Visit to Saitama Municipal Omiya Kita High School June 18

Students toured the maintenance facility of the deep sea cruisingautonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) “URASHIMA” and a hyperbaric
chamber facility where deep sea conditions can be reproduced. Also, at the
Ocean Science and Technology Museum, a life-size model of SHINKAI 6500,
a manned diving survey boat and the pride of Japan is on display. Students,
one at a time, were allowed to enter the cockpit and have a chance to movethe manipulator that is used to pick up actual organisms and rocks.

Students broke into smaller groups where they introduced themselves
and became more familiar with each other. Later, they participated ina program for designing a vehicle that moves with the motive force ofa balloon or rubber or the like. The students all put their ideas together
to come up with a vehicle design. Lastly, they held races, each teamracing a vehicle of their own proud design. From qualifying to the final,
1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams were awarded.

In front of the life-size model of SHINKAI 6500

Each group giving their own design ideas

Visit to Rikkyo University

June 20

Experiment Lab with Professor Shirakawa Hideki June 20

Soon after arrival, the students were given a detailed overview
of the university, then went on a campus tour with university
students. Students often stopped to take photos of the beautiful
ivy-covered campus, such as research labs, the library, andvarious cafeterias. The students got a small taste of university
life, and some stated they would like to study at Rikkyo University
in the future.

Students participated in an experiment lab by Professor Shirakawa, the Nobel
laureate in Chemistry in 2000. This was the opportunity that the high school
students were waiting for. They all listened intently and a little excitedly to his
lecture. The theme was “Let’s create an EL element by synthesizing
conductive plastic.” Professor Shirakawa kindly explained the experiment.
When lastly the element emit light, the students were excited and delighted
together with the university students who supported the experiment.

Touring the campus lead by current university students

Commemorative photograph with Professor Shirakawa after the experiment

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 201911

Group 7
Sun, July 7 – Sat, July 13, 2019

Date
July 7(Sun)

July 8(Mon)

July 9(Tue)

Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

China

50

5

55

Fiji

3

1

4

Indonesia

20

4

24

Republic of Korea

20

4

24

Maldives

3

1

4

July 11 (Thu)

Palau

3

1

4

July 12 (Fri)

Total

99

16

115

July 13 (Sat)

Visit to Ibaraki Prefectural Namiki
Secondary School

July 10 (Wed)July 9Republic of Korea

Fiji, Indonesia,
Maldives and Palau

Arrival in Japan; orientation
Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters; tour of Kamakura
Visit to JAXA and Ibaraki
Visit to Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Prefectural Namiki Secondary
Visit to National Astronomical
Tour of the Disaster Prevention
School (Exchanges)
Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
Experience-learning Facility "SonaArea Tokyo"
Visit to Tokyo University of Science Visit to Saitama Prefectural Koshigaya Kita High School (Special lecture(University introduction,
by Professor Fujishima Akira, interaction with high school students)
mathematics class by Professor
Akiyama Jin)
Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)
Tour of Daiichi Sankyo Kusuri Museum Tour of JAXA Chofu Aerospace Center Tour of Sony ExploraScience
Visit to Yokohama City University Kanazawa-Hakkei Campus (Campus tour, interaction with students)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony
Departure from Japan

Visit to Saitama Prefectural Koshigaya Kita
High School

July 10

Fifty-five high school students from China visited this school. At thewelcoming party, third-year students of the school performed a wonderfulchoral recital and offered a karate performance to great applause. The
Chinese students also introduced some of the beautiful sights andculture of their home country to students at Namiki Secondary School.
As they became more familiar with each other, they tried their skill of
making origami in the classroom and spoke freely about their dreams.

Students were seated next to one another at the venue for the opening ceremony,and were given time to interact that began with some awkward self-introductions.
However, students soon became familiar with each other and we began to see
smiling faces and a lively time was had by all. In the afternoon, the students got
to experience facets of Japanese culture, including shodo and flower arrangement,
and later they were able further to deepen their bonds by participating in club
activities for science, including physics, chemistry and biology.

A student wearing traditional Japanese kimono taught the other students the art of origami.

The students quickly broke down barriers during their time to interact.

Meeting with Director Mohri Mamoru at the National
July 11
Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

12

China

Visit to Yokohama City University

July 12

Director Mohri of the National Museum of Emerging Science andInnovation, the first Japanese astronaut, welcomed the students. The
students were honored to hear a talk by Director Mohri into the backgroundto his wanting to become an astronaut, the activities he undertook in
space and the earth seen from space, all accompanied by photos. The
students actively raised their hands to ask him questions. We could seethat he was quite stimulated by the great interest shown by the students.

After the students arrived at the university, they were seated in groups.
Once joined by foreign students studying at the university, they left fora campus tour. The students toured the campus, where you can feel arefreshing sea breeze. Later, they were given an explanation ofresearch subjects presently being studied at the research rooms.
Lastly, the students listened to an explanation of studying abroad inJapan given by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO).

Group commemorative photograph with Director Mohri

Interaction with current university students

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019

Group 8
Sun, July 14 – Sat, July 20, 2019
Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

China

60

6

66

Kazakhstan

3

1

4

Nepal

10

2

12

Pakistan

15

3

18

Turkmenistan

3

1

4

Total

91

13

104

Date

China

July 14 (Sun)

Arrival in Japan; orientation

July 15 (Mon)Tour of Panasonic Center Tokyo

Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan andTurkmenistan

Tour of TEPIA Advanced Technology Gallery

Visit to Tokyo Institute of Technology (University introduction, experiment class by Professor Ichimura Teijiro)
July 16 (Tue)Visit to Chiba Prefectural Kisarazu High School (Interaction with high school students)

July 17 (Wed)

Visit to High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) (Special lecture by Nobel laureate
Kobayashi Makoto, interaction with students of Meiwa Senior High School)

July 18 (Thu)Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)
Tour of Edo-Tokyo Museum

July 19 (Fri)Visit to Chiba University (Campus tour, interaction with students)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

July 20 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

Experiment Class of Professor Emeritus
Ichimura Teijiro at Tokyo Institute of Technology

July 15

Visit to Chiba Prefectural Kisarazu High School

July 16

Professor Ichimura is known for having invited to Japan the
famous Christmas Lectures (Candle Science) that was
conducted in 1860 by the renowned English scientist, Michael
Faraday. Professor Ichimura had prepared especially for this day
an experiment relating to combustion. Lastly, because of thestimulating content of the class, and eagerness shown by thestudents, everyone enjoyed the class.

At the opening ceremony, the principal representatives from eachcountry and student representatives all gave an introductory greeting,which started off our exchanges. After giving self-introductions andreviewing what they were going to experience in the afternoon, students
were separated into four groups and left to tour along with students fromthe same school. They visited Nippon Steel Corporation, Kimitsu Plant,
the Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Umihotaru PA and Kururi Castle.

Professor Ichimura enthusiastically conducting class

Communicating by smartphone

Special Lecture by Professor Kobayashi Makoto at
High Energy Accelerator Research Organization July 17

Visit to the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo

July 18

While visiting the wide-open facilities and learning about
elementary particles and the accelerator, the students
participated in the program with students from Aichi Prefectural
Meiwa High School, the school that Professor Kobayashi, theNobel laureate in Physics in 2008, graduated from. After, they
participated in the lecture by Professor Kobayashi as he is also a
special professor emeritus of that organization.

This year, the temporary Deputy Ambassador Ali Anser Zaidi
warmly welcomed the students and others. Mr. Zaidi encouraged
the high school students from his native country and was eager
to hear about the program. After lunch, Mr. Zaidi took thestudents on a tour of the building. They were allowed an
unprecedented look at his office, where all of the students werevery interested to take photographs.

Professor Kobayashi speaking to students

Mr. Zaidi then took the students on a tour of the embassy; photos of past ambassadors to Japan adorn the hallway walls

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 201913

Group 9
Sun, November 24 – Sat, November 30, 2019

Date

Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

Brazil

10

2

12

China

58

6

64

Colombia

10

2

12

India

18

3

21

Kyrgyzstan

3

1

4

Tajikistan

3

1

4

Total

102

15

117

Brazil, Colombia, India, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan

November 24 (Sun)

Arrival in Japan; orientation

November 25 (Mon)

Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters; tour of Kamakura

November 26 (Tue)Visit to Shibaura Institute of Technology Kashiwa
Senior High School

Visit to JAXA and the University of Tsukuba

November 27 (Wed)

Visit to Tokyo University of Science (University
introduction, tour of Mathematical Experience Plaza,mathematics class by Professor Akiyama Jin)

Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan Koishikawa Secondary
Education School (Special lecture by Professor
Fujishima Akira, interaction with high school students)

November 28 (Thu)Tour of TEPIA Advanced Technology Gallery

Tour of RiSuPia of Panasonic Center Tokyo

Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)
November 29 (Fri)Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan University (Campus tour, interaction with foreign students)
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

November 30 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

Visit to Shibaura Institute of Technology
November 26
Kashiwa Senior High School

Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan Koishikawa
November 27
Secondary Education School

In the afternoon, Japanese and Chinese high school students gave a
research presentation they had prepared. Students from the sameschool put up posters while the Chinese students used PowerPoint
to give their presentations. Every subject was full of interesting
content that delved deeply into the theme including local history,
their food culture, novels, and social phenomena and the like. It
appears to have led to mutual understanding of each other's culture.

At the welcome party, the students were introduced to a history of the school,
which is having its centennial anniversary, and to its educational policies. After
that, the students were separated into groups and they listened carefully toresearch presentations given by students of that school. Each presentation had
its own unique perspective. You could see that the students always worked
hard on research. In the afternoon, the students were allowed to participate inclasses such as math puzzles and crafts during the experience learning session.

The students began interacting after they gave their self-introductions.

High school students talking about their home country (China)

Mathematics Class of Professor
Akiyama Jin at Tokyo University of Science November 27

14

China

Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan University

November 29

Professor Akiyama is renowned as a mathematician who
teaches the appeal of mathematics in an easy-to-understandand interesting manner. In his class called “Math spectacle
show,” he explained various mathematical theories using one
prop after another. The high school students were captivated by
the fun of mathematics he imparted in a class that evolved
almost like magic.

The high school students visited the Research Center for Gold
Chemistry at the Tokyo Metropolitan University. The center,established for the purpose of "pioneering new gold chemistry,” iswell-known worldwide as a gold chemistry research center. The
students toured the facility after hearing about new gold chemistrythat is expected to be applied for gold catalysis and medical diagnostics
and treatment. They then visited other labs with university students.

Professor Akiyama using his own handmade props

During the tour

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019

Group 10
Sun, December 1 – Sat, December 7, 2019

Date

Country/Region

Students

Supervisors

Total

Argentina

5

1

6

Chile

5

1

6

China

57

6

63

Peru

10

2

12

Uzbekistan

5

1

6

Total

82

11

93

Visit to University of Tokyo
Kashiwa Campus

Chile, Peru, Argentina andUzbekistan

China

December 1 (Sun)

Arrival in Japan; orientation

December 2 (Mon)

Visit to JAMSTEC Yokosuka Headquarters; tour of Kamakura

December 3 (Tue)Visit to JAXA and University of Tokyo Kashiwa Campus

December 4 (Wed)

Visit to Eiko Gakuen (Special lecture by Professor Fujishima Akira, interaction with high school students)

December 5 (Thu)Tour of National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Including a lecture by Director Mohri Mamoru)
Tour of Nissan Motor Company Yokohama Plant

Visit to Kazusa DNA Research InstituteDecember 6 (Fri)Visit to Chuo University (University Introduction, Labo Tour, interaction with foreign students)
Representative from each country: Courtesy call to Ueno Michiko, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology
Closing ceremony and farewell ceremony

December 7 (Sat)

Departure from Japan

December 3

Visit to Eiko Gakuen Senior High School December 4

After arriving at the campus, the students first attended a lectureon squid ecology. Then, they were given a tour of the Institute for
Cosmic Ray Research, the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
and the Center for Spatial Information Science. The high school
students demonstrated their intense interest in each of theresearch buildings. They also asked researchers many questions,so the tour went well beyond what we originally had planned.

The theme for this day was the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). The students eagerly discussed one of the 17 goals in theirindividual groups. The situation is different for each country.
Comments were wide and various, but the students were able tosummarize their conclusions and give a presentation in the afternoon
on the result of their discussions. There were teams who received
applause after their presentation. It was a very fulfilling discussion.

Listening to an explanation of a system to detect light using a CTA camera

Chinese students listening intently

Special Lecture by Professor
Fujishima Akira

December 4

Visit to Kazusa DNA Research InstituteDecember 5

The students attended a special class given by Professor Fujishima(Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Science, and Recipient of theOrder of Culture) at Eiko Gakuen. More than 50 years ago, Professor
Fujishima discovered photocatalyst technology. He spoke about how,now, there are many examples of its use all over the world, fromsurgery theater walls to the outer walls of homes, air purifiers andeven anti-fog mirrors, and others, and about the future possibilities.

The Kazusa DNA Research Institute in Chiba Prefecture leads
the world in DNA research as the world’s first research institution
specializing in DNA. Following arrival, students attended alecture introducing the research center and then conducted a
DNA extraction experiment. The students learned about the useof a micropipette, which can take up and eject very small
amounts of fluid.

Professor Fujishima speaking about photocatalysts

During an experiment to extract DNA

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 201915

SAKURA SCIENCEHigh School Program
FY2019Results ofParticipant
SurveySurvey targets:

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program FY2019 participants(including supervisors)

Questionnaire method:

Questionnaire form filled in at the end of the program

Number of persons
targeted:

1,083

Valid responses:

1,083

What was your impression of Japan

Q1 before participating in this program?

What is your impression of Japan afterQ2 your visit?

2.6%
Very goodGood
Not very goodNot good

Q3

0.2%

40.5%

56.9%

Were you satisfied with the program?
0.1% 0.9%
Very satisfied
Relatively satisfied
NeutralNot satisfied
No comment

0.8%

Very goodGood
Not very goodNot good

10.4
%

89.4%

	This program is designed to make it possible to satisfy my curiosity regarding
science and technology and broaden my field of view. I was able to broaden myfield of view regarding science and technology. Also, it will be useful in myserving better to help develop my country through science and technology,
which is my true goal. (Philippines, 16)	I was able to experience Japanese culture, which is completely different fromthe culture in my home country. I was able to deepen my love of science throughmy visits to various facilities. Everyone was very kind and I was very comfortable.
(Papua New Guinea, 17)

20.6%

	I have been a fan of Japan since childhood through animation. I like Japan evenmore now because lately my interest in science and technology have grown.
Studying in Japan is my first choice because I was able to learn various things
and I had many chances to experience things by coming to Japan. (Brazil, 17)

77.6%

Comments from persons who responded with either“Very satisfied” or “Relatively satisfied”
	I learned a lot through the program. Particularly, I learned about leading-edge
technology, and about how wonderful Japan is. (India, 16)
	While experiencing Japan’s leading-edge science and technology, I was alsoable to experience the Japanese climate and kindness. I learned comprehensively
and deeply about Japan. (China, 16)

Would you recommend receiving higher

Q4 education in Japan to a friend?
2.4%
Would strongly recommend
Would somewhat recommend
Would not recommend
No comment

0.2%

Comments from persons who responded with either“Neutral” or “Not satisfied”
	I am a vegetarian, so I was not satisfied by the food. (India, 16)
	The time we were able to stay at the places we visited was short. (Taiwan, 15)Comments from persons who responded with “Would
strongly recommend”	I became interested in the Japanese education system when we visited highschools and universities. I thought it was very good, so when I go home, myfriends will want to get a high school education in Japan when I tell them.
(Sri Lanka, 19)	I think there are many opportunities in Japan for a bright future for myself.
(India, 16)

35.5%
62.0%

	The environment allows you to learn freely with the latest equipment. Everyone
is friendly and eager to learn. (Viet Nam, 17)
	I got the impression that Japan invests in education and research to advancescience. (Supervisor, Mexico, 29)	Japan has a good social culture in that they are punctual and respectful ofothers. (Indonesia, 16)16

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 2019For persons who responded with either “I would

Q5 Would you like to come back to Japan? Q6 very much like to” or “I would like to” in Q5, in what
2.8%

0.1%

capacity would you like to return to Japan? Why?
(Multiple answers allowed)

441
I would very much like to
I would like to
Neutral
I wouldn’t particularly like to

24.3%

327
72.7%

301
124

Foreign student

Researcher Company employee

Other

Comments concerning returning to Japan in Q6
Those wanting to study abroad

Those wanting to come back as a researcher	Japanese education values ​​human development and independence. Since
Japan accepts many international students, it is very attractive to have wide
cultural exchanges. (China, 15)	Japan has high technologies that are necessary for all the researchers, so theresearch done in Japan is of the highest quality. (Viet Nam, 15)	Because I knew about the existence of famous Japanese universities.
(India, 15)	There are many options for research themes in Japan. (India, 16)	Education in Japan is well developed and in recent years Nobel laureates havebeen awarded mainly among Japanese people. Because the Japanese
government values ​​education, I believe I can gain advanced knowledge inJapan. (China, 17)	Japan is developed, and the educational system is wonderful. (Bangladesh, 15)	Japan is a sacred place of academy. I want to learn Japanese for my future.
(Taiwan, 17)	I want to learn more about robotics. Japan is the best place to learn about
robotics. I also want to try living in the wonderful country of Japan.
(Indonesia, 16)

	I found a lot of research possibilities when I visited high schools and universities.
(Sri Lanka, 19)	Compared to other schools overseas, Japan offers a high-quality education at alow cost. (Philippines, 17)
	I realized that Japan is scientifically and socially advanced. For students
interested in science like me, Japan seems like an ideal environment.
(Viet Nam, 15)

Q7

What did you learn in Japan?

	I became even more interested in science and technology. I understood theimportance of science and technology. Also, when we think about things, andtry to do something, we must first think about the common benefit of mankind.
We must not have a narrow vision. (China, 16)
	The walls between countries were built by people. We are the future.
(China, 15)	In Japan, I learned a lot of new and interesting things and gained considerable
knowledge. More than those things, I could grow up during the program.
(India, 16)
	The most important thing about science and technology is that science andtechnology are for people all around the world. Our abilities exceed nationalboundaries, just as Director Mohri said at the National Museum of Emerging
Science and Innovation. (Philippines, 17)	Through this program, I was able to experience Japanese science andtechnology. I want to do research in Japan. (Republic of Korea, 17)Those wanting to come back as an employee
I thought I would like to spend the rest of my life here. (India, 15)	We must be responsible so that we do not contaminate the environment while
we develop our countries. (Papua New Guinea, Supervisor, 38)	Garbage separation is very strict in Japan in order to recycle and reuse garbage.
Also, they use the heat generated from burning garbage for heated pools. WhenI get home, I also want to contribute to separating garbage. (China, 17)	I thought that in order to become world famous I need adequately to learn, but
after coming to Japan I learned that I need to learn and study even more.
(Bhutan, 18)	Everyone plays their role in building their country. (Tonga, 17)	I learned how science and technology have contributed to the development of
the world, and how science and technology are important. (Myanmar, 15)	Having curiosity itself is meaningful. It is important not to stop wondering.
(India, 18)

SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Activity Report 201917

Japan Science and Technology Agency
Department of Sakura Science
5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666
Tel: +81-3-5214-8996, Email: ssp.press@jst.go.jp
https://ssp.jst.go.jp/EN/

March 2020