Cherry blossoms line the main entrance to ICU in March.
By Lorraine Hayman, incoming Rotary Peace Fellow at International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan, 2019-21
This summer, I will join the 18th class of Rotary Peace Fellows at International Christian University. Here are my top ten reasons for applying to ICU:
- Cultural immersion:
ICU is home to the only Peace Center in East Asia. As a student at ICU, I can draw on peace-building traditions from Asia, while becoming a highly responsible global citizen. I will explore a culture that contrasts my own, making connections and building friendships that transcend language and cultural barriers. In August, I will meet local Rotarians and experience language and culture training with other new fellows.
- Field trip to Hiroshima:
In August 1945, Japan lost thousands of civilians when a nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The aftermath of the atomic bombs has affected generations. As a student at ICU, I will visit Hiroshima, exploring the city’s distressing past and future commitments to peace; listening to the testimonies of survivors and their families. In reflecting on her experience of the Hiroshima field trip, current Peace Fellow Lisa says: “It is a stark reminder of what humanity is capable.”
- Japanese University life:
I am excited to explore the range of clubs available to me, in a uniquely bilingual environment. These clubs include sports, music, arts, and traditional Japanese culture like Ikebana (the art of flower arrangement) and Kyudo (Japanese archery). They welcome international students from around the world. What a great way to make new friends and learn new things!
Rotary Peace Fellows at ICU.
- Close-knit community:
I will experience an academic program where professors blend both Western and Japanese education styles. With small class sizes and an engaging academic environment, many students get to know their professors well and almost all graduate students will cross paths during their studies.
- Interdisciplinary and Liberal Arts approach:
Studying at ICU will encourage me to look beyond cultural and social assumptions. The University encourages an interdisciplinary approach to studying peace and conflict resolution and supports students to attend and host conferences encouraging conversations around peace. The liberal arts curriculum will help me to become a truly global citizen, equipped with tools to support the building of a sustainable society.
- The campus:
Current Fellow Syann, says of the campus: “(It is) an oasis in Tokyo.” On visiting the campus in March, I was struck by its beauty and historical significance. Cherry blossom trees in full-bloom line the main entrance. In the same year the charter was signed, 1949, General Douglas MacArthur arranged for the sale of 620,000 square meters of Nakajima Aircraft Facility to the university. This facility is where a large portion of classes take place today, serving as a “reminder of war and an example of ICU’s commitment to peace building through education.” (Paul Hastings, Japan ICU Foundation, Rethinking Peace).
- Tokyo:
Tokyo is home to over 40 million people, making it the largest city on earth. As a fellow at ICU, I get the chance to immerse myself in this bustling metropolis. I cannot wait to explore the old streets of Asakusa visiting the infamous Shinto shrine, enjoy the bright lights of Shibuya making my way across the world’s busiest crossing, and go for a run in Yoyogi park or the Imperial Palace Gardens.
- Global ICU:
ICU is a member of the United Nation Academic Impact initiative, aligning the United Nations with higher education institutions from around the world. As an ICU student, I’ll join the Global ICU learning environment, committing to uphold the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ICU also gives me the exciting chance to study at the United Nations University, located in central Tokyo.
- Contributions to peace literature:
I am excited to continue writing about peace. I am going to be able to do this by contributing to the Rotary Peace Fellows newsletter, which gives Fellows the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas about life at ICU and in Japan. Furthermore, the recently formed Ad Pacem student association group releases a bi-annual journal and regular blogs sharing their experiences of peace-building, as well as tackling difficult topics about conflict.
- Social support system:
When I arrive in Tokyo, I will be met by my local Rotarian host who will help me with practicalities like my apartment search, and will provide me with emotional support during my transition of becoming a graduate student in Japan. In fact, this social support system has already started six months before I join ICU, as current Fellows have reached out to offer their support and guidance. There is a culture of support in the community surrounding ICU too, as current fellow Seme discovered on joining the Tokyo West Union Church: “I instantly felt the warmth from foreigners who have embraced Japan as home.”
You can still apply for the 2020-21 Rotary Peace Fellowship program through 31 May.
https://blog.rotary.org/2019/05/14/10-reasons-to-apply-for-a-rotary-peace-fellowship-at-icu/