It was a cool day in Tokyo when we departed on our flight to Okinawa. After the two-hour flight, the subtropical sunshine that greeted the nine international students at Naha Airport was a welcome reception.

The group joined the annual conference of the Japan Society for International Development held at Okinawa University. Each student participated in discussions of sessions in relevant fields. Professors, researchers and other students came to the conference not only from other parts of Japan but from overseas as well. The ICU students had many opportunities to exchange information with such other participants in related areas with various back grounds.

Amid the busy schedule of sessions it was possible for our group to find a few hours to stroll along a local beach.

After the conference, some of us enjoyed the local cuisine, both food and wine, and purchased souvenirs and enjoyed the atmosphere of the evening streets filled with visitors from around the globe.

The three-site-visit on our day of departure was a brief but unforgettable experience with historical Okinawa. The tour started from 'Shuri-jo,' the castle built by the former Ryuku Kingdom. This was followed by a visit to the Peace Memorial Park where the tragedy of the fighting in Okinawa during World War II was particularly striking. The last stop was Okinawa World, a cultural park where we walked for over thirty minutes through an enormous stalactite cave. The park also showed many kinds of modern Okinawan crafts and products.

The memorable four-day trip was made possible thanks to the JICE and JDS program.

Reports

• Rakimov Aziz Akzamovich 
• Bai Yufeng 
• Batzaya Jamsrandorj 
• Roselle B. Dela Fuente 
• Djaparov Murodkhon 
• Marinor C. Soriano 
• Opiniano, Rosalyn P. 
• Vivian A. Perdigon 
• Zalaa-Uul Uyanga