Marubeni Employees and Their Families Open up Their Homes to Chinese University Students
Marubeni Corporation
2010.5.10
Cooperating with the project implemented by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China
Marubeni has actively supported the project to provide Chinese university students with a chance to visit Japan. This project has been conducted by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China since 2007.
During each visit, Marubeni employees and their families act as homestay hosts, and welcome Chinese university students into their homes. This experience provides a wonderful opportunity for exchange between the students and their host families. Below are the reports from the two Marubeni’s employees that hosted the Chinese university students from the fourth delegation (which visited Japan between November 24 and December 3, 2008), as well as the thank-you letters from the actual students.
Overview of the project to provide Chinese university students with a chance to visit Japan
History:
With the anti-Japan demonstrations that occurred in a number of cities across China in 2005, many people worried that the relationship between Japan and China was beginning to deteriorate. In response to this situation, Makoto Isogai, the chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China at that time who was also Marubeni’s General Manager for China, decided to create a project that enabled Chinese university students to come to Japan. The fundamental idea of this project was the belief that if the young people who will feature prominently in China’s future have a chance to visit Japan, they will deepen their own understanding of Japan through exchanges with Japanese companies and employees, and thereby strengthen the bonds of friendship between both countries. The costs for this project are funded by donations from member companies.
Period:
2007-2012. Two delegations per year. 10 delegations in total.
Details:
Visit member companies of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China and their factories; visit local cities; enjoy homestay experience provided by member company employees.
Our family rediscovered the "beauty of Japan" during our experience as the host family for Ms.Li
Mr. Yoshinaga, General Affairs Dept., Marubeni Corporation
When my family and I found out we were going to host a Chinese student during the home stay program, we were all delighted. My first grade son was really excited and looked forward to her arrival, asking, "When is my Chinese sister coming to visit?" On the day she arrived, my son and I went to the Japan-China Economic Association in Akasaka to pick her up. The university student we were to welcome into our home was Ms. Li Yu. She was a student at the Central University for Nationalities from Sichuan province, and member of the Qiang ethnic group. After we met, the first place we visited was Senso-ji Temple. On our way there we went over our schedule, speaking to each other in English. Once we arrived at Nakamise Street, the road leading to Senso-ji Temple, she spent some time looking for souvenirs for her younger sister. She seemed really surprised to find that so many of the items were actually "made in China". After we left Senso-ji, we took a boat ride over to Hamarikyu Gardens. In Hamarikyu, we strolled through Japanese gardens and experienced a Japanese tea-ceremony.
When we got home, everyone in my family gave her a warm welcome. While dinner was being prepared, she talked about her home province, Sichuan, and her university, showing us a lot of photographs.
On the second day, in order to fulfill her dream of seeing Mt. Fuji, we took a walk that morning along the road that leads to my son’s school. This road provides a nice view of Mt. Fuji. When she saw the dignified shape of Mt. Fuji in the distance, she looked so delighted. For her and other people that are not Japanese, the sight of Mt. Fuji is a special vista that symbolizes Japan.
Just before we left our home, Ms. Li sang a farewell song of the Qiang people. Her beautiful song was touching and left a great impression upon us. My wife, son, and I then took her to the station where we would see her off. On the way, she handed us a letter, saying "Please read this after we say our goodbyes". Before reached the station, she asked us to stop by the electronics district of Akihabara. Once again, she was surprised by how many products were actually "made in China", just she was when we visited Nakamise Street. When we said goodbye, everyone was in tears, but her and my family promised that we would meet again in the future.
We learned a lot from our experience as a host family. Though she only stayed with us for a short time, we are really grateful to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to think about China and Japan. We know that we will meet her again someday. This experience has inspired me to learn more about our two countries’ history and culture, so that I can be a better guide for her for the next time we meet. I remember her saying that she was studying law at university. I am sure that in the future she will become an outstanding legal professional and serve as a bridge between Japan and China.
From Ms.Li to Mr.Yoshinaga (thank-you letter)
Hello, Yoshinaga-san. More than ten days have passed since I came back to China. There are many things that impressed me during my stay in Japan, and I will try to write them down here. First of all, I was surprised by how clean the roads are in Japan. It seems that Japan does a good job of recycling resources. Second of all, Japanese were so nice and kind to me. When I visited a hot spring in Hakone, many people were sincerely sorry to hear about my father’s death during the Great Sichuan Earthquake. I was so grateful for such a display of heartwarming goodwill.
During the time I spent in your home, I enjoyed the warm hospitality of your family and felt that same sense of happiness one feels when they are at "home". Though I could only stay with you for a short while, please feel free to come visit my hometown in the future. Until then, please take care. Once again, thank you so much for everything.
Li Yu
Asakusa, karate, a hundred-yen shop - two fun filled days with Ms.Yang
Mr. Okamura, Overseas Strategy & Coordination Dept., Marubeni Corporation
My family hosted Ms. Yang Min. She was a member of the Yi ethnic group and came from Lijiang (in Yunnan Province), which is famous for its World Heritage site. When we met that morning on the first day, she looked a little nervous. When she saw that my wife and I could use Chinese to some extent, she began to relax and the conversation gradually became more lively. Once she started talking more freely, we realized that she was a very cheerful young woman. Her and my children introduced themselves to each other right away and started to talk about their schools and other things, so it didn’t take much time for them to really open up to each other.
During her two days with us, we visited a number of places, such as Ginza, the underground mall in Tokyo station, Asakusa, a hundred-yen shop, the Nippon Budokan arena (we went there to cheer on the Marubeni Karate Club, which was competing in the Karatedo championship for businessmen), Yasukuni Shrine, the Imperial Palace, the Diet Building. In an hundred-yen shop, she tried hard to find gifts for her friends back in China, but she had tough time finding Japanese products because so many things were made in China. Eventually she found some items she liked and purchased them.
When serving sukiyaki for dinner, we were worried that she might feel a little uncomfortable eating beaten raw egg. I remember feeling a little hesitant to eat certain cultural dishes, such as assorted bugs, when I worked as an expatriate employee in China. But surprisingly, she liked the raw egg that was added and enjoyed eating it. After dinner, she played board games with my children and they chatted for a while. Her and my children became really close, so I suggested that she take a bath with my three daughters, which she did. Even my youngest daughter, who usually says "I never want to take a bath with dad," was more than happy to do so with Ms.Yang.
The two days of her homestay were over before we knew it. However, after watching her interact with my children, I realized that the importance of heart-to-heart relationships is not all that dependent on language. The homestay was not only a precious opportunity for the student from overseas, but also for me and my family, because it provided us with a chance to experience international exchange. I also believe that the continuation of this project will help to increase the number of Chinese people that are familiar with Japan, and that this sense of mutual understanding will contribute to the national interests of both countries in the long run. But above all, a page full of happy memories was added to my family’s album.
If given the opportunity again, we wouldn’t hesitate to host another homestay student.
From Ms.Yang to Mr.Okamura (thank-you letter)
A week has passed since I returned to China. In this letter I would like to convey what I felt during my short stay in Japan.
I was surprised that in spite of the crowded roads, most of the places I visited in Japan were quiet, filled with greenery and full of clear air. Of all the places we went to, I thought the Imperial Palace was the most beautiful. While I was at your home, I enjoyed eating delicious sukiyaki, as well as playing games and chatting with your kids after dinner. I really felt the warmth of being part of the family. Likewise, going shopping with your wife and receiving a massage from your daughters are two memories I especially cherish. I felt so comfortable, because you and your family fully treated me as if I was part of the family. This experience taught me that it is important for people to respect one other in order to achieve better cross-cultural understanding. If the opportunity arises, I would love to meet you and your family again. Thank you very much for all you did for me.
Yang Min
Marubeni Group magazine "M-SPIRIT" VOL.50 (March, 2009)
