”My days in Japan”

1. #Visiting Ikubunkan Global High School

It was overwhelming to visiting Ikubunkan Global High School. During this visit, I was welcomed kindly and within their school, I had a nice interaction with all student’s part of the African seminar group. At first, they showed various things beyond the classroom that contribute to their effective learning.

This included various materials such as laboratories and arts for practical experiences and learning enhancement and then things such football yard, kendo and Judo room that contribute to their physical fitness and entertainment.

Their school is well equipped and I am not doubtful that it will help them to fit easily when enrolled at university. They had made a wonderful presentation for us (Thembo and I) while responding to our curiosity.

Thembo was curious about “What it means to be a Japanese” and I was curious to know, “Who is a half-person in Japan and his integration in Japanese society”. I was amazed at how prepared and informative the presentation was. I learn a lot and especially, I was surprised that they noticed that, “half people” in Japan are not well integrated into the social life of Japan.

I loved the most their recommendations towards Japanese people, for instance, they wish, Japanese could embrace and learn from diversity as a way forward to make half people and foreigners equitably feel integrated into the Japanese society.

Overwhelmed by much information and knowledge they know about Africa; I interviewed the majority of them with few questions about Africa. The likely questions are “what do you love about Africa”, “Which country do you want to visit in Africa”, and “Have you visited Africa”.

With the prompt answer, it was fun to listen to them. I was surprised by their diversity in preference of country they had visited and wish to visit. I got happy that some have visited already Africa, but especially, it was energizing and pleasant that they all want to visit at least one African country.

2. #Munakata Foundation completion

I knew Munakata Foundation through former exchange students like Rodrigue, Shukulu and Hellen. I was positive and happy to hear from their experiences. However, I did not think that I would be an intern at Munakata Foundation, because I intended to try something new and do internships in another different field and organizations.

However, due to limited knowledge of the Japanese language and the omnipresence of the pandemic, it did not become easier to find a different organization. These challenges manifested during earlier applications I submitted to WASSHA Inc., Good Neighbors Japan and Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan).

That is why I am thankful to the Munakata Foundation for prompt consideration and acceptance of me as an intern since March 17, 2021. Of course, I found Munakata Foundation unique in its mission, objectives and context, especially towards working with undocumented vulnerable and indigenous groups.

I found my place because I was given a chance to think myself what project I could do and work on during the internship period. It was not easy to think about a project and fortunately after attending a course titled, “Theory and Practice of United Nations”, I gained an enhanced understanding of various indigenous groups.

This helped me seek the advocacy for human rights and dignity of “Twas”, one of three ethnic groups of Burundi that are often not recognized and acknowledged domestically and internationally. You would wonder why “Twas” come into my interest. The majority don’t have land, Identity card, and almost all don’t do marriage, and an alarming, many Twas cannot manage to send their students to school because of the financial burden.

But also, during the discussion with Association Espoir Pour Les Jeunes Batwas (ASSEJEBA), we get to know that, Twas, find it difficult to find friends during their studies. It sometimes happens that resentment can be shown against a Twas who would wish to share the same chair with another Burundian of different ethnicity in the class.

After finding ASSEJEBA of Burundi, a Twas owned organization that is advocating for Twas’s respect of their dignity, guarantee of human rights, provision of land and ID kits (Identity card, marriage certificate, and health insurance), I was confident that Munakata could contribute something to the efforts of ASSEJEBA and various NGOs.

It is fortunate that Munakata Foundation is now in contact and aim forward to cooperate with ASSEJEBA after a Zoom discussion that I mediated between Munakata Foundation and ASSEJEBA. Thank you, Mana sensei, for your advice and support during the internship until today in particular that I am also continuing to make a follow-up after returning to Rwanda.

3. # Participating in the video of study in Japan for Africa and NHK video

African Studies Center-TUFS and innovative program assistance to me as an exchange student had been useful and resourceful to various opportunities. Of course, I get to participate in both videos for Study in Japan for Africa, and the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) video program that took place at TUFS.

This had become a beautiful moment for me to participate in two videos. These videos are part of what made my last days wonderful in Japan. The chance come at a time that I was not expecting them. It was important and necessary to know about Study in Japan for Africa because it aimed to encourage international students but in particular African students to think and see Japan as an outstanding opportunity and destination for their undergraduate and graduate studies.

I appreciated the invitation to participate and in particular, I was happy that I got involved in the shooting (taking) the video and in return, it was amazing to see the beautiful final video with the “Ikuzo” song. That was good to do cooperative work between Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) and Hokkaido University. Thank you very much for Chihiro sensei and Miyata san to be helpful and participating during the video. It was lovely to sing together “Ikuzo” songs.

Thanks for TUFS accepting the NHK Team to come to shoot the video. It was a pleasure to see the video being broadcasted on June 24, 2021, on NHK TV. Many people and my friends including myself have been impressed to see me broadcasted for a while on NHK TV. These are some of the memorable moments that I still remember in Japan. It feels good to see yourself on TV and in particular that you are passing necessary information and awareness.

4. #Asahi news Articles

I would say that I got blessed during my time in Japan. Mr. Ogawa, who works for Asahi Shimbun (one of the largest newspaper company in Japan), is among Japanese people who wrote to me on messenger before I know him nor did he know me. He told me that he gets to know through the TUFS website.

It was amazing to hear from him because he had more information about refugees than other Japanese, I had met before. During our conversation, I get to know that he is a journalist at Asahi Shimbun. Through multiple series of interviews, I was able to talk about my background which often I don’t think about. I dared to say about it in the hope that it may give information and awareness to the masses in Japan, who are not aware of the refugee situation often.

During my stay in Japan, it was obvious that many Japanese young people are not aware of refugees, and even if I don’t know to what extend my stay and these articles contributed, it was my pressure to be interview by Mr. Ogawa, and thank you Asahi Shimbun that accepted the publication of the article.

5. #A member of Grace House Church

It sometimes feels like, I am still in Japan. It is so amazing that I regularly each week and every Wednesday at 2 p.m. Rwanda time, interact with members of Grace House (a Christian church located in Fuchu). I get to know Grace House, when Pastor Yoji sensei, messaged me on Facebook. He saw the crowdfunding post on the TUFS website, which made him wish to talk to me without knowing me. Honestly, when Pastor Yoji invited me to his church for the first time, he said “we will have a food ministry program scheduled from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm on 13th Saturday of March 2021. You are welcome to join us”, this made me think, he could be a friend of Dr. Kazuyuki sensei, the head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies and the coordinator of the exchange program at PIASS. However, when I met him and the members of the church, he was new and I was new to him, but we had a good conversation and effective communication. Since then, from March until the day I left Japan, I get inspired and decided to be attending Sunday services with the members of Grace House. I enjoyed the interactions with the church members, they have considered me as one of them and as a family member. With the church members, we have gone together hiking at Hinodeyama Mountain, and under Odake Syonyudo (the limestone cave located at Akiruno-Shi, Tokyo), we occasionally eat lunch at church together. If I get busy on Sunday, I would feel sad to be absent to attend Sunday services. On the last Sunday in Tokyo, the farewell prepared for me and the shabushabu lunch offered to me by the church and the Pastor Yoji made me realized how much they care for me. I wish to meet them again sometime in Japan. It is a good Christian church, and have good interaction. Grace House accepts diversity, and they always offered me an individual translation from Japanese to English. Thank you very much for Grace House and its members. As TUFS is waiting for new exchange students from PIASS in the spring semester, Grace House wished that prospective exchange students from PIASS could feel welcome to their church community. It is very wonderful to have such a welcoming and supportive environment.