TYCA Vol.10 Report

Toshiba Youth Club Asia Vol.10 was held from March 21st to 28th 2026, with the participants from ASEAN countries and Japan.

Outline

Name : Toshiba Youth Club Asia (TYCA) Vol.10

Date : Saturday 21st – Saturday 28th March 2026 (8-days)

Location : National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (Yoyogi Olympic Center)

Organizer : Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO), ASJA International

Co-Organizer : ASCOJA

Participating Countries : The Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Japan

DAY-1: ARRIVAL ＆ ORIENTATION

Participants from ASEAN countries including the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos arrived safely in Japan in the morning of Day-1. They were welcomed by the Japanese participants at their first destination, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. From the observation deck on the 45th floor of the building, they enjoyed an aerial view of Tokyo, a major cosmopolitan city where both traditional Japanese culture and modern life coexist.

The participants then travelled by bus to the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center (NYC), the main venue for the program. After having lunch together at the venue, TYCA Vol.10 officially kicked off with a warm welcome from the organizers and all staff at the opening ceremony.

This was followed by an icebreaker session, where everyone got to know each other's names, countries of origin, and hobbies. On Day 1, the participants seemed a little bit nervous at first but soon enjoyed meeting new people and interacting with each other.

DAY-2:　LEARNING ABOUT JAPAN & DIVERSITY OF ASIA

On Day-2, participants began with a morning check-in to assess their physical conditions and review the day's schedule. The day's first event was a lecture by Mr. Hiroki Yamazaki of TIFO on "Introducing Japan - The Past, Present and Future". He illustrated Japan's various dimensions, including its culture, economic development, and social issues, using videos and photos. His presentation highlighted both the positive aspects, such as Japan's soft power and its Olympic history, and challenges facing the nation, like social issues tied to economic growth.

During the General Session, facilitated by Mr. Yamazaki and navigator Mr. Tyler Harth, participants shared personal　introductions, aspirations related to TYCA programs and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were later organized into groups T, Y, C and A for subsequent activities and enjoyed their lunch.

In the afternoon, participants played “Logy & Nomy”, a board game exploring the relationship between ecology (environment) and economy. Facilitated by Ms. Ibuki Hada with the support of students from Keio Shonan Fujisawa High School, the game prompted reflections on environmental conservation and sustainable development. Students discussed their experiences during and after the game, considering the real-world implications of the concepts learned.

DAY-3: LEARNING CRITICAL THINKING AND FRAMEWORK

On Day-3, the participants engaged in a variety of activities aimed at understanding of sustainable development and enhancing their critical thinking skills. The day began with a health check and an icebreaker game called "Janken train," which helped warm up the participants for the program.

In the afternoon, Mr. Hideyuki Mohri, Communications specialist of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Representation Office in Tokyo gave a lecture on various global challenges facing the Earth and he stressed that immediate action is required to achieve the SDGs. He also pointed out that more than half of the world’s population is under 30, and conveyed that the future of climate change lies in our hands.

Following him, Ms. Kumi Careme, Partnership Coordinator of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nature Hub, drew on her extensive experience in environmental conservation to deliver a lecture emphasizing the critical link between biodiversity and sustainable development.

After lunch, Professor Naoki Ishibashi from Musashino University gave a lecture titled "Expanding the Power of Data Science through Collaboration with Asia," followed by an interactive workshop on question-forming techniques (QFT). In a workshop, participants practiced QFT, gaining skills to formulate questions vital for their upcoming presentations. In a subsequent workshop, students developed questions about their nation's future by working individually and then sharing their ideas in groups, supported by advisors.

The day concluded with a reflection session, during which each team summarized their thoughts and lessons learned from the program by writing them on sticky notes and sharing them with one another, followed by a presentation where each team shared their findings. By sharing common insights and new perspectives, the participants were able to deepen their learning and strengthen communication within their teams.

DAY-4: SDGs CASE STUDIES / CLIMATE CHANGE: MITIGATION & ADAPTATION

On Day 4, Mr. Naomi Inoue, Senior International Policy Coordinator, Biodiversity Policy Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, delivered an impactful lecture and group discussion. The lecture emphasized that climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation must be addressed together, and that renewable energy projects should also contribute to local economic revitalization and community benefits.

Using Japan’s Satoyama model as an example, the speaker highlighted that appropriate human involvement, regional development, and youth engagement are essential for maintaining biodiversity and sustainable local communities.

During the group discussion, participants shared challenges such as waste management, agricultural pollution, food insecurity, and population decline, and explored community-based projects that could simultaneously support environmental protection, climate action, and local development.

Afterward, the participants visited Yokohama Disaster Risk Reduction Learning Center in Yokohama. There, they learned about emergency response and preparedness for disasters - including floods, which are becoming more severe due to climate change, as well as earthquakes and fires - while experiencing simulations of actual seismic shaking and flood conditions. That evening, they visited the Yokohama Landmark Tower, where they enjoyed a special dinner at a restaurant and took in the night view of Yokohama.

DAY-5: DEVELOP FUTURE ACTION PLAN

On Day 5 of the program, participants began preparing their presentations based on the knowledge they had gained. Mr. Yamazaki delivered a one-hour session on presentation techniques and introduced the Purpose Model to help students define and communicate their topics effectively. Following this, teams discussed and chose their presentation themes.

For lunch, participants enjoyed meals in the Sangubashi area, choosing from ramen, soba, karaage and sushi.

Afterward, teams outlined their final presentations focusing on "Draw the Vision of Asia toward 2030 and Beyond," receiving guidance from Mr. Yamazaki and Professor Ishibashi. One of the distinctive aspects of TYCA was the presence of advisers who collaborated with each group throughout the eight days program. The advisors also joined each team and gave them useful advice and worked together with the team toward the goal.

After dinner, ASJA International hosted a session where ASEAN graduate students in Japan shared their experiences. Participants enjoyed engaging conversations and questions. The day concluded with some relaxing activities, including origami and Japanese calligraphy.

DAY-6: MAKING TEAM PRESENTATIONS

On Day-6, the Morning Check-in started with some enjoyable quizzes. Students were able to have a fun and fresh start of the day. Students began the day by working on and discussing their final presentations. Mr. Yamazaki (TIFO) and Prof. Ishibashi (Musashino University) also helped brush up their presentations.

The rain stopped before dinner, the participants went to walk and visit the Meiji Shrine, surrounded by the huge man-made forest with a century of history, gaining insights into the Japanese spirit, their appreciation of the nature, and coexistence of the urban life and the nature. Luckily, the weather was amazing, and everyone enjoyed the beautiful and peaceful walk. It was a very refreshing moment amid all the hard work they were experiencing.

After dinner, a rehearsal was held in a hall where the actual presentation would take place, making the participants feel a little nervous. Each group worked on the preparation for their presentations until late at night.

DAY-7 FINAL PRESENTATION

On Day-7, Final Presentation took place to showcase what the participants had learned at TYCA. Guests from various entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and ASEAN countries’ embassies in Tokyo, as well as representatives of Toshiba International Foundation and ASJA International attended. The students were dressed in traditional costumes and formal wear from their countries and schools. Each of the group T, Y, C, and A delivered presentations on “Draw the Vision of Asia toward 2030 and Beyond” and ideas for achieving it. Each presentation contained well thought-out ideas with background information and concrete action plans were also presented.

Following the presentation, all students were given certificates, and the program came to an end.

Relieved from the pressure of Final Presentation, the participants spent the afternoon touring the streets of Shibuya. After enjoying the unique culture of Shibuya, they returned to the NYC and attended Farewell Party. They also enjoyed gift exchange from each country and spending the remaining precious time together.