スクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは異なる場合があります。

Changing Ourselves to Be Ready for Globalization

MEGURO, Akane (Fukushima National College of Technology)

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. First of all, let me start by explaining that I spent a year in the United States as an exchange student last year. I learned a lot of things there that I couldn't have learned in Japan. That one year changed me a lot and I really appreciate being given that opportunity.

Have you ever said “I love you” to someone you love like your family, boyfriend or girlfriend? Most Japanese are too embarrassed to say “I love you”, but I think we are just not used to expressing our feelings directly. In America, it's really common to say “I love you” to your family, sweethearts, and even friends. When I first got there, it really astonished me. My host family often said “I love you” when they talked to their family or other close friends, so gradually, I got used to it and learned how to do it, too.

In Japan, most people just bow to people they know without saying hello or anything. With Americans, it's like “Hi, how are you doing?” “Oh, great thanks.” “It's a beautiful day isn't it?” “Yeah, it is.” Blah blah blah… They are very friendly even though they don't know each other. Before I left America, my host family told me “You were so shy and quiet when you got here but look at you now! You are confident and outgoing.” That was when I realized “Hey, I'm not a typical Japanese person anymore.”

For the first months in America, it was difficult for me to participate in class because their teaching style is different. It took me a really long time to be like an American student. In Japan, we are taught to cooperate with everyone in a school. We are used to just sitting, writing, listening, and keeping silent. But American students talk to teachers as well as to their friends. Discussions are a big part of all classes. I couldn't understand why they were treating teachers like friends. Lots of people asked me why I was so quiet. So I asked them “Why can't you guys keep quiet in class?” They answered “That wouldn't be fun at all. Saying what you know and what you don't know makes class better for teachers and us.” I was so amazed. When a teacher asked questions, I couldn't respond well. But from that moment on, I tried to express my opinions, too. In a US history class I got really involved in a conversation about World War 2. Some of my classmates asked me why the Japanese people attacked America. I didn't know what to say. I asked them why America dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They didn't know why either. I felt sad about having such a horrible history between Japan and America. We were enemies during WW2 but in 2009 I was taking a class with American people. I told the class “It was a sad thing for us. But please don't forget. We are learning this sad part of history so that it never happens again. I hope we will all keep peace in our minds.” Then everybody agreed with my opinion. I finally realized how important it was to express my feelings directly.

There are other people who feel the same need to get ready for globalization as me. One day, in a class, we watched a lecture called “Justice with Michael Sandel”. It was held at Tokyo University by Professor Michael Sandel from Harvard University. Before the lecture, he had heard that Japanese people were not good at debating. But actually, there were a lot of people who voiced their own opinions in the discussion. I got really excited, because that's what I'd been wanting to do with my friends in Japan since I got back.

Most of my classmates were very impressed because they didn't think Japanese people could have such a great discussion. One of them said “When teachers ask us questions, I can't raise my hand or answer. If I got the answer wrong, it would be so embarrassing. But I want to change myself so that I can express what I'm thinking.” Most of my classmates felt the same.

I think we need more opportunities to join discussions like Professor Sandel's lecture. For globalization, we need to be able to debate in English since we need to cooperate with other countries. I understand it's difficult to join discussions. As Japanese, we need lots of encouragement. We need to express our own opinions and refute and accept other's arguments. Once we get used to that, we can engage in more exciting discussions. Professor Sandel said “Discussions are not just for philosophers. The world needs our opinions”. I agree with him. And I also think discussion is the best way of keeping a global peace. I believe understanding each other will make us happy.

Someday in the future, if Professor Michael Sandel comes to a Kosen, I want him to think Kosen students are amazing. So, let's try to express our feelings directly, and if saying “I love you” is too embarrassing at first, perhaps we should start by saying “hello” or “thank you” to the people around us.