Last days in Japan: Yamaha and JICA

“Go! Go! Go!” I could hear Carol yelling to push my way onto the crowded subway. I turn around as Ryan's backpack nearly gets caught in the closing doors. It was the last few days in Japan, and unfortunately, the last few days of the trip. The time had flown by – it seemed like we had just landed in Japan, and a week later, we were already getting ready to leave. But there were still places to be and more fun to be had. On Thursday we went to the Yamaha Musical Instrument Factory, where they make wind instruments. The following morning, U of M – Flint went to JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency. But first, we had to make it back to Tokyo from Gifu.

This involved a heavy amount of traveling with our luggage. Weighed down by the numerous souvenirs we had purchased during the trip, we had to lug our bags on the subways, up countless stairs, in taxis, and on the high speed rails to get where we needed to go. It was a final training exercise for our group, and we proved victorious. We were now unbreakable.

We made it to the Yamaha musical instrument factory, along with our luggage. It was one of the only rainy days we had experienced in Japan, and the camera crew from the Japanese television network was still traveling with us. Yamaha has numerous factories, and multiple different wind instruments are made in each one. I was very impressed as I began to realize why these instruments, many of them bronze, are so expensive.

A variety of machines and specialized workers are used to produce each instrument. We saw large machines used to bend the metal or cut the metal at the edges, some of them automated as though following their own song. A huge machine in the back of one factory now polished instruments – it was previously used to polish airplanes! Despite all of the modern capital, there were still many areas with people performing their work by hand. We saw workers carefully cutting wooden wind instruments, as well as inscribing saxophones by hand with a special design. As we walked past particular areas, a worker would pick up an instrument and play a few perfect notes to test it out. These workers were part of Yamaha's symphony orchestra and test each instrument as it is completed.

At one point during the Yamaha tour, I went to the bathroom and could not find the group when I came out. I walked outside and a worker approached me. It appeared as though the only English he spoke was the name of instruments. He helped me find a worker who did speak English, who took me back to the instrument showroom where our group started out. A nice woman came, and there was a brief misunderstanding in which she thought I was there for a solo tour. Then, a man from the tour rushed in – he had sprinted to find me! He took me back to the group, and of course the camera crew was there to catch my reunion on tape. I was embarrassed, knowing that my mistake may end up on Japanese television!

Thankfully, soon after, we said goodbye to the film crew. It was fun having them around, but it was a relief to no longer be on camera! The next morning, we had to be up early, looking our best for the Japan International Cooperation Agency. This is a quasi-governmental agency, which is independent but funded by the government. This organization offers Japan's official developmental assistance to developing countries. It disburses concessionary loans, grant aid, emergency assistance, technical expertise, and volunteer workers to countries that need this assistance. Overall, JICA is a very positive organization that helps with social infrastructure, health, communication, and education in third world countries.

Recognizing this as a possible career path for an international business major, I was very interested in this type of work. There are 1,000 to 1,500 JICA employees paid by the Japanese government, as well as another 1,000 workers on contract. JICA's loans have helped to build a bridge in Istanbul, the subway system in Dehli, India, and wind turbines in Egypt. Their "School for All" project is bridging the gap between schools and students and ensuring that girls get proper education.They also work closely with Japan Disaster Relief, striving to be the first to aid in a disaster. 

The JICA representative urged that if we'd like to be involved in this type of work, than to contact our government about the need for the United States Agency for International Development. This is because funding continually gets cut for international aid such as this. He said that management skills are fundamental in this field and he recommended taking part in some volunteer experiences, such as the Peace Corps, to further understand the needs of developing countries. This seems to be a very rewarding type of job that I want to look into further.