Japan Study Abroad Program | Day 3 | May 12

Konbanwa, Minna (Good evening, everyone)!  

Today was a day packed full of activities and volunteer work!

We started the day early, eating breakfast around 7:15 am and leaving Tanga Table (our hostel) at 8:00 am.  25 minutes train ride took us to the Sone Tide Flats, which are southeast of Kokura.  When we got to our stop, we met up with three students from the University of Kitakyushu (UKK) and a group of elementary school students, or shougakusei, and community members.  From the station, we walked about 20 minutes to the tide flats where we would help to clean up the beach. This is where the kabuto gani (horseshoe crabs) breed and live.  

Today (May 12) was also World Migratory Bird Day! Before the cleanup began, the organizer, Dr. Takahashi, who is an expert on horseshoe crabs, gave a lesson on the migratory birds that use the tidelands as a stopping ground during their migration.  At this time of the year, the birds are migrating from Australia and New Zealand to go to Siberia and Alaska. The gomi (garbage) on the beach varied a lot, from small bottles to a whole boat!  

After cleaning up the beach, we got to talk with some of the shougakusei and even got an impromptu lesson on kabuto gani from one of them, even Professor Henderson was amazed with the amount of knowledge they had at their age.  During the entire event, the community was so welcoming, they would come to interact with us; from the shougakusei to some employees from TOTO (a bathroom manufacturer).  There was a journalist from a local newspaper who was interested in covering our program and asked us questions about what we have been learning in Kitakyushu. We had a chance to explain about TCC, Tacoma and so on!  At the end, we also visited kabuto kani Information Center with Dr. Takahashi, where we learned more about these amazing creatures.

It was an amazing day filled with a lot of interactions with local people and learning about efforts around environmental issues made by these wonderful community members.

Our adventures are only beginning! 

Vocabulary:
Konbanwa, Minna - Good Evening Everyone
Shougakusei - Elementary school student
Kabuto Kani - Horseshoe Crab
Gomi - Garbage

By Jason and Jonathan

Dead Horseshoe crabs found on the beach during the cleanup

Getting read to start the cleanup and Mr. Takahashi giving us guidance

Let the clean up begin!

We found a boat in the tideland and pulled it out! Teamwork! 

It was great to see Mai, Nanae & Runa from UKK! 



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