For three consecutive years, I have had the opportunity to give a lecture to international exchange students from Central Asia as part of the Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human Resource Development Project (NipCA) at the University of Tsukuba’s Yaeyama training program. As in previous years, the venue was the International Coral Reef Research and Monitoring Center of the Ministry of the Environment, located in Yashima, Ishigaki City.
The session started with a lecture by a representative from the Ministry of the Environment about coral conservation activities, and I served as the interpreter. The international students eagerly asked questions, making it a very engaging seminar. After that, I spoke about the attractiveness of the Yaeyama Islands, covering both a historical and a contemporary perspective. In doing so, I not only highlighted positive aspects but also touched on geopolitical challenges and issues related to tourism. Additionally, as one charm of the islands in my view, I was able to explain the endangered island languages, and the students showed great interest in this topic.
Reflecting on my own time studying abroad, I truly enjoyed interacting with the Central Asian students in this setting. While I was giving a lecture, I also found it to be a learning experience for myself. Above all, I hope the students and the supporting team had a wonderful time in beautiful Yaeyama.
