OJIMA Yuna | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Program: (ST) Sustainable Town: Learning from Niseko Town, Hokkaido
Instructor: YOSHIZAWA Kiyoyoshi

Reason Why You Decided to Apply

I was interested in town planning and local government, but did not have much knowledge when I first enrolled in the university. I decided to participate in the "Sustainable Town: Learning from Niseko Town, Hokkaido" because I thought it would be a good opportunity to directly ask people involved in town development, such as government officials and tourist associations, about the difficulties involved in town development and how to foster understanding among residents, which is of particular interest to me. I also wanted to see for myself what kind of town Niseko, which is known as an advanced town in this field, actually is.

How the Program Helped You Grow

Niseko Town is known both domestically and internationally as a snow resort, attracting many tourists from all over the world during the winter season. However, the town had been facing a problem of "stagnation of summer guests". We thought of ways to improve the situation in the pre-session classes, and during our visit to the resort, I was able to engage more independently than in a classroom setting by actively talking to not only those involved in the tourism industry but also to tourists. The field studies are usually held in smaller groups than regular course classes, which allows students to ask questions immediately to the professor and to think among themselves. In the post-program classes, I was able to cultivate the ability to reflect more deeply on the results of field observations and interviews.

Message for Students Interested in The Program

I believe that field study will broaden and deepen your own interests because you will be able to actually visit the site, see with your own eyes, hear with your own ears, and experience the region. Although this was a program offered by the college of ST, there were also students from other colleges and senior students, so I was able to get a lot of advice from them during the program on-site. It was very stimulating. I am still friends with my program participants and we often talk when we meet on campus. Off-campus program courses are required for ST students, and I highly encourage you to participate in field studies in areas that interest you or that you would like to challenge yourself.