Youth from Japan, China, and Korea build friendship at “Peace Camp”
Sep. 27, 2012
Every summer, the “North-East Asia Youth Peace Camp,” mainly for junior high and high school students from Japan, Korea, and China, is organized by the World Friendship Center, an NPO based in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima.
This year marked the third peace camp, with China, Korea, and Japan taking turns as host. These three countries were combatants in World War II, but the participants can learn about peace and foster ties between their nations through the camp activities.
This year’s peace camp was held from July 24 to 31 at the Hiroshima City Youth Outdoor Activity Center in Asakita Ward, and the junior writers took part, too. About 30 participants were divided into five groups and they engaged in a range of activities. For instance, one game involved a blindfolded person being guided through the forest to find numbers that were attached to trees. Such games teach the idea that language barriers can be overcome by working together. Walking about blindfolded was scary, but having the reassurance of friends providing their support made it a joyful experience.
For each dinner, we cooked a specialty of each country. Since we were camping, we had to make a fire first. The main dish from China was a soup with pot stickers. The Korean dishes were a type of pancake made with kimchi and a hot pot stew. And for the Japanese meal, we made “chirashizushi,” a kind of sushi rice served in a bowl. We all pitched in to help prepare the food.
Beyond learning about the history of the war, we came to feel that getting to know one another as individuals, and becoming friends, is the fastest way to create a peaceful world. (Miyu Sakata, 16, and Reiko Takaya, 15)
(Originally published on September 24, 2012)
This year marked the third peace camp, with China, Korea, and Japan taking turns as host. These three countries were combatants in World War II, but the participants can learn about peace and foster ties between their nations through the camp activities.
This year’s peace camp was held from July 24 to 31 at the Hiroshima City Youth Outdoor Activity Center in Asakita Ward, and the junior writers took part, too. About 30 participants were divided into five groups and they engaged in a range of activities. For instance, one game involved a blindfolded person being guided through the forest to find numbers that were attached to trees. Such games teach the idea that language barriers can be overcome by working together. Walking about blindfolded was scary, but having the reassurance of friends providing their support made it a joyful experience.
For each dinner, we cooked a specialty of each country. Since we were camping, we had to make a fire first. The main dish from China was a soup with pot stickers. The Korean dishes were a type of pancake made with kimchi and a hot pot stew. And for the Japanese meal, we made “chirashizushi,” a kind of sushi rice served in a bowl. We all pitched in to help prepare the food.
Beyond learning about the history of the war, we came to feel that getting to know one another as individuals, and becoming friends, is the fastest way to create a peaceful world. (Miyu Sakata, 16, and Reiko Takaya, 15)
(Originally published on September 24, 2012)
