1. Week 1: Build a Positivity Portfolio
Kazuhiko Kawasaki
I picked up “interest” among the 10 positive emotions.
I am a professor emeritus and was active at the Tokai university in Sapporo,
Japan until 2013.
My major interest was then to get the students interested, let them want to
explore and execute. In other words to let the students motivated and
interested.
I remember a particular event named EbetsuShift Forum
(http://ebetsushift.jimdo.com/) organized by students in 2011.
On Sunday, March 13th, 2011, an event named EbetsuShift Forum was held in
Ebetsu, a adjoining city to Sapporo in Northern Japan. The date was only 2
days after the Great East Japan Earthquake with tsunami that caused loss of
nearly 16.000 people and the meltdowns of the nuclear power stations in
Fukushima.
EbetsuShift Forum’s main guest was prof. Akira Suzuki, Nobel prize lauriate in
chemistry and was organized by students from Sapporo region.
I had a course at a Rakuno Gakuen University in Ebetsu in 2010/11 semester
on regional development and then the news came in that Prof. Suzuki,
resident in Ebetsu will receive the Nobel prize.
The students wanted to organize a seminar with prof. Suzuki as a main guest
to discuss on regional development and vitalization of Ebetsu.
It was not so easy though. Among others prof. Suzuki became a super star in
Japan and much occupied with speeches and other engagements. He did
not have time simply.
The strategy of the students was then to invite the Swedish ambassador in
Tokyo also that might give some pressure to prof. Suzuki.
This strategy worked out and prof. Suzuki promised to join the seminar with the
ambassador Stefan Norén.
Ebetsu city has a population of 120.000 but has a character of an “academic”
town with not less than 6 universities and colleges with 12.000 students totally.
More than 45 students from 7 universities in the Sapporo region formed an
2. organizing committee.
The seminar got much attention from the media and was carried out
successfully with a total of more than 200 participants.
Part 1: presentations by students followed by a “world café” on regional
development in Ebetsu
Part 2: Discussion on future of education with among others prof. Suzuki.
According to a survey of the participants, they were much impressed by the
initiatives of students and satisfied with the conference. Many looked forward
to the continued session. Even if the dark period, many saw the light in the
future by the power of young students.
-Much impressed by the power of students. Want to continue to discuss more.
I can see the future of Japan more positively.
Impressions by the students.
“I have never been so much excited as this event before. Very nice to know
that participants could value our efforts. EbetsuShift Forum became an
unforgettable experience for me.” Kazuki Yamada, chairperson of the
organizing committee.
“It was not so easy to organize and lead nearly 50 students. But the positive
evaluations by the participants gave tears in my eyes and I am much satisfied
with the results we could attain.” Rina Noguchi, vice chairperson of the
organizing committee.
I was much impressed by creative powers of the students who were really
interested, motivated and worked for the success of the forum together.
EbetsuShift Forum was really a peak of joy and happiness for me to feel
interest and motivation of the students. I got small cards of appreciation from
each of the students that made me feel so warm. I felt really happy to be a
teacher who could interest, motivate and activate the students.
4. discussions on future education with prof. Akira Suzuki, Nobel prize lauriate
Rina and Kazuki, chairpersons of the organizing committee.
group photo of the satisfied students with prof. Suzuki after the seminar.
