Participants arrived in Osaka on the evening of the 14th and were welcomed by the Osaka YMCA.
On the 15th, they split into three study groups:
One team visited Osaka Korea Town in Ikuno Ward. Participants learned about discrimination issues related to Zainichi Koreans. It was an opportunity to reflect on minority groups and identity. We were grateful for the opportunity to hear about our guide’s first hand experiences as well. Many were surprised to learn that these issues exist and how they take form in Japanese society.
The issue of discrimination was also the main topic for the team visiting Taisho Ward. Participants were saddened to learn about the struggles Okinawan people in Osaka face. From their perspective, it was difficult to understand how Okinawan are different from Japanese; and why they cannot be accepted. However, after hearing actual experiences, they also perceive that there could even be issues of discrimination now if 3rd generation Okinawan people decide to return to Okinawa.
The final group visited Nishinari Ward. Participants were shocked to learn about this reality in Japan. They found that women and children are especially vulnerable. They also discussed the cycle of poverty and how difficult it is to escape it due to structural and cultural factors.
All three groups were accompanied by Osaka YMCA high school volunteers and translators. The students shared that they didn’t know about these issues despite living and studying in Osaka.
Osaka YMCA will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2032. In preparation for that, Osaka YMCA’s “VISION150” values creating space for
encounters and dialogue. We feel that these field trips uphold this vision. Together we learn and explore more ways to tackle these social issues.
The next day was Sunday, and participants spent time with their host families, visiting churches and other popular places in Osaka, some even visited Nara. In the evening, they said a teary goodbye to the families and boarded the ferry to Moji port.
