37th SSEAYP 2010 - Japan Institutional Visit & Inauguration Ceremony

Day 3 - 27 October 2010

After breakfast at Hotel New Otani, Participating Youths (PYs) went with their Discussion Groups for the Institutional Visit. This was the first time the Discussion Group members get to meet one another.

Lunch at Hotel JAL City Yotsuya Tokyo

I belong to the Youth Development Discussion Group (DG) and our DG visited the National Council of YMCAs of Japan.

The presenter was Executive Director Mr Hisao Mitsunaga, who cordially introduced himself as Pumpkin. Also present were Director Izumi Manabe & Staff (Domestic & International, YMCA Relations) Maki Enokita.

After a brief introduction on the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), its vision and its training programme for staff, youth, policy-making volunteers and volunteers, we were divided into 3 groups to have our sub-group discussion.

Director Izumi Manabe facilitating Group A discussion

Our sub-group discussed on the youth issues that we are facing in our own countries.

One of the groups shared about the meaning of Youth Development:

Young

Opportunity

Unity

Teamwork

Health

Determined

Excitement

Volunteer

Entrepreneurship

Leadership

Outstanding

Patience

Motivation

Empowerment

Networking

Talent

We arrived at Hotel New Otani at about 4pm, and since there was some time before the next activity, some of us went touring the area outside the hotel.

11 degrees Celsius!

We were walking along the streets and we saw a young boy in Baseball uniform running towards us and we noticed that he didn't have his flyers on. (Haha!) Managed to stop him and used non-verbal language to communicate. What a unique experience!

We tried the authentic Octopus Ball (Takoyaki!)

At 6pm, we reported in our Attire A1 for the Inauguration Ceremony of the 37th SSEAYP.

National Leaders of the 11 Participating Countries

With Singapore Embassy Representative

With Hotel New Otani room-mate!

After the inauguration ceremony, Solidarity Group (SG) A had a meeting at NL Waku-T's room to discuss our performance at the Homestay Matching Ceremony in Iwate Prefecture. We formalised our first Doraemon-tune cheer. Jack from Lao P.D.R. also shared his contingent's song "Seeds of Hope", which would such a familiar song by the end of the programme.

After that, Ethel and I went to use the Internet at 100 yen per 15 minutes!

Ethel chatting with her special other

11 Degrees Celsius