Malak Alzahrani

TOKYO: 17 Saudi universities and more than 120 students went on a scientific trip to Japan with several deans of student affairs and supervisors. The trip was sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education, which is investing in the Kingdom’s universities to diversify the differences between cultures in the development of aspects with enriching Saudi students. 

This trip comes as one of the programs to strengthen the partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan. It also comes as one of the initiatives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 that aims to develop the capabilities of Saudi university students. 

First day of the Saudi students in Japan was a visit to Keio University, Asakusa area (temple), and Tokyo Skytree Tower. 

Keio university is headquartered in Minato-Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan where the Saudi students met with the house of representative’s member Karen Makishima, had discussions with the Japanese students and became more aware and knowledgeable about the educational systems in both countries, to reinforce a wider culture. 

The Asakusa area maintains the atmosphere of old Tokyo, with craft shops, traditional handicrafts, and food stalls on Nakamise Street, next to the temple Sensō-ji, which was completed in the year 645, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple. 

As for Tokyo Skytree, it is considered to be the longest tower in Japan since 2010 where the tower is 634 high. Currently, Tokyo Skytree is the second largest tower in the world after Burj Khalifa in Dubai.  

On the second day, the students had the Samurai/Kimono experience where they try wearing the traditional summer wear in Japan and learn the history of Samurai and the Meiji restoration. 

They also visited the Japanese parliament where they learned about the history of the establishment and the Meiji reform. It is in Nagatachō, Chiyoda Prefecture, Tokyo. 

Then, the students visited Odaiba area, which is a high-tech entertainment center on a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay. It can be accessed through the famous rainbow bridge or the modern urikamome train. In addition, it includes shopping centers, such as DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, where its famous for life-sized Gundam statue that towers over spectators at a tremendous height of 19.7 meters. 

On the third day, the students paid a visit to the bullet train museum, mount Fuji, and lake Kawaguchi. The Japanese “Shinkansen” was known as a great economical and technical success.  

Today, it is considered the most used railway in the world. Mount Fuji is one of the most famous symbols in Japan if not the symbol of Japan.  

On the fourth day, the students paid a visit to team Lab Planet which is an art facility that uses digital technology. It is an experience that feeds all your senses in Tokyo Bay, Shibuya. They also visited the famous fashionable area of Harajuku and Shibuya which is the most important business center in Tokyo. 

The trip was concluded with a visit to the Saudi Embassy in Japan. Introducing the roles offered by the embassy in cooperation with the relevant authorities in Japan within the framework of enriching the experiences of Saudi students in the field of information technology.  

“I left with the honor of representing Saudi Arabia outside, and now I have returned loaded with creative thoughts and knowledge,” Rahaf Al-Juhani from college of computer science and engineering in Yanbu told Arab News Japan.  

The students give their sincere thanks and appreciation to his excellency the minister of education, Professor Youssef Al-Bunyan, for his support for this important enrichment program and thanks are extended to the presidents of the Saudi universities.