Published Articles of JENESYS Program 2011 Jawa Pos

Published Articles of JENESYS Program 2011
Jawa Pos Newspaper
SAGA Group
Dedicated to….
The great group of Saga….
Yamaguchi-san….
Iwase-san….
Kimiko-san….
Kikuchi-san….
Kaori-san….
Yamada-san….
Our new friends at Taku Senior High School….
Our new friends at Seikei Junior High School….
Our new Japanese families in Saga Perfecture….
All stakeholders making our Japanese dreams come true….
Greetings!
“Kimiko Date-Krumm: A Japanese tennis legend”
Hajimemashite!
Dear my beloved friends,
It had been my pleasure to bring 24 youngsters to a country named Japan. For most of Indonesian,
going to Japan poses just as a dream due to both financial and non financial reasons. But for some of
them, visiting this developed country is not something impossible. It was our luckiness that we were
those lucky people. Under the program of JENESYS 2011, 24 chosen and or appointed youths had
chance to make their dream come true.
Going abroad for first time sometimes attract different issues. The cultural shock, the uneasiness to
adapt to new surrounding, and the linguistic barriers are the examples. But all in all, I personally
believe that those 24 youths had special power to put those obstacles to end which is willingness to
learn and experience Japanese life. For me myself, Japan is a complete jar of learning values of life. I
learned lots on how to be honest, how to respect people, how to be discipline and to have
commitment in life. Well, not to mention that having joined visit together with 24 young people
made me feel younger, yes younger than ever ahaha or at least, they could boost my decreasing
sense of nationalism up.
I call the 10-day stay in Japan as really rewarding moments. Seeing the kids had international
exposures, created friendship and families with Japanese fellow really turned my tiredness into
bright smiles. Well, I cannot deny that having medical visits, getting lost at subway stations, and
tasting raw foods were also unforgettable memories that will remain in my mind. During my stay in
Osaka, Saga, Taku, and Kyoto I had my hobby, which is writing, accomplished. I made articles
portraying some, if not all, moments that I value much. The article based on the information that I
got, things that I saw and felt during my stay in Japan. I wish that these articles could be somewhat
reminder that we had really good time in Japan. More importantly, I wish that it can remind all
readers on what good values of Japanese people that we must internalize in our life. Fortunately
some of the articles published by one of Indonesia national newspaper named Jawa Pos (four out
from eleven articles that I proposes). It was published from 26 July to 29 July 2011. Please bear in
mind that the content of the article was somehow edited by the editor of the newspaper without
changing the main idea of the article. I am happy as I could share my Japanese experience with other
Indonesian people out there 
I would like to thank to the Government of Japan, MOFA Japan, MOFA Indonesia, JICE, and all
stakeholders that finally sent all of us to Japan and made our summer break really interesting. I also
give my biggest appreciation, love, and thank to our really “caring mothers” Yamaguchi-san, Iwasesan, and also Kimiko-san. Yes, you have 26 new family members that will always put you as mother
in their life.
Japan, I love you and I swear to go back again in the near future-as soon as possible.
Arigatou!
With love, passion, and wishes:
Muchdlir Zauhariy (Johar)
ASEAN-Indonesia Youth Ambassador
Personal contact:
muchdlir.zauhariy@gmail.com
sayyestojohar@gmail.com
@zauhariy
Muchdlir Johar Zauhariy
Muchdlir Zauhariy
+628988856844
22BC2D2E
www.muchdlirzauhariy.com/wordpress
First Article, published on 26 July 2011
English Translation: First Article
Muchdlir Johar Zauhariy, ASEAN-Indonesia Youth Ambassador, Joining JENESYS Program in Japan (Article 1)
Safety Comes First
“Orientation: Japan Ambassador to Indonesia is having conversation with participants of JENESYS, last June”
I went to Japan for joining JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) from end of
June to early of July. I was supervisor during the program and it was part of my duty as ASEAN-Indonesia Youth
Ambassador.
JENESYS is program that was firstly initiated by Japan Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe in 2008. This program
gives chances to youths from East Asia Summit member countries such as ASEAN countries, India, Australia,
South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to visit and participate at various programs ranging from educational
institution visit, introduction to Japanese culture, historical sites visit, and home stay program with Japanese
family. This program is conducted by Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE). In this 2011, there were
around 200 senior high students from all over Indonesia entitled as participants of JENESYS Program 2011.
They were previously selected by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Education, and Ministry of
Youth and Sports. They are student who have outstanding achievements and various organizational and
leadership experiences as well. Those students were sent trough three different batches comprising of 60 to
70 students each batch.
I was in charge at the second batch. Prior to going to Japan, there was two day-orientation program in Jakarta.
During the orientation program, the participants and supervisors were given necessary information about the
aims of JENESYS program, the program details, Japan and Japanese life introduction, and all related
information. The information given was complete and comprehensive. I just think that JICE tried hard to
ensure that the program would be conducted safely and successfully. There was rumor that the program
would be cancelled due to earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear radiation hitting the north east cost of Japan
months ago. I noted that at least there were two important points during the orientation program. The first
point is about the safety of the program and the second one is about private data protection.
The JICE was really curious about the safety of the program. The previous JENESYS program was firstly
conducted in Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. Given the fact of the last disasters, this year JENESYS then
transferred to Osaka City that is 230 kilometers away from the capital city. In addition to that, JICE also gave
update on the development of disaster management in Japan, safety guarantee during the program,
evacuation process just in case disaster happens and many more. Our program was firstly started in Osaka City
then around 60 students (previously divided into three different groups) would then visit three different areas:
Osaka, Saga, and Hokkaido. I had chance to go to Saga in southern part of Japan.
To prevent any other unwanted thing, the JICE were also selective upon the health condition of the
participants. During the orientation program, the participants had to take medical check-up with medical team
to ensure that their health condition is fit enough. The Japan Government does not want the visitors enter the
country while bringing virus of disease (s). There was also worry saying that the participants would fall sick
during the program in Japan if they enter the country when they are not fit enough. For sure, It would cause
disadvantages both to that participant and JICE as well. The JICE would cancel the departure of any participant
who found unhealthy.
Regarding the private data protection, JICE has concern on publication of participants’ data such as photo,
name, or any other kind by Japanese mass media or for the purpose of JENESYS publication in the future.
There were elaborations on Japan’ law regarding this issue. The participants had option to give agreement or
not on the possibility of their data will be published publicly. In developed country, the private data protection
is still applied tough there has been pers freedom.
There was H.E. Katori Yoshinori, the Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia, at the departure ceremony of JENESYS
participant. In his remark, H.E. Yoshinori wished that all participants could explore real Japanese life and learn
positive things during their visit. During the previous occasion, other ASEAN-Indonesia Youth Ambassadors
including me myself had dinner with H.E. Takeo Yamada, the Japan Ambassador to ASEAN. In his remark, H.E.
Yamada said that Japan has been making cooperation with countries especially those having strategic roles
worldwide. One of cooperation is introduction program to cultures, social aspect, and education of Japan to
youths from various countries. It is hoped that in the future when the youths are already the leaders of their
countries, they could be connector of cooperation between those countries and Japan.
Second Article, published on 27 July 2011
English Translation: Second Article
Muchdlir Johar Zauhariy, ASEAN-Indonesia Youth Ambassador, Joining JENESYS Program in Japan (2)
Shinkansen Will Take You from Jakarta to Jombang in just Two Hours
“Japan’ Icon: Shinkansen is symbol of Japan technological advancement in transportation”
After staying two days in Osaka, the Saga group moved to other area which was Saga City, the capital city of
Saga Prefecture, on Kyusu Island. I got on shinkansen to go there. It is the second fastest train in the world and
it has been pride of Japan.
For most of people, getting on shinkansen will be really rewarding experience when they travel Japan.
Shinkansen is the second fastest train in the world after Eurostar train in Europe. Shinkansen train operates in
most area of Japan. In fact the ticket price is quite expensive, for example Osaka-Fukuoka ticket will cost
around IDR 4 millions. As modern and high tech train, shinkansen has luxurious design both its interior and
exterior as well. Do you have big question on how great the train is? The travel time from Osaka to Fukuoka
which is 600 kilometers is only about two and half hours. If you go from Osaka to Fukuoka by plane, it will take
you around an hour. That distance is mostly the same as distance between Jakarta and Jombang (in East Java
Province). Could you imagine that if there were shinkansen in Indonesia, you would be able to go to Jombang
from Jakarta in just around two hours. During that 2.5 hour-travel, I could see various sceneries from
skyscrapers, mountainous area, agricultural fields and etc. The train also transit at Hiroshima Station of
Hiroshima City, a city that where the nuclear bomb targeted during the end of the World War II.
After arriving in Fukuoka, I (with Yamaguchi-san and one JENESYS participant) moved to another train bringing
us to Saga. Saga is prefecture with rich of cultural preservation. Although only 10% from its 900,000
inhabitants work at agricultural sector, but this economic sector (including stock husbandry) develops well
there. This prefecture is well known for its high quality meat, pork, chicken, and eggs. Even the meat of Saga
(in Japan, meat is called wagyu) is one of the best meats in the country. To gain good quality of wagyu, the
farmers should give special treatments for the growing cows. They give the cows special foods and regular
massage therapy. In order to prevent them from being stressful, the farmers even play music for them. No
wonder that the price of wagyu is really expensive. In Indonesia, there is growing number of restaurant selling
wagyu-made food. The small portion of wagyu-made food is really expensive.
Saga City is not as big as Osaka City or Fukuoka City. However, I think the city is really peaceful. The streets are
quite silent with not so many cars. During almost a week stay there, there were no more than five motorcycles
that I met. I just felt how peaceful that city was with not too many noisy motorcycles. The local people use to
use private car, bicycle, bus, or train for daily transportation. I tried biking in Saga City around the hotel where I
stay. Some hotels in Saga rent bicycle for only 500 yen/day (or about IDR 50,000). Enjoying the fresh and
beautiful city view by bicycle was really interesting experience. I had no concern of being hit by other vehicles
as all traffic rules were well obeyed by Saga people. In certain crossroads where there were no traffic lamps,
cars or taxis would surely stop to give way to pedestrian and those bicycle rider to pass the crossroad. Yes,
there has been priority and respect for those people there.
Third Article, published on 28 July 2011
English Translation: Third Article
Muchdlir Johar Zauhariy, ASEAN-Indonesia Youth Ambassador, Joining JENESYS Program in Japan (3)
Waste Incinerator Functions as Electricity Generator
“Environmental awareness: Place Where Saga People and Volunteer Recycle Wastes”
Many cities in Indonesia have been facing problems regarding wastes for years. In Saga City, waste incinerator
could do function as small scale electricity generator.
That was the idea that I knew when I visited Saga City Eco Plaza, an integrated waste management complex in
Saga city. Just look like Osaka City, Saga City is really clean city as the people there have care and awareness to
have clean and beautiful city. If you come to cities in Indonesia, Jakarta for example, you will be easily find
rubbishes in most of public places such as market, station, or even food court. Even, you will occasionally find
out rubbish come out from luxurious cars passing the street there. It is ironic as the awareness to preserve
environment is not linier against the level of education and wealth that the people have.
When we (JENESYS participants, supervisors, and JICE officers) were in Saga. We had chance to visit Saga City
Eco Plaza. Saga City Plaza is owned by the government of Saga to run the waste management there. Its
operation is funded by the Government of Saga City, the Government of Saga Prefecture, and the Government
of Japan. During our two hour-visit there, we got interesting facts and information from out tour guide,
Kuwahara-san. First of all, we got information on the nature of waste management in Saga City. The people
there play significant role in succeeding the waste management program. They use to separate the wastes
based on its type such as paper waste, bottle waste, can and etc. For organic waste, they are recommended to
compose it thus it can be useful fertilizer. Unlike the waste manajemen system in Indonesia, where Indonesian
people have to pay the monthly bill for waste management service to the government, the Saga people do not
have to pay for monthly bill. There is another system of waste management. For separating the wastes they
have, the Saga people have to buy plastic bag from Saga City Eco Plaza authority. They have to pay 5 yen for
small size plastic bag or 15 yen for big size plastic bag. The Saga City Eco Plaza will collect the separated wasted
(in plastic bags) in daily basis. The collected wastes then transported to Saga City Eco Plaza by trucks. The
officers will re-check whether the waste separation done by the Saga people is already alright or not. If it is
not, then they will re-separate the wastes again. For recyclable waste, each type of waste will be transported
to its recycling center. One of recyclable waste is milk box. Finally, from this information I got the idea why the
students of Seikei Junior High School cleaned up the milk boxes after they had lunch. There are so may recycle
products such as clothes, tissue, plastic bottle, and many more. Those products are sold back to the people
and specially marked as recycle-made products. The government has been working hard to promote these
products to the people.
For the unrecyclable wastes, all wastes will be dumped into special place. It will then be incinerated using high
tech machine. To avoid over production of carbon or other environment-jeopardizing substance, there is
special incinerator that could burn the wastes with more than 800 Celsius degree heat. This special incinerator
also produces electricity from the wastes burning. The electricity produced is used to operate the whole
operations of Saga City Eco Plaza complex and also swimming pool complex nearby that waste management
center.
Not only recycling and managing the wastes, the Saga City Eco Plaza also recycle cooking oil from households
in Saga City. Saga people use to collect the used cooking oil in a bottle or kind of bottled that could be sealed
well and put them in front of their houses. They could also go to market or shopping center nearby and put the
well sealed bottles into available collecting boxes. Unlike the collection of wastes that is done in daily basis, the
collection of this cooking oil is done in weekly basis. Even for those bottles put in boxes at market or shopping
center, the Saga City Eco Plaza officers collect them if the boxes are already full with bottles. The recycle
product from the cooking oil is nabati oil. The oil is used as fuel for trucks of Saga City Eco Plaza.
Rather than just call Saga City Plaza as the last waste dumping site, I prefer calling it as a place where we can
learn how to love environment. Unlike waste dumping sites in Indonesia which are mostly open, nasty, and
smell bad, the Saga City Eco Plaza is so hygienic and mostly the operations done by machine. For the visitors
who would like to monitor or see how the waste management runs there, they can see the whole processes
from monitoring view spots. They could also learn about waste management from various available multimedia facilities. Based on the explanation from Kuwahara-san, the yearly operational fee of Saga City Eco
Plaza is about 3 billion yen or about IDR 300 billion. If we do calculation by dividing IDR 300 billion by 365 days,
we could know that the daily operational cost is almost IDR 1 billion. Wow, that is not little amount of money, I
think.
In another part of Saga City Eco Plaza, there is workshop center where the local people and volunteers can
learn how to recycle wastes for example making yarn from used clothes. There is also sale of various used
products with cheap prices for sure. Every participant of JENESYS was interested with the elaborations of
Kuwahara-san. She explained that for chemical waste, there is different authority taking charge and
responsibility for recycling the waste. So does with the electronic waste such as washing machine, car,
refrigerator and etc. In Japan, when someone buys electronic device(s). The price the person pays including
the fee of recycling the product when it is no longer used.
I think the waste management in Saga and Japan is really good and well integrated. One of evidences if the
difficulty of finding waste in any corner of big city as well as rural area. Like looking for needle in rice straws,
that is maybe the precise paralel expression for that circumstance. One question from JENESYS participant that
made Kuwahara-san took long time to ponder and found out the answer was “What makes people of Saga and
people of Japan in general have great awareness of keeping the environment and the cleanliness?” Finally she
came out with this answer, “It has been our tradition, preserved in our life for years”. “We consider that waste
is not problem but we think that it is something that has use and economic values.”. Hm, I spontaneously
dream on when the kind of circumstance in Saga or Japan will prevail in my country, Indonesia 
Fourth Article, published on 29 July 2011
English Translation: Fourth Article
Muchdlir Johar Zauhariy, ASEAN-Indonesia Youth Ambassador, Joining JENESYS Program in Japan (4)
Ganbatte Japan, Gambaru Indonesia!
“Cross Culture: Indonesian students, the participants of JENESYS, are learning Japanese calligraphy”
Japan claimed as older brother of Indonesia during three and half year of colonialism. Despite the past
memory, due to its multi-sectoral advancements, Japan makes the world admire of it.
In fact, Japan , a country lacking of natural resources, could successfully turned into a country entitled “Tiger of
Asia” and member of G8 based on the spirit of Japanese people. Japan has been identically related with brands
of electronic devices and vehicles flooding the Indonesian market, cultural preservation, and high working and
discipline people. For me myself, Japan is about all anime characters such as Doraemon, Tsubasa, Sailormoon,
Hatori Ninja, Sinchan, and etc that reminding me to my childhood memory. Yes, that is Japan “the pearl” in the
Pacific Ocean. Even tough the tsunami hit the country on last 11 March, the disaster could not erase the
people assumption above about this country. If you have been following the progress of disaster management
in this country, you will know how strong and tough Japanese people are. Here they are some stories that I got
from various information sources.
Japanese people have been taught to have high spirit in life. There are various motto or jargon that have been
living in Japanese people such as ganbatte kudasai (let’s struggle harder), taihen dakedo isshoni
gambarimashoo (I know it is difficult but let’s do it together). So, what about gambaru? From the Japanese
dictionary, it is about doko made mo nintai shite doryoku suru (surviving till the end). In short, gambaru is
about being tough and strong or in another word “don’t be easily spoiled in life”. That principle is urgent as in
life sometimes person faces problem even big problems. The gambaru principle has been taught since the
childhood of Japanese people. It is not only those children that have high spirit but also those elderly. It was
that I saw during the farewell party with home stay families in Taku City.
So what about the correlation with last hitting disasters? In Indonesia, mass media somehow even make the
circumstance getting worse. It makes people both those affected by disasters or not even worry much with
current situation. It is different with what happens in Japan. The media is strategic way to strengthen the
people and communication tool for the government to make the people informed on what to do and how to
do prioritized actions regarding the disaster. Please never expect sad songs such as Ebiet G. Ade’s songs (Ebiet
G. Ade is one of famous Indonesian male singer) played by televisions in Japan. The TV programs are about
how to boost spirit of people and how to respond for another possible upcoming disaster such as what to do if
there is earthquake, how to make emergency stove, and emergency medical treatment. The disaster rescue
action is in fact has been taught to Japanese people since their childhood at school.
Japan is well known as nation with hard work principle. Started from the Meiji Restoration, Japan turned into
one of world major economic power. The Japanese nation also has great care upon personal dignity. The
Japanese people pose personal dignity as the most important thing that will be kept as good as possible. If the
dignity is broken, better for them to put the end of their soul than feeling great embarrassment in front of
public. Maybe you have ever heard about harakiri or personal suicide that is occasionally done by Japanese
people. This harakiri is due to broken dignity. The idea of keeping the dignity is also (personally I think) the
reason why there have been many government officers decide to retire from their position because of
corruption scandal or inability to realize promises that previously swore to the public. Knowing this idea, I just
wish that there is kind of attribute in Indonesia thus there will be no severe corruption happenings or other
scandals here in the country.
Another attribute of Japanese people is respect to other people. Japanese people bow their body I some
occasions showing respect to other people. The same thing that was done by flight attendants of Japan Airline
(JAL) or by the officers of shinkansen. They bowed their body no matter no people saw them or paid attention
to them. For Japanese people, time is really important and precious that’s why they use to do everything on
time.
So what’s the correlation with us? In fact, we as nation also have good attributes and characters that are based
on our own culture. Unfortunately, those have been diminishing due to various reasons e.g. modernization.
There is no more time for us of being lazy. I cannot imagine how many generations more we’re gonna be left
behind by developed nations such Japan if we keep easily spoiled, don’t want to work hard, don’t have
initiative to make goodness, not discipline, have no commitment, or even no interest of keeping the good of
personal dignity. Let’s learn from Japanese people! If you can make it, then spread your way to people around
you. Come on let’s make our nation as tough, discipline, and hard working nation. Gambaru Indonesia!