Week 3 was a busy one indeed. 

Xanthe and I enjoyed our final two days in Kyoto - soaking up the sights, consuming an infinite amount of magnificent conveyor belt sushi and making friends with anyone/everyone who (unfortunately for them) happened to be in our vicinity. I don't think it's possible to express how much we loved this side quest. We even spent the day with another Laidlaw scholar from Leeds, road-tripping to the fishing town of Ine, following our Lonely Planet guidebook like the true devoted tourists we are. Thanks Laidlaw; we owe you!!!

Anyway, onto the serious business. We got up bright and early to travel by our favourite mode of transport (a shinkansen) to Fukuoka, where we met our lovely boss to begin the Asia Next Forum. It involved taking yet another train to the small city of Takeo, where the preparatory two days of Asia Next Dialogue were taking place. 

Day one consisted of beginning our theme-based discussions and getting to know the amazing collection of people. Our discussions were centred on the topic of peaceful coexistence in Asia and sought to find progressive practical insights into the future of international relations in the region, not only on a national level but also on a personal one. Big stuff for the professionals... 

Then, to begin day two, we begrudgingly left the beautifully air-conditioned hotel to brave the 37-degree heat. Thankfully, our efforts were rewarded by a visit to a historic girls' school and taking part in a traditional tea ceremony; I can only assume that they had read our to-do list in Japan. However, what followed was definitely not on my list...a 1.5-hour tofu 'experience' for lunch. Safe to say that is a food type I will never willingly come into contact with again. Fuelled up and ready to go, we continued our discussions and developed them into workshops for the external participants joining the conference the next day. This constituted separating into two groups to structure roundtable discussions on our topic of peaceful coexistence. Our aim was to facilitate conversations on improving relations between nations; since we had such a diverse group of participants from across Asia, it felt right to explore how more cohesion can take place so these regions aren't just close in proximity but close in cooperation. (Very on theme for our LiA project.) 

We made our way back to Fukuoka, and upon arrival, I somehow managed to get us into three successive Ubers to multiple wrong hotels. Despite the detour, we still managed to make it to the Asian Art Museum (slightly) on time! This experience was a great testament to Xanthe’s embodiment of the Oxford Character Project values of temperance and transcendence (thank you Laidlaw for keeping our friendship in tact). Anyway, we moved on and the mood lightened once we got inside the incredible exhibition. We loved exploring the art from all over Asia, and I really enjoyed the group I was put in, which discussed the art pieces under the theme 'Connecting East Asia'. The most notable was an interactive piece called 'One Thousand Money Cranes', which particularly stood out to me because it presented Asian unity as both an aspiration and a complicated challenge. The peaceful symbolism of the cranes contrasted with the artwork's reference to Japan's wartime Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, showing how hopes for closer regional relations cannot be separated from the historical memories that continue to shape them. 

Then finally and most importantly, day 3 aka the big day!! We offered to arrive early and help set up, making sure to present Laidlaw scholars in the most positive light as always. But it was soon time to begin our roundtables, which went fantastically! I think this was one of the most educational parts of the forum, since it gave us a perspective and insight from the likes of business owners, policymakers, NGO directors and students that can't be reached through just academic studies alone. It has definitely helped us decide on a topic for our main/final project with Wake Up Japan; stay tuned for more on that... 

Most of the day, however, was taken up with various panels ranging from 'Asia's Path to Strategic Autonomy' to 'Reclaiming Political Apathy in Asia'. Luckily, all topics from the day sparked my interest, and I loved the panels. My favourite part was the conversational style of the event, where the panel speakers sat with the participants for the remainder of the day and allowed further conversation. My favourite panellist had to be Shoukei Matsumoto, a Buddhist monk and philosopher, who I am now determined to study in my upcoming final year philosophy module on Non-Western Philosophy. Hearing not only his philosophy but also how this related to his vision for strengthening identity and interconnectedness across Asia was truly inspiring; to see how relevant philosophy is in current issues finally gave me confidence in my choice of degree. (Plus having a monk give you his business card must surely be the coolest thing ever!!??) 

Finally, the conference was over - 3 LONG but rewarding days. I am so grateful to our boss for inviting us to this event with her. It gave us an incredible insight into the relevance of the work we're doing on East Asia connection and was an amazing opportunity to meet incredible people who have taught me so much. Despite not being from Asia or living in Asia, everyone kindly welcomed our participation, observations and questions. I don't think any other experience could have taught us more or welcomed us more.

However...the work is never over. The next day, we travelled to Nagasaki, choosing to visit because gaining an understanding of Japanese history has been essential to understanding current peace dynamics. Moreover, with it being the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing, there was no better time to pay our respects and learn more about the events that shaped the city and its people. 

We visited a number of museums and memorials, but the two most notable were the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, which commemorates Nagasaki’s tragic history while promoting the idea of world peace, and the Nagasaki Museum for Human Rights and Peace, which offered a uniquely insightful exhibition exploring different, and often omitted, perspectives on Japanese history and the uncomfortable truths of war. The museums and memorials felt particularly poignant given the anniversary, but also deeply troubling when considering the direction in which global peace appears to be heading.

The visit made me reflect more deeply on what matters to me and the issues I want to engage with. Promoting peace and peaceful relations is an essential message if we are to ensure that such atrocities are not repeated. I am glad that, despite being an emotionally heavy experience, the visit has left me with a lasting impression of the value of peace - something I will carry with me throughout the remainder of my LiA and after. 

To conclude my (lengthy) reflections from this week, I have had a great third week. Mostly, I am impressed with how much we fit into one week and appalled to realise that we are halfway through. Now, I'm looking forward to returning to Tokyo and getting back into our routine of living life like an old married couple who play continuous card games and bicker occasionally. 

- Lottie