MichiganShiga SisterState Program

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Michigan-ShigaSister-State Program

• 2009 Goodwill Mission
• To Shiga, Japan

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Background Information

• In 1968 Michigan and Shiga Prefecture signed an
  agreement to establish a sister-state
  relationship between the United States and Japan.
  
• Residents of Michigan and Shiga continue to
  maintain close ties through partnership
  activities between sister-cities and exchange
  involving students, teachers, community members
  and government officials.

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Goodwill Mission

• An annual Goodwill Mission offers opportunities
  for Michigan and Shiga residents to deepen
  friendships and cultural understanding.
• During the summer of 2009, a delegation from
  Michigan will enjoy a ten-day Goodwill Mission to
  Shiga, including five days of home-stay
  experiences with Shiga families.

• All residents of Michigan are welcome to
  participate. Those under 18 years of age must be
  accompanied by an adult.
• The governor of Michigan names a representative
  to head the Goodwill Delegation going to Shiga.
• During the summer of even-numbered years,
  Michigan families get the wonderful opportunity
  to welcome and host Shiga delegates during their
  Goodwill Mission to Michigan.

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2009 Goodwill Mission

• This years Goodwill Mission will take place
• October 26 November 7, 2009
• Departure and return arrival at
• Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)

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2009 Goodwill Mission

• The following presentation will divide the
  itinerary into sections and provide some
  information about the places and events mentioned.

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2009 Tentative Schedule

• Oct 26 Mon Leave Detroit (DTW) at 350PM
• Oct 27 Tue Arrive Nagoya (NGO) at 615 PM
• Bus to Hikone, Shiga
• Stay at Hikone View Hotel
• Oct 28 Wed Breakfast at Hotel
• JCMU Tour
• Lunch (and Dinner on own)
• Nagahama Area Tour
• Return to Hotel

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Hikone

• Part of a sister-city relationship with Ann
  Arbor, Michigan, this beautiful town has a long
  and rich history dating back to the early 1600s
  when construction on Hikone castle began. Nestled
  between mountains and the scenic lake Biwa, this
  city retains much of the traditional charm of a
  feudal town and is still centered around the
  beautiful Hikone castle, which is one of the
  oldest original-construction castles in all of
  Japan.

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JCMU

• The Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU)
  study abroad program is a product of the strong
  sister-state relationship between the State of
  Michigan and Shiga Prefecture. It is located on
  the shore of Lake Biwa in the City of Hikone,
  Shiga Prefecture, Japan.
• JCMUs programs are dedicated to building
  relationships between Japanese, Americans, and
  other nationalities through active learning and
  participation in language, culture, family life
  and society. JCMU has been welcoming students of
  all majors since 1989.

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Nagahama

• Like Hikone, this city is steeped in history,
  having developed around the edges of a feudal
  castle. Though Nagahama castle was demolished in
  1615 (with parts being used in the construction
  of Hikone castle), it was reconstructed in 1983
  at the request of the local people. Today the
  castle is located in a park on the edge of Lake
  Biwa and contains a museum about Nagahamas
  history.
• Not far from the castle park is Kurokabe square.
  Featuring many traditional items for sale and a
  glass workshop, Kurokabe is a popular tourist
  destination.

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2009 Tentative Schedule (cont.)

• Oct 29 Thur Breakfast at Hikone View Hotel
• Bus to Shigaraki
• Lunch (and Dinner on own)
• Bus to Miho Museum Tour
• Stay at Otsu Biwako Hotel
• Oct 30 Fri Breakfast at Biwako Hotel
• Welcome Party with Shiga Host Families
• -Courtesy Call to Governor

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Shigaraki Pottery

• Shigaraki-yaki refers to pottery produced in the
  Shigaraki region of Koka City in Shiga
  Prefecture. Shigaraki pottery is known for the
  special quality of its clay and its rusticity
  communicates the traditional Japanese spirit and
  aesthetics.
• Pottery Production in Shigaraki boasts a history
  of over 1250 years, tracing back to the year 742
  AD when Emperor Shomu built a palace in the
  region using roof tiles and vessels fired from
  the local clay.
• The visit to Shigaraki will include a
  demonstration by master potter Shizuo Tamura.

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Miho Museum

• The Miho Museum was the dream of Mihoko Koyama,
  one of the richest women in Japan. It houses a
  collection of Asian and Western antiques valued
  between 300 million and 1 billion dollars. Each
  exhibit is carefully selected and much attention
  is paid to how it is displayed.
• Designed by I.M. Pei, who is known as the last
  master of high modernist architecture, this
  building is as much a work of art as the
  beautiful private collections it contains. Carved
  into the mountainside with glass and steel
  construction reminiscent of Peis work on the
  Louvre in France, this is a place definitely
  worth a visit.

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Otsu

• Capital city of Shiga Prefecture and Sister-city
  to Lansing, Michigan, Otsu sits at the southern
  tip of Lake Biwa. Otsu features many parks and
  scenic walkways along the edge of the lake as
  well as temples and other historic locations
  throughout the area. With the historic Mt. Hiei
  and sleek modern buildings like the Biwako Hotel
  dotting its shoreline, Otsu is definitely a
  wonderful blend of natural beauty and city
  splendor.

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2009 Tentative Schedule (cont.)

• Oct 31 Sat- With Host Family
• Nov 3 Tue
• Nov 4 Wed Farewell Party
• Stay at Kyoto APA EkiMae Hotel
• Nov 5 Thur Breakfast at Hotel
• Kyoto Tour with Lunch Shopping
• Return to Hotel (Dinner on own)
• Nov 6 Fri Breakfast at Hotel
• Free Time in Kyoto (Lunch Dinner on own)
• Return to Hotel

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Home-stay Experience
One of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of
this program is the chance to live with a
Japanese family during the home-stay experience.
Home-stays not only allow you the chance to get a
glimpse of daily life in Japan firsthand, but
also allow you to share your life and culture
with your hosts. This reciprocal cultural
exchange is often a very meaningful experience
that can lead to long-lasting bonds of friendship.
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Home-stay Experience
Your host family will be excited to take you into
their home. They may want to show you around
their neighborhood, or even take you on
excursions to places they themselves enjoy. No
matter the particulars of the experience, nearly
everyone walks away from a home-stay with a
profound feeling of connectedness and a renewed
cultural appreciation of the host country, as
well as their own. The Michigan-Shiga
relationship, one of the oldest and most active
in the nation, owes much of its success to the
personal bonds created by home-stay experiences.
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Kyoto

• Once the imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto is a
  city of great historical and cultural importance.
  Largely spared from the air raids of World War
  II, it is one of the few cities that retains an
  abundance of prewar buildings. Though Japan is
  continually changing at the hands of
  modernization, Kyoto still maintains a balance of
  traditional aesthetics and modern convenience.
  From the shopping centers and liveliness of the
  monolithic Kyoto station to the quiet solitude of
  the shrines and temples, Kyoto is a city unlike
  any other.

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2009 Tentative Schedule (cont.)

• Nov 7 Leave Kyoto for Nagoya Airport
• Flight Departs at 1245 p.m.
• Arrive in Detroit (DTW) at 1030 a.m.

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Message from the Governor

• Michigan residents live in a world where
  international perspective and cross-cultural
  understanding are crucial for our states economy
  and the success of all of our citizens. This
  program provides opportunities to understand and
  experience these concepts
• -Governor Jennifer Granholm

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Notes to Presenter(This slide is hidden and will
not appear in the show)

• Important dates for Sister-City Representatives
• February and March
• Each sister-city recruits delegation participants
• Encourage potential participants to contact our
  travel consultants (see box below) to consider
  optional travel arrangements.
• March 1 Informational meeting at LCC
• April 1
• Deadline for applications and 200 deposit
• Deadline for making arrangements for optional
  travel.
• April 14
• Last Day for 200 deposit refund.
• Airfares are guaranteed with deposits
• May 1 1,200 payment
• June 1 1,200 payment
• Our goal is 40 participants!
• Please call or email if you have any questions.
• Marilyn Nagano Schlief
• Also  Marilyn500_at_aol.com

For optional travel following the Goodwill
Mission activities Hiroko or Elizabeth, Travel
Consultants, at 1-800-451-7995 JTB Global
Travel, Inc., 43155 Main St, Suite 2212A, Novi,
Michigan 48375 (This information is also on the
application)
For additional information see the Cover Letter
to Sister-City Representatives at
www.isp.msu.edu/JCMU/alumni/goodwill