Students reflect on Japanese earthquake one year later

Japan-Canada Academic Consortium (JACAC) Student Forum participants gather for a group picture. Fourth-year Commerce student Angel Tse travelled to Kyoto to take part in the forum.

Angel Tse was one of 15 Canadian students who examined Canada-Japan relations after last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan at the recent Japan-Canada Academic Consortium (JACAC) Student Forum in Kyoto, Japan.

“I heard numerous touching stories of how citizens cooperated and helped each other to endure the disaster period,” says Ms Tse, a fourth-year Commerce student. “Japan is such an amazing and inspiring society and I believe Canada has a lot to learn from it.”

The Canadian students and an equal number of Japanese students engaged in discussions about issues such as sustainability, technology, politics and economics in the post-disaster era and the role of Canada-Japan relations and the various forms of cultural exchange within a global context.

Ms Tse’s five-member group examined the ways Canada and Japan can cooperate to create more sustainable societies. As a result of having the best presentation, they shared their work with Jonathan Fried, Ambassador of Canada to Japan, and Princess Takamado, a member of the Japanese Imperial Family.

Ms Tse’s participation was made possible due to Queen’s membership in JACAC. The Consortium also administers an exchange program for students of member institutions.