Asia Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP) Service Learning 2025

Inheritance of Traditional Culture and Contemporary Challenges: Using Miyama-cho as an Example (伝統文化の継承と現代の課題―美山町を例に)

October 11 (Sat) to 13 (Mon, holiday), 2025 (three days, two nights)

The aim is to expand the horizons of international students by allowing them to directly experience the charms and challenges of rural areas in Japan, providing them opportunities to gain deep insights into intercultural understanding and sustainability. Specifically, we are planning the following (but not limited to these):

1. Understanding and Respecting Traditional Culture: By allowing international students to experience traditional culture and lifestyles in Japan's rural areas, we aim to broaden their international perspectives and deepen their respect and understanding of culture.
2. Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion: By exposing students to unique regional cultures and traditions, we provide an opportunity for them to realize the value of diversity and reflect on the importance of accepting and collaborating with people from different cultural backgrounds.
3. Understanding the Reality of Aging and Declining Birthrates: Students will witness firsthand the issue of an aging population and declining birthrates, which is a realistic challenge in rural areas. They will delve deeper into the impacts and problems faced by the local community, learning beyond what is taught in traditional school education.
4. Promotion of Sustainable Development: Contrary to popular tourist destinations, students will appreciate the charm and value of rural areas. They will also reflect on the negative impacts brought about by environmental changes and overtourism, and contemplate methods of sustainable tourism and agricultural development.

• Kyoto → Miyama (Oct 11th): JR Nijo Station (二条駅) 10:12 (express train) → Sonobe Station (園部駅) 10:44 (transit) 10:46 (local train) → Hiyoshi (日吉) 10:54 → City Bus 11:10 → Agake (安掛) 11:49 → Visitor center (美山ふれあい広場)
• Miyama → Kyoto (Oct 13th): Agake (安掛) 14:05 (city bus) → Hiyoshi (日吉) 14:45 → JR 15:04 (local train) → Sonobe (園部) 15:13 (transit) 15:14 (express) → Nijo (二条) 15:48
• Note: The supervisor goes with a car.
• IMPORTANT: To get paid by AFLSP funding, please keep the receipts (領収書) of your tickets (including tickets to/from Nijo Station from/to your home) and take pictures of all the tickets with the dates they were used (take the picture after you get into the station and before get out of the station). However, if you use a bus and it is difficult to get a receipt, you may contact our office staff (Iwamuro-san) with the route of bus, they will handle the case without a receipt.

10 scholars (5 male and 5 female), 3 Japanese students (female), 1 supervisor (male), * = group leader (chosen by Japanese ability)

To group leaders: Thank you for your contributions! Your tasks include but not limited to:

1. 10am, Oct 11th, JR Nijo Station (二条駅), Lead your group members to Miyama. Let Prof. Zhao know if there is any trouble.
2. 2pm, Oct 13th, Agake (安掛), Lead your group members back to Nijo Station.
3. Organize activities from 15:45 to sleep on Oct 11th (notice that the dinner has been fixed by 河鹿荘).
4. Lead the group activities for pre-learning, interviews, writing group reports (not individual reports).
5. You may ask other group members to help you, if needed.

Aligning to the T-PBR, we divided participants into the next groups to complete pre-learning, interview, and report. Please consider three to five questions (one for each member, on average) to ask or discuss during the interview with local people of Miyama-cho. Notice that each member shall contribute to some task, management/time keeper, interviewing, writing memo, writing the final report, etc.

Reference fo pre-learning

https://kyototamba-vc.com/db/

Please fill the next table with questions for interview before Oct 10th.

• 12:00-13:00, Oct 8th (Zoom, finished), including program explanation, Q&A, etc.
• We designed the Competence sheet for this program. Please check it before the SL and submit the first sheet after the SL.

1. 歯ブラシ Tooth brush
2. バスタオル、ハンドタオル Bath towel and hand towel
3. パジャマ Night wear
4. 着替え spare cloths
5. （農作業のための）汚れてもよい靴、服　Cloth and shoes that you can get dirty (for farming)
6. This year it is about 10 degree higher than normal years. So maybe you don't need such warm wear. 薄手の羽織りもの、カーディガンなど　※朝晩は冷えて寒いです。10℃くらい Warm wear like Jacket, cardigan, etc (It is cold in the morning and at night. The temperature is about 10 degree centigrade.)
7. 雨具 Umbrella
8. 帽子 Hat ※今年は暑いです。This year it is pretty hot during the day time.
9. モバイルバッテリー（あれば） Mobile battery if you need
10. 携帯電話/スマホ（充電器・ケーブルもお忘れなく） Mobile phone or smart phone (don't forget the charger and cable)
11. お金 Money
12. 身分証明書（免許や在留カード等） ID card (e.g., residence card)
13. 筆記用具（ノート・紙とペン） Notebook/Paper and pen
14. ビニール袋数枚（ゴミなどに） Plastic bags (for garbage etc)
15. マスク、絆創膏、虫・蚊よけスプレー、（該当者）薬，コンタクトレンズなど Face mask, bandage, bug/mosquito spay, medicine (if needed), contact lens, etc
16. 記録や発表に必要なら、ラップトップパソコンまたはタブレット Laptop or tablet if needed for taking memo or doing presentation
17. その他必要なもの，ただし必要最小限に．Others necessary (keep them the minimum)

Oct 11th (Sat)

• 10:00 JR Nijo Station (二条駅) → 10:12 (express train) → Sonobe Station (園部駅) 10:44 (transit) 10:46 (local train) → Hiyoshi (日吉) 10:54 → City Bus 11:10
• 11:49 Arrive Agake (安掛) → walk to Visitor center (美山ふれあい広場, 京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター）
• 12:00 Lunch (Bento)
• 13:00 Introduction (90 minutes lecture) by DMO (一般社団法人南丹市美山観光まちづくり協会)
• 14:30 Free time (30 minutes)
• 15:00 Move to Kashikaso/美山町自然文化村河鹿荘 (by DMO'car)
• 15:30 Check-in (美山町自然文化村河鹿荘)
• After 15:30 Activities to be decided by each group (May include sense foraging in Nature, night event, etc. Notice that dinner time is fixed)

Oct 12th (Sun)

• 7:30 Breakfast
• 8:30 Move to かやぶきの里 (by DMO'car)
• 9:00 Guided tour かやぶきの里 (Japanese, 45 minutes) → 45 minutes free time
• 10:30 Interview (90 minutes) at かやぶきの里の北公民館
  • Group 1 かやぶきの里保存会
  • Group 2 美山町内観光事業者
  • Group 3 持続可能発展関係
• 12:00 Lunch (Bento)
• 12:40 Move (by DMO's car)
• 13:00 Volunteer activity at 美山蓮如滝観光ブルーベリー園 (2.5 hours)
• 15:30 Finish and move (by DMO's car)
• 16:00 Orientation on home stay 美山町自然文化村河鹿荘 → move to three host families

Oct 13th (Mon, holiday)

• ? Breakfast at each host family
• 9:00 Move to the Visitor center (by host families' cars)
• 9:30 Closing ceremony 京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター (Visitor center)
• 10:00 Reflection 京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター (1h for overall, 1h in groups)
• 12:00 Lunch (Bento) 京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター
• 12:15 Prof. Zhao leaves (for next lecture)
• 14:00 Bus stop Agake (安掛) → 14:05 (city bus) → Hiyoshi (日吉) 14:45 → JR 15:04 (local train) → Sonobe (園部) 15:13 (transit) 15:14 (express) → Nijo (二条) 15:48

1. There is no convenience store in Miyama. Please prepare any anticipated necessary items in advance before participating.
2. Depending on the location, there may be no cellular signal.
3. It may get cold in the morning and evening → better to prepare a jacket.

Every scholar (not Japanese student) must submit the next reports to fulfill part of the requirement by AFLSP.

• Deadline: Oct 18th (the day of the monthly seminar this month)
• Individual competence sheet (see the above explanation in Pre-learning section)
• Individual report: two pages about your personal learning and reflection (free style) + competence sheet (fill the first sheet please)
• Group report: 4 pages including the findings of pre-learning, interview, discussion, references, etc (in report style).

• Photo: Ayaka-san (thank you!)
• Short movie (1 - 3 minutes) creation: Wanted!
• We will upload some pictures and movies online. Please notice this is considered a duty for the program. → Exception: Yuju

• To be included.