I had the privilege of spending a week with a group of Stanford and Rikkyo University students during an Impact Abroad trip in Japan. I listened to their process, helped them problem solve and think about their ideas, and sat with them as they shared their proposal with the mayor of Rikuzentakata.
Here we are at our first team lunch in Tokyo- shortly after deciding to become Sushi Berries.
After a weekend of learning about each other and preparing for our trip, we headed north to meet leaders and the local community of Rikuzentakata.
Arriving in Rikuzentakata
The rebuild is still well underway, and while a lot of work has been done, the city still has a long way to go.
Most buildings had been cleared away, but a few are left as memories and standing memorials to what happened in 2011. A lot of our time was spent out in the community seeing first hand what happened.
Starting our day:
A lot of our time was spent hearing from community leaders, business owners, and city officials about their experiences with what happened and their work int he reconstruction.
A lot of our time was spent hearing from community leaders, business owners, and city officials about their experiences with what happened and their work int he reconstruction.
Using design thinking principles, the team spent the rest of their time teasing out big ideas into ones that could be further developed into a potential project that would highlight the attractiveness of the city and bring attention and communication both nationally and internationally.
The process was long and very communal. I was particularly impressed with my team's ability and interest in hearing every person's voice and giving everyone space to share their ideas and work together. The energy was consistently supportive and deeply engaged. Team Sushi Berry iterated many ideas until they distilled to two that were then shared with a senior city official and others in the program. |
Sharing out their ideas:
Refining and prototyping:
Presenting Second Home:
The whole team with the mayor:
And then, we went home, to continue the conversation and the work.
The mayor was impressed, and said that he hopes to implement the ideas presented by the students. And I was so proud. The students worked incredibly hard, and presented tangible, meaningful, and thoughtful ideas that were feasible and could be implemented. It was impressive.
There were many takeaways for me personally on this trip, and I know that in a deep way the trip changed my life. I hope to come back someday to Rikuzentakata-- to see their progress and to stay involved, and to keep in touch with the many wonderful people I was lucky enough to meet here in Japan. Once a Sushi Berry, always a Sushi Berry. |
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Sarah Koik
Director of Science Education, Haas Center for Public Service
Stanford University
Sarah Koik
Director of Science Education, Haas Center for Public Service
Stanford University