The study tour was organized by ECOPLUS, a non-profit organization based in Japan, with the support of Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund, United Airlines, Patagonia Japan and other organizations and citizens.
They departed Yap in the very early morning of the day and changed the plane in Guam. When they reached to the Tokyo international airport, 14 young Japanese were waiting for them. The temperature in Tokyo was like 10 C or 50 F. Many of students were saying it was a bit cold. They were given warm jackets and ride on the bus to the Tokyo Central Youth Hostel.
Professor NAKANO Kazunori of Nihon University joined them at 3:30 pm and gave then a hands-on lecture how to manage the quality of waste water from houses. They got sample water from the river next to the hostel and did experiments to filter those water through gravels, sand, and charcoal.
It was quite dense and long day for Yapese students but they were still so excited.
今回の来日は、長年ヤップ島で体験プログラムを展開してきたエコプラスが、現地の集落や高校からの推薦を受けた中高生を招いて実施します。日本経団連自然保護基金や、ユナイテッド航空、パタゴニアなど諸団体と多くの市民の支援で実現しました。
ヤップ島を11日未明に出発した一行は、グアム島で飛行機を乗り換え、午前9時半すぎ成田空港に到着。同10時すぎに到着ロビーに姿を見せました。14人の日本の若者が出迎え、一緒にバスに乗って東京都心に向かいました。気温は10度前後。口々にちょっと寒いと話していました。
前夜からほとんど寝ずの長い、そして忙しい一日でしたが、ヤップの若者たちは、まだまだ興奮しているようでした。