As COO and Co-Founder of SeiRogai, Inc., I’m thrilled to share that Minato City Hall and the Minato City Industrial Promotion Center gave us an exclusive interview that delves into the core of our company’s mission. At SeiRogai, our passion lies in serving as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, opening doors for companies to expand overseas and showcase this remarkable country.

株式会社SeiRogaiのCOO兼共同創業者として、港区役所と港区産業振興センターが、私たちの企業使命の核心に迫る独占インタビューに応じてくれたことを、とても嬉しく思います。SeiRogaiは、日本と世界の架け橋となり、企業の海外進出の扉を開き、日本の魅力を紹介することに情熱を注いでいます。

In this interview, we had the honor of discussing our vision, services, and the incredible journey that has brought us to where we are today. As foreigners living in Japan, we bring a unique perspective to the table, allowing us to shine a light on the hidden treasures, cultural richness, and historical wonders that often go unnoticed.

このインタビューでは、私たちのビジョン、サービス、そして私たちをここまで導いてきた信じられないほどの旅について語りました。私たちは日本に住む外国人として、独自の視点を持ち込むことで、見逃されがちな隠れた宝物、文化の豊かさ、歴史の驚異に光を当てることができます。

SeiRogai is more than just a media production company – we are a media tech startup that combines media production, marketing, advertising, branding, business consulting, and the latest digital technologies. We take pride in our ability to provide world-class support to our clients, fueled by our consolidated network of connections and cross-cultural business perspectives.

SeiRogaiは単なるメディア制作会社ではありません。メディア制作、マーケティング、広告、ブランディング、ビジネスコンサルティング、そして最新のデジタル技術を融合させたメディアテックスタートアップです。SeiRogaiは、メディア・プロダクション、マーケティング、広告、ブランディング、ビジネス・コンサルティング、そして最新のデジタル技術をワンストップで提供する会社です。

One aspect that truly sets us apart is our collaboration with the Government of Japan’s SME Agency as a certified “JAPAN Brand” partner company. Together, we promote and develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan and overseas. Our goal is to bring the captivating essence of Japan to the global stage through high-quality media production and meaningful human connections.

本当に特別な存在にしているのは、日本政府の中小企業庁との協力関係であり、「JAPANブランド育成支援等事業」の認定パートナー企業として活動していることです。私たちは共に、日本国内外の中小企業を促進・育成しています。私たちの目標は、高品質なメディア制作と意味のある人的つながりを通じて、日本の魅力を世界の舞台に届けることです。

Two of our recent endeavors delves into innovating upon our expertise in filmmaking with the latest digital media equipment and technology. The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the way we travel, making it difficult to cross borders and explore new horizons. However, where there are challenges, there are also opportunities for innovation. That’s why we developed our services, “SeiRogaiTV”, a new streaming platform that focuses on bringing more content from SouthEast Asia to the world, and “Global Virtual Travel,” a platform that offers VR360 virtual tours accessible to both domestic and international audiences.

新しい事業の2つは、最新のデジタルメディア機器と技術を駆使して、映画制作の専門知識を革新することに取り組んでいます。コロナ禍の影響により、私たちの旅行のあり方を変え、国境を越えて新たな地平を探求することが困難になりました。ただし、困難があるならば、イノベーションの機会もあるのです。そのために私たちは「SeiRogaiTV」という新しいVOD配信サービスを生み出しました。これは、より多くのコンテンツを東南アジアから世界に提供することに焦点を当てています。また、「Global Virtual Travel (グローバルバーチャルトラベル)」というDX観光プラットフォームも開発しました。これは、国内外の観客が利用できるVR360バーチャルツアーを提供しています。

In this interview, we also explore the story behind our company’s name. You see, our CEO Samuel Yuen had a serendipitous encounter with “Seirogan,” a Japanese medicine renowned for its healing properties. Inspired by the medicine’s ability to captivate and heal, we chose the name SeiRogai, which represents our journey of recognizing and spreading the true charms of Japan.

このインタビューでは、私たちの会社名の背後にある物語にも触れています。私たちのCEOであるサミュエル・ユエンは、「正露丸」という日本の医薬品と偶然の出会いを果たしました。その医薬品が持つ魅力と癒しの能力に感銘を受け、私たちはSeiRogaiという名前を選びました。これは、日本の真の魅力を認識し、広める旅路を象徴しています。

Continue reading for the full interview and story!

インタビューの全文と詳細については、続きをお読みください！

SeiRogai, Inc.:

“Bridging Japan to the World”

Point #1: One-stop shop service to promote the charms of Japan to the rest of the world.

SeiRogai Inc. is co-founded by CEO Samuel Yuen (pictured left), and myself, Rachel Leng, with the aim to serve as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, and the ultimate goal of showcasing the “true charms of Japan.”

The services we provide are comprised of the combination of the following areas (1) “Media Production” for overseas expansion, (2) “Marketing, Advertising and Branding” including every stage of marketing strategies such as planning, development, and assessment, (3) “Business Consulting” facilitating support for market research, overseas expansion strategies, overseas market development, and business establishment, and (4) “Online distribution services” for local tourism and companies in Japan and overseas through our platforms Global Virtual Travel and SeiRogaiTV. Our company’s distinctive feature is that we can effectively offer these services to our clients as a one-stop shop.

Point #2: The Japanese “norm” is a big attraction for foreigners.

Utilizing the advantages of media production, we strive to showcase the “charms of Japan” that are still rather unknown abroad and even on a domestic level because Japanese people might take them for granted. From our unique standpoint of foreigners living in Japan, we aim to spark interest in Japanese culture and places of interest from a historical and educational perspective, in order to serve as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world.

This also relates to the story behind our company’s name. Due to his busy schedule in preparation for the establishment of the company, our CEO Samuel Yuen experienced stomach pain. After taking “Seirogan” offered to him at the pharmacy, he recovered immediately. Seirogan, a Japanese medicine revered by the Japanese people for its healing properties, is usually out of the radar for most foreigners living in Japan. We found the wonderful effect to be quite alluring, so we shared it with our friends abroad, where it went on to gain quick popularity.

There are many things that are part of common knowledge in Japan but are still unknown to foreigners. We decided on the company’s name with the spirit of recognizing the true charms of Japan while taking on the mission of spreading it more widely. The “Seiro” in SeiRogai is easy to remember, as it sounds similar to Seirogan. At the same time, it also sounds similar to “seiko”, meaning “success” in Japanese. This visual is also included in the representation of the company’s logo, where the “road to success” is intended to be portrayed. The circle in the logo represents the round Seirogan pill, while the film strip represents the path we are trying to pave within the media production industry in Japan as a ground-breaking company.

Point #3: We want to bring the “JAPAN Brand” overseas by way of high-quality media production and human connections.

As a certified “JAPAN Brand” partner company, we actively collaborate with the Government of Japan’s SME Agency in the promotion and business development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing comprehensive support all across Japan and overseas by taking advantage of our unique distinction of serving as a “one-stop shop” for media production, marketing and advertising. All of this is supported by our established strong network of connections in Japan and overseas, a product of our cross-cultural business approach.

Our CEO Samuel Yuen, who was raised in Australia, is a seasoned international film producer with a career spanning for over 20 years. His extensive experience includes Hollywood productions, TV shows and commercials, documentaries, and many other media projects distributed across Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, and other countries. In addition to his rich experience in media production, he actively serves as General Secretary and Advisor to a former Senator and member of Thailand’s Royal Family.

On my part, I majored in East Asian Studies at Harvard University and have a network of business executives from all around the world. I am also a global speaker and public figure with a strong presence on social media.

With our exceptional synergy, we are able to provide world-class support by combining state-of-the-art quality media production with our consolidated network of connections and cross-cultural business perspectives.

Point #4: Japan and Japanese products are in demand around the world.

Japan was ranked first in the World Economic Forum (WEF) “2021 Travel and Tourism Development Index Report”, also known as the Davos Forum. This report ranks the competitiveness of the tourism industry by comparing tourism resources, transportation infrastructure, and safety of each country, among other indicators. This proves that Japan is by far the most popular destination for inbound tourism, especially from Southeast Asia and Australia, and that there is a growing number of foreigners who want to learn more about Japan and consume goods and services produced in Japan.

However, general media outlets often tend to focus solely on portraying Japan’s lush nature and delicious food. I saw there was a demand for content aiming to convey Japan’s rich history and culture throughout each region more deeply, showing interactions with local communities. We wanted to take on the challenge of creating such content complemented by story-telling of the culture, history and traditions of Japan’s hidden gems.

Point #5: Virtual tours using VR360 ° technology born from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, crossing borders and traveling freely was severely limited. In light of these events, new business models had to emerge. With our service “Global Virtual Travel,” we strive to provide an online distribution platform for local tourism and businesses for both domestic and international audiences. We are developing virtual tours using our unique VR360 ° shooting technology, supported by our interactive DX platform. The concept we are aiming for is “an immersive experience for the viewer.” The viewer will be able to choose a place of interest and access the footage as if being there, complemented by storytelling introducing the history and culture of the location, allowing them to interact with locals, and in this way promoting tourism in the area.

We have collaborated with Fuchu City as a pilot project in this exciting endeavor, producing a promotional video captivating its unique allure. As a former “Miss Singapore” titleholder, I am also featured as a guide. In addition, we have also been certified as “Minato City Promotion Crew,” one of the most acclaimed wards in Tokyo. We are cooperating to highlight the captivating essence of Minato Ward by producing an interactive VR360 virtual tour through Zojoji Temple, with the projection of further spreading its charm both in Japan and abroad.

The approach utilized in these videos involves incorporating a storyline while showcasing a specific destination, effectively merging the allure of the narrative with the captivating backdrop of the featured location. The ultimate goal is to forge innovative promotional videos that seamlessly integrate dynamic advertising strategies, creating a new and immersive experience for the viewer.

Point #6: An unprecedented entertainment platform.

In a post-pandemic landscape, another business venture we have taken on is SeiRogaiTV, an online distribution service that connects Southeast Asia and Japan. In the midst of the pandemic unfolding, we made attempts to collaborate with local TV stations, but due to travel restrictions, transmitting information proved to be a challenge. However, SeiRogaiTV has obtained authorization to distribute Thai programs and movies through our platform to Japan and the rest of the world, offering English and Japanese subtitles.

Our vision is to extend the showcase of the appealing and captivating facets of Japan to a larger audience. Furthermore, this platform could serve as a channel for promoting tourism and cultural soft power not only focused on Tokyo but also highlighting other regions of Japan, allowing many people, even those who cannot travel, to enjoy quality experiences transcending physical boundaries.

Point #7: The key to overseas expansion is market research from a local perspective.

We provide one-stop support for the overseas expansion of our partners through carefully planned marketing strategies and business consultation, but the question of “where to start?” is a challenge for many SMEs. As a solution, we offer branding and market research services.

For instance, if you are looking to expand your business overseas, you might have to make adjustments to the design, packaging, slogan and product description. To truly succeed, a strategic approach that goes beyond mere translation is required to fit the preferences of the target market. Without a deep understanding of the local culture and society, this objective becomes extremely complex. Through comprehensive market research, we assist entrepreneurs in uncovering valuable insights that will allow them to position their products in the desired way.

Without tailoring creative campaigns and marketing efforts to align with local lifestyle and culture, even substantial financial investments may fail to produce effective overseas reach and sales. When delving into the issue, we can see that insufficient market research is usually the root of the problems. It becomes evident that a “one-size-fits-all” approach is inadequate, especially when dealing with foreign markets. That is why we conduct our research at a local level with the aim of communicating effectively in order to reach the target market.

In a case of overseas expansion support into Thailand for a Japanese hotel brand, our CEO Samuel Yuen served as invaluable assistance by fostering a trusted relationship with the Thai Royal Family through his extensive work with the Thai National Tourism Organization. As a consultant, he succeeded in securing the best site for the establishment of the property by assessing the most convenient locations at a local level. As a result, a large hotel boasting more than 500 rooms is planned to be built.

Another crucial aspect to consider is aligning the products with effective promotional campaigns. We take advantage of our cross-cultural and multilingual expertise to excel at disseminating information to diverse audiences. Many local governments and Japanese companies find it difficult to monitor the impact of their marketing strategies, but with our comprehensive follow-up support, we make sure to keep track of visibility and engagement. In a recent experience, our international press release announcing the Zojoji Temple VR Tour project in English and Japanese was covered by over 600 media outlets, including some of the most influential global outlets, reaching an estimated of 29 million viewers in just one week. We believe that using our services as a one-stop shop results in a more cost-effective alternative than hiring different companies for the same purposes.

Point #8: A message to those who are thinking of expanding globally.

We hope to continue building bridges between Japan and the rest of the world, contributing to regional revitalization and the expansion of Japanese companies. Effective communication stands at the core of successful overseas expansion. With our expertise in multicultural understanding and multilingual support, we can guide any company in establishing a compelling target market and promoting its unique appeal from the ground up. We can help you expand your business to any part of the world, but especially Asia. We are your dedicated partner in maximizing your global impact and making your global expansion a resounding success.

The post Exclusive: Interview with Minato City <br> SeiRogai x 港区にインタビュー掲載 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

A shower of spray and we’re away!

– Fred Ladd

「空の冒険で出会う、本当の“せとうち”。」

If like me, you miss being up in the air and flying due to the pandemic and are in Japan, you will want to check out a chartered flight with the Setouchi Seaplanes! No need to worry about social distancing or a 14-day quarantine! 😉 

新型コロナウィルスの影響で、「飛行機はちょっと・・、」と感じている皆さま！
水上飛行機に乗ってみてはいかがでしょうか？日本でもチャーターできるのです。
チャーター便ですので、３密を気にしなくても大丈夫ですよ! ^_^/「レイチェルの日本探訪」最新号は「瀬戸内 シー プレーン搭乗記」です～。
是非更新したブログ記事をご覧くださいネ！  

Did you know that cargo and passenger seaplane flights were regularly operated in Japan until the mid-1960s? Even though their commercial use has decreased in recent decades, taking off and landing on the water still holds a romantic fascination. Based in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Setouchi Seaplanes is preserving and celebrating this unique way of flying by running sightseeing and chartered flights using modern amphibious aircraft. Enjoy the timeless charm of the Seto Inland Sea and its many islands from a bird’s eye view over the ocean! Whereas Seattle and Maldives are well known for chartered seaplane flights, Setouchi Seaplanes is the only seaplane operator in Japan.

貨物および旅客水上飛行機のフライトが1960年代半ばまで日本で
定期的に運航されていたことをご存知ですか？
ここ数十年で商業利用が減少したにもかかわらず、
水上での離着陸は依然としてロマンチックな魅力を保持していますね。
広島県尾道市に拠点を置くSetouchi Seaplanes は、
現代の水陸両用航空機を使用して観光やチャーター便を運航することで、
この特別な運航方法を維持していることを、尊敬しています。
瀬戸内海とその多くの島々の時を超えた魅力を、
海の鳥瞰図からお楽しみください！
シアトルとモルディブは水上飛行機のチャーター便で有名ですが、
Setouchi Seaplanes は日本で唯一の水上飛行機オペレーターです。

*~*~*~*

Be sure to also check out my posts on exploring Onomichi’s Downtown City, Island Hopping, and the Local Cuisine!

尾道を訪れたなら、市街散策、島巡り、地元料理のテーマで楽しむことをお勧めしますので、ぜひご覧くださいね~!

*~*~*~*

From the picturesque beauty created by its many islands to the relics and historical buildings that are age-old, enjoy the charms of the Seto Inland Sea in its most breathtaking form along with the new experience of flying from the sea up to the sky.

多くの島々が作り出す美しさから、
古くからの遺物や歴史的建造物まで、
瀬戸内海の魅力を最も息をのむ形で楽しみ、
海から空まで飛ぶという新しい体験をお楽しみください。

For the love of the Sea and Aviation

海と飛行機への愛のために

The moment you step onto the premises of Setouchi Seaplanes, a grand entrance hallway greets you. This place was clearly designed and built by someone with an eye for the exquisite beauty of aviation, as the entrance hall reminds one of the sleek hulls of an airplane.

Setouchi Seaplanesの施設内に足を踏み入れてからチェックインして搭乗するまで、
瀬戸内水上飛行機は航空機の絶妙な美しさに魅了された人によって設計されていると感じました。

Checking in at the front desk, you will be asked to weigh yourself along with any luggage. It was my first time experiencing having to record my weight before boarding a plane! (Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten so much for lunch…) As the seaplanes are small aircraft, every kg is taken into consideration to ensure that the plane is balanced.

フロントデスクでチェックインすると、
荷物だけではなく、本人の体重を測定するよう求められます。
飛行機に乗る前に体重を記録しなければならないのは初めての経験でした！
（ヤバイなー！昼ご飯をたくさん食べなければ良かった…）
水上飛行機は小型の飛行機なので、
飛行機のバランスを保つために、重量が考慮されます。

Bella Vista Marina: Getting ready for your flight

ベラビスタマリーナ：フライトの準備

Setouchi Seaplanes operates from a floating port in Onomichi city. Before your flight, make yourself comfortable in the luxurious lounge with panoramic views of the sea and marina facilities.

Setouchi Seaplanesは尾道市の水上港から運航しています。
フライトの前に、海とマリーナ施設のパノラマの景色を望む豪華なラウンジでリラックスできますよ～。

Drinks and light refreshments are available for you to enjoy with the view.

美しい景色を見ながらドリンクや軽食をお楽しみいただけます。

Boarding the Seaplane

水上飛行機に乗りましょう

When it is time to board the seaplane, guests are led to the marina.
The dock feels a lot larger when you are standing on it in person!

水上飛行機に乗る時間になると、
ゲストはマリーナに案内されます。
マリーナは、見た目より自分で直接立っているときの方が、
はるかに大きく感じます！

Watching the seaplane gently bobbing on the waves as the staff prepare for boarding.

スタッフが搭乗の準備をしているときに、
水上飛行機が波を優しく揺すっているのが見えます。

I meet with the pilots who tell me more about the seaplanes that they fly.

水上飛行機のパイロットに会いました。

At Setouchi Seaplanes, three US-made Kodiak 100 from Idaho are used for flights. Each plane can seat up to 10 persons including the pilot, carrying up to 3.3 tons. With a flight range from 500~1000km, it is an ideal way to explore the Shimanani Kaido area.

Setouchi Seaplanesでは、米国のアイダホ製コディアック100が3機使用されています。
各飛行機は、パイロットを含む最大10人を収容でき、
そして、最大3.3トンを運ぶことができます。
飛行距離は500〜1000kmで、
島内海道エリアを探索するのには理想的な方法ですよ！

The spacious aircraft offers deluxe leather seats and large windows to enjoy magnificent views.

広々とした飛行機の内部には、
豪華な革張りの座席と大きな窓があり、
素晴らしい景色を楽しめます。

Climbing aboard definitely feels more like boarding a boat than an aircraft. The comfortable leather seats, carpeted floors and four-point harness seatbelts excite you for the journey to come. The seaplanes have a maximum cruising speed of 300km/hour and are able to cruise with stable flight even at low speeds.

乗る時は、飛行機というよりボートに乗るような感じです。
快適な革張りのシート、カーペット敷きの床、
4点式のハーネスシートベルトが、
あなたを旅へといざないます。
水上飛行機の最大巡航速度は時速300kmで、
低速でも安定した飛行で巡航することができます。

Do you know where seaplanes store the fuel for their flight? I was surprised to learn that these aircraft store up to 1200 Kiloliters of fuel in their wings! Depending on the weight carried, this fuel amount typically allows the seaplane to fly for about 1 hour comfortably.

水上飛行機がフライト燃料をどこに保管しているか知っていますか？
私にとって、驚いたのは、これらの水上飛行機が翼に最大1200キロリットルの燃料を貯蔵していることです！
この燃料は、飛行する重量に応じて、通常、
水上飛行機が約1時間快適に飛行できる量です。

The “Setouchi Discovery flight” takes passengers on an enjoyable aerial loop over the stunning islands of the Shimanami Kaido. The vantage point from the seaplanes will provide you enthralling scenic views. Visitors may also charter private flights.

「瀬戸内ディスカバリーフライト」は、
乗客をしまなみ海道の見事な島々の美しい空中ルートにいざないます。
水上飛行機から見える景色は、とても素晴らしく魅惑的です。
訪問者は、プライベートフライトをチャーターすることもできます。

If you are in the Shimanani Kaido area, why not book a seaplane flight and enjoy the beautiful Setouchi Inland Sea from both the water and the sky?

しまなみ海道に行くなら、水上飛行機のフライトを予約して、
海と空の両方から美しい瀬戸内内海を楽しんでみませんか？

*~*~*~*

Onomichi City Website https://www.city.onomichi.hiroshima.jp/ 〒722-8501 広島県尾道市久保一丁目15-1 Tel：0848-38-9111 Fax：0848-37-2740   Onomichi Tourism Association 一般社団法人尾道観光協会 https://www.ononavi.jp/index.html 事務局：〒722-0036 広島県尾道市東御所町1-20 JB本四高速尾道ビル1F　 Tel: 0848-36-5495 Fax: 0848-22-2201   SHIMANAMI JAPAN 一般社団法人 しまなみジャパン https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/ 住所：広島県尾道市東御所町11-9　ＪＡ尾道市駅前ビル１階 Tel: 0848-22-4073

Related Article:

The post Setouchi Seaplanes: Luxury Aerial Adventures over the Seto Inland Sea <br>瀬戸内海を巡る贅沢な空中冒険 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

スガシタパートナーズ株式会社のサマーナイトパーティー

暑い日が続いています。

皆様、いかがお過ごしでしょうか。

先日、私は友達と一緒に

「サマーナイトパーティー」に参加しました！

とても楽しかったです～

いつかの写真をシェアしたいと思います。

サマーナイトパーティーのホストである、

スガシタパートナーズ株式会社の菅下清廣社長との写真！

Photo together with our host,

CEO Kiyohiro Sugashita of Sugashita Partners, Ltd.!

http://sugashita.com/

厳しい残暑が続きます。

どうぞくれぐれもお身体をお大事になさって下さい。

Related Article:

The post Summer Night Party with Sugashita Partners<br> スガシタパートナーズ株式会社のサマーナイトパーティー appeared first on Rachel Leng.

• Click here to read my previous blog post on the Tsukiji Fish Market for more information and my experience of a visit to the market!
• 去年の７月、私は初めて築地市場に行きました。前のブログは私の経験に基づいて、書きました！まだ読んでいない方は、ここをクリックしてご覧くださいね～*

築地市場マグロの卸売市場の見学は、すべての東京のガイドブックに記載されており、都市での貴重な経験らしいです。 私が東京に住んでいる以上は、マグロの競りを１回ぐらい見学に行きたいと思っていました。 しかし、120人限定の訪問者のアクセスを許可されただけですので、オークションを見るための場所を確保することは、非常に早く起床して、事前に少し準備することが必要です。今回のブログにて、卸売市場に行くためのヒントをご紹介したいと思います。

７月は築地市場が比較的空いていると聞いていましたし、ある土曜日、弟と一緒に早起きして、冷凍マグロの競りを見てきました。築地市場への通常の訪問は、午前9時ぐらいに到着し、多くの屋台を見ることができます。しかし、マグロオークションを見に行くためには、早くても午前1時に到着しなければなりません。

Arriving to the Tsukiji Fish Inner Market at 3am.　The sky is pitch dark!

でも、私は、午前3時に築地魚市場に到着。空はまだ明けていませんでした！

Tip #1:To watch the famous Tuna Auction at the Tsukiji Fish Market, you should get there at around 3:00am, or even earlier, and collect your vest at the Fish Information Center (Entrance for Tuna Auction, 「おさかな普及センター」).

However, you’ll need to arrive earlier to ensure you reserve your spot, and then wait about 2 or more hours for the tour, especially during crowded seasons… When we arrived at 3am, more than 80-100 people had already arrived before us! We could only make it to the second tour as all the spots for the first tour had already been taken.

ヒント＃1：築地魚市場のマグロ卸売場の見学に行くためには、午前3時ごろに受付場所「おさかな普及センター」（マグロオークションの入場、勝どき門入り口横）でベストを受け取る必要があります。

見学者数が定数に達し次第受付を終了しますので、席を確保するために早く到着する必要がありますし、ツアーのために約2時間以上、しばらく待たなければなりません。 私たちが午前3時に到着したとき、すでに80〜100人以上が私たちの前に到着していました！2回目のツアーにしか入ることができませんでした。

At the Fish Information Center after collecting my vest!

受付場所「おさかな普及センター」でベストを受け取りました～

Map of the Tsukiji Fish Market. 築地市場の地図。

Tip #2: The market’s opening hours are 3:30am to 6:00am and there are two sets of 60 people who are allowed to watch the action. The first tour is allowed to attend the auction between 5:25am and 5:45am (fresh fish auction), and the second tour is allowed a view between 5:50am and 6:10am (frozen fish auction).

ヒント＃２：　市場の営業時間は午前3時30分から午前6時までで、60人のグループが2組あり、マグロの競りを見ることができます。先着順に前半と後半に分かれ、見学者はそれぞれ60名ずつ、2組に分かれての見学となります：前半は午前5時25分から5時50分（新鮮な魚）、後半は午前5時50分から6時15分（冷凍魚）。

Tuna that has been sold. They are quite big!!

売られたマグロ。大きいですね！

Tip #3: While waiting at the Fish Information Center, one of the tuna buyers will give a presentation of his work and experience, and provides visitors ample Q&A time. Some notes from the lecture:

• Apparently, the fresh fish are mostly from the waters surrounding Japan, and therefore the most desirable.
• Most fish sell for an average of about 1000 yen/1 kg.
• Buyers are able to evaluate the fish just from observing a portion of the tail. However, even professional buyers often make the mistake of choosing a sub-grade fish 1 out of 10 times.　

ヒント＃３：　「おさかな普及センター」で待っている間、マグロのバイヤーの人は、彼の仕事と経験のプレゼンテーションを行い、訪問者に十分なQ＆A時間を提供します。 講義のメモ：

• どうやら、新鮮な魚はほとんどが日本を取り巻く水域から捕るので、最も人気があります。
• ほとんどの魚は平均約1000円/ 1kgで販売されています。安いですね！
• 買い手は、尾の一部を観察するだけで魚が新鮮かどうかすぐに解ることができます。しかし、プロのバイヤーでさえ、10回中1回のサブグレードの魚を選ぶという間違いをしばしばすることがあるそうです。

When it is finally time for the tour, you get to enter the auction grounds!　

最終的にツアーの時間になると、卸売市場に入る！

At the auction grounds with my brother, Brendan.

卸売市場で弟と一緒に写真を撮りました～　

Tip #４: There are a lot of trucks and various vehicles moving about at high speeds so be aware of your surroundings so as to not to get into an accident! People *will* yell at you if you get in the way of them doing their work (usual Japanese polite mannerisms do not seem to apply here).

ヒント＃４：場内は、トラック、小型特殊自動車などで、大変混雑しています。怖いですよ！交通事故などにあわないよう、お気をつけください。もし、仕事の途中で彼らの邪魔になると他の人達は怒って、叱る場合もあります。（通常の日本の丁寧なマナーはここでは適用されないようです）

Do not get in the way of people carting fish around!

場内では、トラック、小型特殊自動車などの、邪魔をしないでください！

Auctioneers have a very unique way of selling, almost like they are singing a song! Watch a video below~

競売人は非常にユニークな売り方で販売します。彼らは歌を歌っているようにお魚を販売しています！ 下記の動画をご覧ください～

Related Article:

The post Tsukiji Market Tuna Fish Auction <br> 築地市場マグロの卸売市場 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

S-ISEFで高校生たちに対して、発言しました。

<日本語は英語の後に続きます＞

My previous post 「国際宇宙探査フォーラム　International Space Exploration Forum (Part １)」was on my experience as a Y-ISEF participant learning about the space industry and working with other talented young professionals to present our ideas in the Ideathon. In this post, I wish to share my experience as a Questioner for S-ISEF (ISEF for high school Students; http://s-isef.jpn.org/) and representing Singapore on the Y-ISEF Reception stage.

At S-ISEF, 7 teams of Japanese high school students prepared 3 minute presentations of their research on space exploration. I served as a Questioner alongside industry researchers, JAXA officials & technical experts during the Q&A session. The whole event was conducted in English, and I was so impressed by how the students were able to present and answer difficult topics with confidence and clarity! (See below for photos and a description of all the high school projects – some of the teams performed impressive experiments!)

Without any background on space exploration, it was a little difficult understanding the technical aspects of certain experiments, but I certainly learned a lot from the high school students. (For example, I did not know much about microgravity, parabolic flight, Zero G, the Magnus effect, or angular momentum generators, etc. discussed in the experiments. Don’t know what these terms mean either? Read below for some explanation!)

Aside from S-ISEF, as the only Singaporean to be invited to Y-ISEF, I also spoke on stage at the Y-ISEF Reception to introduce my personal background as a Singaporean together with Singapore’s history, main attractions, food culture, and of course Singlish! 

With other S-ISEF Questioners, including Kimiya Yui (Japanese Astronaut) and experts from space-related industries (Aerospace Engineer Danielle DeLatte and Stefan Siarov from the European Space Agency)

油井 亀美也 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）や外国宇宙機関関係者たちと一緒にS-ISEFで質問者として参加しました。

前のブログは「国際宇宙探査フォーラム　International Space Exploration Forum (Part １)」で、Y-ISEFの参加者としての経験について書きました。でも、私はISEFの色んなイベントの参加者であることに加えて、スピーカーや質問者としても関わっていました。Y-ISEFが終わった後、次世代を担う高校生を対象としたサイドイベント「S-ISEF」（ISEF for Students）にも「質問者」として誘っていただきました。

本サイドイベントでは、日本の高校生約20名のみなさんに宇宙探査に関する研究成果発表の場を提供しました。宇宙探査に関する研究分野の様々なプロジェクトはありました！例えば、「月面でのローバ探査」や「宇宙資源利用の可能性」や「宇宙空間での飛行士活動及び生物実験」など、私にとって、若手研究者も有識者もないので、質問を聞くのはちょっと大変でしたけど、とても面白かったです。高校生たちのプレゼンテーションは、私にとって、とても勉強になりました。

S-ISEFの質問者として高校生たちのプレゼンテーションについて、色んな質問をしました。皆様は英語で本当に上手なプレゼンテーションができて、凄く感銘を受けました。

As a summary, these are the topics presented by the students:

·         [team 1] Gathering magnetic substances from comets [the team had set-up an experiment assessing magnetism in microgravity and launched it on a parabolic flight]

·         [team 2] Characteristic of angular momentum generator using liquid in microgravity [interesting concept to have AOCS using momentum generated in a liquid using a pump; experiments have flown on parabolic flight]

·         [team 3] Exploration utilizing multiple autonomous rovers with a master-and-slave hierarchy [this team made two small Arduino-based rovers experimenting with distributed systems]

·         [team 4] Construction of base for life exploration on Titan [this team studied the concept of potentially in-situ resource utilization on Titan]

·         [team 5] Study of Mars exploration airplane wings [counting on the thin atmosphere of Mars, the potential use of a wing with built-in mechanism ensuring Magnus effect was studied in a wind tunnel built by the students themselves]

·         [team 6] Microbe technology for long stay on Mars [biological system was proposed to ensure the availability of oxygen on Mars for potential future human settlement]

[team 7] Exploration of deep space by generating and supplying power on Io [a novel energy generation and distribution system was proposed using thermoelectric modules and transmitting energy using microwave energy

(Summary from POLITIQUE SCIENTIFIQUE FÉDÉRALE / FEDERAAL WETENSCHAPSBELEID)

S-ISEFの高校生と質問者のグループ写真～　牧島一夫（RIKEN）、佐々木裕未（MEXT）、と油井 亀美也 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）も質問者として参加しました。私以外、皆様は宇宙に関する専門者です…

S-ISEF group picture of all high school students and the questioners’ panel. Front row: Prof. Kazuo Makishima (RIKEN), Hiromi Sasaki (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), Kimiya Yui (JAXA Astronaut), Stefan Siarov (European Space Agency), Rachel Leng (myself) and Danielle DeLatte (Aerospace Engineer).

他に、Y-ISEF参加者の中でシンガポール人は私1一人だけですので、Y-ISEFのレセプションで、Speakerとして自分の国際経験とシンガポールの歴史や文化を紹介しました。

Did you know that Singapore’s vision of being “The Garden City” was was introduced by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 11 May 1967 to transform Singapore into a city with abundant lush greenery and a clean environment in order to make life more pleasant for the people?

シンガポールは「The Garden City」の標語と呼ばれることをご存じですか。意味は、「緑あふれる都市 」ということです。Garden Cityは1967年 シンガポールが独立した直後に建国の父であるLee Kuan Yew（リークアンユーさん）が国策として取り入れた緑化政策です。

Speaking about my experiences as a Singaporean living, studying, and working abroad and also being a Miss Singapore representative

異なる国に住んだことがあるグローバルな背景やミス・シンガポール代表の経験を含めて、自己紹介をやりました～

Had a session on “How to Speak Singlish” explaining some key Singlish words and phrases!

Singlishの勉強会も行われていましたね　^^　（前にSinglishについてブログで書きました！まだ読んでいない方は、是非Part １とPart ２をクリックしてご覧ください～）

最後の乾杯！皆様、ありがとうございました！

ISEFに参加して、色んな宇宙の分野についての知識を勉強しました。その上に、未来の自分がもっと楽しく、もっと深く、もっと広く、もっと自由に宇宙でより多くの機会が得られるように向き合いたいと思いますね。とても貴重な経験でした！参加できてよかったです～

Related Article:

The post International Space Exploration Forum (Part 2) <br> 国際宇宙探査フォーラム appeared first on Rachel Leng.

ロケット広場でH-Ⅱロケットの実物を展示しています。 50mもある本物のロケットの迫力を体感しました！ 記念撮影を撮りました～

＜日本語は英語の後に続きます＞

Last month, the 2nd International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF2) was held in Tokyo, sponsored by Japan’s Cabinet Office, MEXT, METI, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The event was a gathering of high-level governmental representatives to examine how space exploration expands the horizons of humanity and how it challenges us to gain and share the knowledge, experiences, and benefits as common assets for all humankind.

Although I have no background in the space industry, I was honored to be invited to as a Y-ISEF participant (http://www.isef2-se.space), a side event for around 80 young professionals selected from a global pool of candidates. An excellent platform was provided for us to exchange ideas with influential visionaries and leaders and address the future of space exploration and business opportunities.
 

The first day included an exclusive tour of the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC), located in Tsukuba Science City. There, I learned about rocket launchers, satellites, space food, and even tried on a spacesuit! Meeting JAXA astronauts and NASA experts over lunch and many small group meetings were fascinating. Because I did not know much about space, everything was new knowledge for me! (Scroll down below to check out photos, captions, and fun facts.)

The main activity in the conference was an Ideathon and presentations. All Y-ISEF participants were assigned to smaller groups to brainstorm innovative ideas related to the space industry, particularly the moon, asteroids, and Mars. I was in Team 3, and our presentation clinched 3^rd place and the JAXA Award!

Click HERE to read 「国際宇宙探査フォーラム　International Space Exploration Forum (Part 2)」about my experience representing Singapore on the Y-ISEF Reception Stage and being a Questioner for S-ISEF!

Dr. Takuya Onishi (JAXA Astronaut) and Dr. Masahiro Ono (NASA Jet Propulsion Lab) were speakers and mentors to the Y-ISEF conference.

大西卓哉さん（JAXA宇宙飛行士）と小野雅裕さん（NASA JPLで火星ローバーの自動運転アルゴリズムを作っている）はメンターやスピーカーとして、Y-ISEFに参加しました。一緒に写真を撮りました～

文部科学省及び国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構（JAXA）は、2018年3月に東京都内で第２回国際宇宙探査フォーラム（ISEF2）を開催しました。国際宇宙探査フォーラム（ISEF）は、宇宙探査における国際協力の促進を目的とした閣僚級を含む政府レベルでの対話・意見交換の会議です。そして、私は次世代を担う若手を対象としたサイドイベント「Y-ISEF」（ISEF for Young Professionals）に誘われて、4日間のイベントに参加致しました。本サイドイベントでは、国内外の18歳以上から35歳程度までの学生や多様な分野で活躍するヤングプロフェッショナル約80名を幅広く募り、世界をリードする起業家や各国の政策決定者等と今後の宇宙探査について議論し交流する場を提供しました。

私は、宇宙に関わらずに、色々な月や火星や小惑星を舞台にした新しい活動や事業についての話は大変勉強になりました。

JAXA施設へのツアー（つくば宇宙センター）はとても楽しかったです！

Trying on a space suit – how do I look? =D

宇宙服を試着しました！ 似合いますか？（笑）

When learning about various kinds of space foods available, Space Curry caught my eye! Would you like to try some?

Space Curry (宇宙日本食レトルトカレー)です！これは食べてみたいですね！

Did You Know? ご存知でしょうか？

Satellites such as “IBUKI” only take about 100 minutes to orbit the Earth! Forget about traveling Around The World in 80 Days – you can already do so in less than 2 hours!

「いぶき」は約１００分で地球を一周できます！すごいでしょう？？『八十日間世界一周』ということについて忘れてください　― 皆さんは現実にですでに2時間以内に世界を旅することができますよ！

お昼ご飯はNASAの関係者やJAXAの宇宙飛行士と一緒に食べました！

宇宙飛行士たちが色々な面白い話をしてくれて、感謝していますよ～　「宇宙の生活はどうでしたか」「どうして宇宙飛行士になりたかったですか」「宇宙に行った時、何を食べましたか」とか、たくさん質問をしましたよ～

でも、私は、外国人ですから、JAXAの宇宙飛行士は日本人としてどんな人なのか全然知らなかった…　宇宙飛行士たちを前にして、「日本人の皆さんはどうしてそんなに緊張しているのか？本当に優しい人々なのに…」と思いました。そんなに有名人とは全然思わなかったです！

お昼ご飯を食べた後に、「とりあえず、一緒にselfieを取りましょうか？」と若田光一さんに聞いた…　ちょっと失礼したかもしれません… T.T　でも、若田さんは本当に素敵な人ですよねー　お会いできて嬉しかったです！

Selfie with Dr. Koichi Wakata after lunch together. Wakata-san is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions, a Russian Soyuz mission and a long-duration stay on the International Space Station. In total, he has spent around 11 months in space! As the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station, he is more or less considered a National Hero in Japan.

ツアーの後、Career Mentoring（キャリアメンター）とIdeathon（アイデアソン）は行いました。

アイデアソンは、Teamによる、色んな宇宙の事業についてIdeaを考えった上で、5分のPresentationを行いました。

I was one of the Presenters for Team 3. Our idea was to build a communications network in space.

私は、Team　３のPresentationを発表しました。

Team 3 group photo! We were all very happy that our presentation received the 3^rd place JAXA Award.

Team 3の皆さん！私たちは第三位のJAXA AWARDという賞をいただきました～　お疲れ様でした！

I even received a certificate from ISEF! It makes for a great souvenir~

私も賞をもらいました　^^/　いい記念だと思います！大事にします～

今回は、Y-ISEFの参加者としての経験を書きました。次は、「国際宇宙探査フォーラム　International Space Exploration Forum (Part 2)」にて、ISEFの色んなイベントに参加者することに加えて、スピーカーや質問者としても関わっていた経験について書きたいと思います。宜しくお願い致します！☆

Continue reading about my experience representing Singapore on the Y-ISEF Reception Stage and being a Questioner for S-ISEF in「国際宇宙探査フォーラム　International Space Exploration Forum (Part 2)」!

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The post International Space Exploration Forum (Part 1) <br> 国際宇宙探査フォーラム appeared first on Rachel Leng.