Program

Highlights of the Program

At the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology and the Faculty of Letters at the University of Tokyo, innovative research applying cutting-edge science and technology is being conducted in the fields of humanities and social sciences. In this internship program, 7 students (and One teacher) visited and experienced these research sites, gaining insights into the future of the humanities and social sciences.

The research fields students we explored and experienced in this program aim to create "integrated knowledge" that goes beyond the mere fusion of the humanities and sciences by incorporating cutting-edge technology into traditional methodologies of the humanities and social sciences. This approach not only expands the scope of research in these fields but also has the potential to influence the very nature of science and technology through the advancement of "integrated knowledge," ultimately contributing to future innovations.

Through this internship program, students had the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research in the humanities and social sciences through special lectures and facility visits, while also deepening their understanding of the historical relationship between Sri Lanka and Japan. Additionally, by listening to the experiences of Sri Lankan faculty members and international students at our university, participants were able to gain a concrete image of studying in Japan. Many students expressed a strong desire to study in Japan in the future, allowing us to truly appreciate the impact of this program.

Another highlight of this program was the visit to Kōtoku-in Temple in Kamakura and the exchange event at Shonan Gakuen Junior and Senior High School on the final day. At Kōtoku-in, we visited the Great Buddha of Kamakura and the monument dedicated to former Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene. The monument is inscribed with a passage from the Buddhist scripture Dhammapada that President Jayewardene quoted during the San Francisco Peace Conference: "Hatred is never appeased by hatred. It is only appeased by non-hatred." By citing these words, President Jayewardene advocated for reconciliation rather than retaliation against Japan, calling for post-war peacebuilding. His message played a crucial role in supporting Japan's reintegration into the international community and laid the foundation for the strong friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan.

In the afternoon, we visited Shonan Gakuen Junior and Senior High School and held an exchange event with the students. After sharing lunch together, we visited the Enoshima Aquarium, further deepening our friendship. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the students of Shonan Gakuen who supported this exchange, as well as to the teachers and staff members who were involved in planning and organizing the event. We firmly believe that international exchanges among young people will serve as a foundation for the friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan for the next 20 or 30 years.

Finally, we would like to express our deep gratitude to everyone involved in the Sakura Science Program for making this program possible. We hope to apply the knowledge and experiences gained through this internship to our future studies and contribute to further promoting exchanges between Sri Lanka and Japan.