IVSA-Japan
Asia Conference
What is Asia Conference?
An conference held to spread the active movements, that the Western veterinary students are performing, in Asia. Study & exchange meetings were held by Asian veterinary students.
<<date>>
1st (2008) ... Taiwan
2nd (2009) ... South Korea
3rd (2011) ... Japan*
(*2010's meeting was originally planned to be held in Japan, but due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Japan, the meeting was cancelled.)
<<Purpose of the Meeting>>
This year's purpose to hold the Asia Conference can be divided in 3 main reasons.
1. To broaden one's horizons.
By carrying out a large-scale international enchange, students will be able to feel other country's excellences and understand their culture. This will not only broaden one's horizons, but in the long view, this exchange will change nation's relation to a much better one.
2. To raise the standard of Asia's future veterinary medicine.
This conference will gather ambitious veterinary students in on place, give an opportunity to listen to veterinary lectures together, and provide a place to debate. These experiences will motivate the student strongly, and will train their mind to think and influence them positively. In addition to that, by keeping in touch with students from different countries, students will be able to help out others internationally and debate on veterinary topics, which should lead to the development of future Asian veterinary medicine field.
3. To discuss about the earthquake that took in place in Japan internationally.
An 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan on March 11, 2011, that caused enormous damages to the Country, to the people, and to the animals. By discussing internationally about what one can do now, and what one will be able to do when one becomes a veterinarian, it will help to raise a veterinarian that could play an active role in the future.
<<Summary of the Conference>>
Member
Japan ... 151 people
S. Korea ... 24 people
Thailand ... 8 people
Nepal ... 1 person
Program
*Click the date for a more specific information on each date.
8/22
Arrival at Narita International Airport.
Welcome Party
8/23
Opening Ceremony
Asia Conference
Introduction of each country
Ice breaking
Introduction of OIE
Lecture 1
Social gathering
8/24
Visit to the zoo (Zoorasia Yokohama Zoological Gardens)
Sightseeing in Yokohama
8/25
Lecture 2
Lecture 3
Workshop (about the Earthquake on 3.11.2011)
Closing Party
8/22
A.C. Japanese staff held a welcome party for the international guests. We chose Izakaya, a Japanese-style bar. We taught each other how each country makes a toast and different rules during the party.
8/23
Staff Meeting
Every morning's staff meeting.
Each person checks their job and motivate each other.
Asia Conference
We confirmed A.C. charter and selected where the next year's A.C. will be held. Until now, we havn't determined any rules, so by confirming the charter, we were able to set the meeting's cardinal rules.
This upcoming year's A.C. will be held in Thailand.
Charity Auction
The participants brought in things they like, and buyers settled the price. All profits were sent to the IVSA headquarter, and was donated to the IVSA branch office of developing countries.
Introduction of Each Country
Each country's representation gave a presentation about their country and their college.
Japan performed AKB48's dance. (*AKB48 = a Japanese idol group)
Ice Breaking
Japanese and international participants were able to make friends with each other. Purpose of this was to provide participants to speak in English.
OIE petit lecture
Dr. Ishibashi from OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) gave a small lecture on the introduction of what OIE is.
Thank you so much for the wonderful lecture!!
Lecture 1
Dr. Yoshikawa from Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine (Laboratory of Zoonoses) gave a lecture on zoonoses and veterinarian's position.
Thank you so much for the wonderful lecture!!
Social Gathering
We had a dinner party at the cafeteria of Azabu University. Everyone already made many friends, and spent an exciting night even without any alcohol.
8/24
Zoorasia Sightseeing
We divided into 16 groups and each group walked around the zoo together. Of course, since we all are veterinary students, everyone had so much fun there and just couldn't stop talking about animals. We were able to share how zoos differ by countries as well.
After that, we listened to a lecture that was given by a veterinarian who works there at Zoorasia.
Thank you so much for the wonderful lecture!!
Yokohama Sightseeing
After the zoo, we stepped out to the city of Yokohama, and ate lunch together. It seemed that Kaiten-zushi (a sushi bar where sushi plates are placed on a moving conveyer belt nd rotate around the restaurant. If you could imagine a moving buffet, it is omething close to that.)
When the sightseeing finished, we all returned to a restaurant and ate dinner, while enjoying the nightscape.
8/25
Lecture 2
Dr. Nishiyama, a Japanese veterinarian who works at USA, gave a lecture on how a private veterinarian should be. We were able to learn a whole different style of how private veterinarians treat animals.
Thank you so much for the wonderful lecture!!
Lecture 3
Dr. Kress, who specializes in naturopathy, gave a lecture on naturopathy. Since we do not learn about naturopathy in college, some students were greatly influenced by this lecture.
Thank you so much for the wonderful lecture!!
Workshop
During this workshop, students who actually went to the quake-hit area and were involved in volunteer movement gave a small lecture. Main topic was about what we could do to help out the disaster victim.
Closing Party