Ishihara Mihoshi

“Opportunities for grassroots exchange between Japan and Myanmar”

University of Tsukuba graduate; IDFC2014 and IDFC2016 executive committee member

Question: IDFC For them, “Myanmar means Mihoshi,” but

When did you first start going to Myanmar?

University 2 my first visit was a solo trip to Myanmar during the summer holidays that year.

Before that, I was more oriented toward Europe (laughs).

Question: That is surprising. What exactly prompted it?

By chance, we discussed whether economic sanctions on Myanmar should be lifted in a university class. As I researched the subject, I thought it seemed like an interesting country.

Even before that, during high school, I was interested in the wider world and volunteered with a nonprofit involved in medical work. So I wanted to join an organization at university that would also let me look beyond Japan. I happened to find and join a group working with refugees, and through those refugees I found a connection with Myanmar there, too.

I see. Several things came together to prompt you.

Question: Please tell us your impressions of your first visit to Myanmar.

In every town I visited, the people of Myanmar treated me kindly.

Back in 2012, partly because hardly anyone was visiting Myanmar, people were even kinder than they are now.

Even though I was a stranger, they helped me when I was in trouble.

Question: Why did that lead you to study abroad?

After going to Myanmar and meeting all sorts of people, I naturally found myself thinking, “I’m going to live here.” (Laughs.)

Question: What was life like studying abroad?

Even before studying abroad, I had heard about Myanmar from Myanmar friends I had made in Japan. I heard that some people were denied recognition as Myanmar citizens and deprived of various rights, or subjected to political repression.

Even after I arrived, I felt very strongly how little freedom there was.

There were also times when we had to be careful talking about Aung San Suu Kyi in town, because someone might be listening.

Question: While studying in Myanmar, IDFC Tell us about when you decided to become an executive committee member.

Even before I met Hashimoto, I had thought it would be nice if students from Japan and Myanmar could interact.

People in Myanmar were very kind to me, both when I traveled alone and while I was studying there.

These days, many tourists visit and overseas companies are moving in too, but I felt that I did not want opportunities for people to interact at the grassroots level, free from vested interests, to disappear.

So I thought that, in that kind of role, what I could do might be to work between Japanese and Myanmar people.

But it was still vague.

At that point, I spoke with Hashimoto, and we hit it off.

After that, we started working together. Hashimoto returned to Japan, and I began making preparations in Myanmar.

Question: When organizing the first conference, What challenges did you face?

We decided to hold it at Yangon University, but securing the venue was difficult.

Even though the country had democratized, the University of Yangon still had virtually no autonomy, so we needed permission from the Ministry of Education above it.

However, we could not visit in person. I asked the director of JICA’s Myanmar office to deliver a letter to Myanmar’s Ministry of Education, and we also had the university contact the ministry.

It was not impossible to hold the conference even without permission from the Ministry of Education.

But in Myanmar, student activism has arguably changed the course of politics in the past, so the government is very sensitive about it. Without official permission, we did not know what might happen, particularly to the executive committee members and participants on the Myanmar side. So we absolutely wanted official permission. That put considerable pressure on me as well.

Question: The 1 times IDFC How did you feel when it ended?

When it was over, I thought, “We really did it.” Being able to hold it at all was a miracle. Even the Ministry of Education’s permission came at the very last minute.

We prepared while thinking we would be able to hold it, but also wondering whether we might not be able to.

When I saw Japanese and Myanmar participants hugging one another as they left, I felt that I was glad we had done it.

I am glad I did not give up, even when it seemed impossible.

Question: Mihoshi, please tell us about your future plans.

I would like to do work related to development in developing countries.

That is why I now work for an agriculture-related company.

I visited Myanmar again during the Obon holidays.

During my time studying abroad and IDFC Of course, wanting to see friends and family there is another reason.

This time, though, I wanted to learn more about agriculture in Myanmar from someone at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, so I went to meet them.

As a student, I had lived in Myanmar and returned many times, but I realized I had never made time to visit the places that interested me. So I decided to go, and did.

In the future, I would like to do work that supports rural areas in developing countries.

Question: What does Myanmar mean to you, Mihoshi?

is my motivation.

The young people in Myanmar are quite ambitious.

Myanmar is right in the midst of change, and all kinds of opportunities are increasing rapidly. Young people in Myanmar are very optimistic and think a lot about what they will do next. Japan is steady, and that is good too, but I find it very inspiring how people in Myanmar develop so many ideas, saying, “Let us do this! Let us do that!”

That is why I used my Obon holiday to return to Myanmar this summer too.

It motivates me because it makes me think I should work hard too.

Question: Finally, please share a message for future participants!

Above all, IDFC gives you the opportunity to work with peers from Myanmar to address social issues. I think this will be a very meaningful experience that is hard to find elsewhere. Opportunities like this are very rare!

The people who come together at IDFC also have so much energy. If you suggest doing something, they get on board with “Let’s really do it!” and think it through with you. Friends like that are for life, and I believe we will stay connected in the future.

For the first time in a while, I was able to feel Mihoshi’s love for Myanmar and see how she stays true to herself.

Thank you for today!!