I felt that PYs were getting more and more grateful to Japanese government throughout this program. At first OPYs(Overseas Participating Youths) show their reproach to ADM(Japanese Government)'s way of administration, saying like "they are extremely rigid of punctuality", "they are too well-organized", "they don't have flexibility", "schedule are incredibly tight". Especially western people did. Japan is no doubt one of developed countries, but seems to have difference from other developed countries.

Reactions from these OPYs, however, were generally changing. As complaints were getting less and less, their gratitude to Japanese government were increasing on the contrary. By the end of the program almost all PYs thank to Japanese government and expressed their feelings openly.

OPYs from developing countries, meanwhile, from the beginning, showed their appreciation for our invitation to SWY18. For example, Ombati, a PY from Kenya, said he praised Japanese government, because they have a university established by Japanese ODA and he studies there. I felt proud of being Japanese when I heard this episode, because our country helps another country and people from the country thank us for our help.

Picture: My cabin-mate Ombati from Kenya(right)

OPYs got more and more interested in Japan through SWY program, too. For instance, we had at least four OPYs who said they would like to teach English and live in Japan after this program; Baboo from Kenya, Daniel from Sweden, Fahreen and Eric from Canada. Livia, the National Leader of Brazil, said that she would like to study at graduate-school in Japan.

Ex-PYs, those who finished a SWY program before, will be future leaders in each country. These ex-PYs are thankful to Japan back in their country, which has advantage from a nation's point of view. For example, the National Leader from UAE has an oil field and his dream is to join the OPEC and be a decision-maker in the organization, said he enthusiastically. If we had a shortage of crude oil, which has happened and caused serious disasters twice in the past in Japan, he might help to change the situation.

Picture: Humaid, NL of UAE, with his national flag.
(This picture was contributed by Humaid. Thanks.)

The second example is my ex-cabinmate Daniel from Sweden. He will run for a general election in Sweden, which will be held in September 2006. The election system is proportional representation and the same as in Japan, which means each party makes a list of its candidates and candidates are elected in order of the list. The list was disclosed during the program and on that date he was eager for the information without success.

Picture: Daniel on the deck of Nippon-Maru.
(This picture was sent by Daniel, thanks!)

Furthermore, an ex-PY, a friend of Tessy who is sub-national leader of Japan, had been elected in the General election in September 2005 and has become a parliament member of Japan.

As these examples show, this program could not only make a network of youths all over the world as this program aims, but also a network of pro-Japanese and world leaders at the same time.