Roger Ong
CoronaChampions is a new interview series exploring how Japanese sustainable organizations and brands are meeting the coronavirus threat head on.
Could you please introduce Fukuoka Tenjin University Network to our readers?
Fukuoka Tenjin University Network is a project that uses the Fukuoka city as a campus, to create a learning space where everyone can be a teacher and a student. Our mission is to create a place where connections between people, between people and cities, and between people and society can be created through learning, for everyone who lives in, works in and visits Fukuoka. The vision of Fukuoka Tenjin University Network is “Creating the future of the city by learning.”
“Class activities” are held on the fourth Saturday of every month. In class, a “teacher” from Fukuoka will teach. Most of the time, “teachers” are people, but sometimes they are buildings, animals, vehicles or even the city itself. In other words, a teacher at Fukuoka Tenjin University Network is a role that can provide lessons for people to connect. There is a facilitator who plans the lesson, and the participants can learn from each other through repeated dialogue. It is my hope that by connecting people and the city, we can imagine the future of the city and face the challenges in transforming consciousness and behavior.
Fukuoka Tenjin University Network is managed by many volunteer staff. They are between ages 10 to 60s, coming from a range of occupations. The diversity of class planning is largely due to the diversity of the volunteer staff.
How has the outbreak of the new coronavirus affected Fukuoka Tenjin University Network?
Dialogues in the actual face-to-face classes became possible infection risks. Temporarily pausing classes meant that participants cannot experience the city first-hand or connect with one another face-to-face, which was a
strength of Fukuoka Tenjin University Network.
In addition, it is no longer possible to collaborate with companies to conduct special classes, which had been funded by Fukuoka Tenjin University Network.
How does Fukuoka Tenjin University Network plan to respond to decrease in classes?
Our first step was to meet online, since the volunteer staff could not meet each other like before. We realized how everyone’s desire to talk to someone and to work was being suppressed.
I think this feeling is the same for many Fukuoka citizens, including participants in Fukuoka Tenjin University classes, and those who have a willingness to interact and learn.
So, we are planning online classes. They will allow classmates to interact with one another, and to encourage one another. We are also planning to introduce a project that originates in Tenjin, Fukuoka, which will support takeaways from restaurants..
How do you think cities should continue in such trying times?
As we know from the situation around the world, risks are higher in urban areas. Face-to-face conversations thus became a risk. Yet, looking at the history of humankind, the economy has developed by connection and interaction with one another, thereby accumulating trust and stabilizing society. And it could change the value of a “city”, a device that humans invented and gathered to increase credit accumulation.
When people distance physically, they distance mentally too, creating a divide. It will take some time before a way to connect people and build trust is developed outside of online exchanges.
There may be a need to redefine the way “cities” that have connected many people to date. This seems to be the case not only in Japan but also all over the world.
However, difficult obstacles are not all that is left. Human beings have been learning from each other, creating through ideation and forming a society, all while facing the threats of nature. Especially in Japan, where there are many natural disasters. The city is a treasure trove of challenges. To solve them, we have to keep learning. The city is also a treasure trove of teachers who make people more robust.
Furthermore, a city needs more love. As risk increases, some people will start to leave. Nevertheless, because I like this city, I want it to become a place where people would want to live, work and learn in this city.
What do you think we as individuals can do in such times?
Some epidemics experienced by humans in history have not been eradicated yet. There are also asymptomatic infections with this current virus. The difficulty in eradicating the virus may eventually lead us to coexist with it.
Newton, who couldn’t go to college when the plague occurred in his time. This meant he had more time for contemplation, inspiring him to discover gravity and more.
Now, we are born in a good time when we can enjoy gifts without having to work for them. Many people have devices that can connect to the Internet. Use this time to deepen your thoughts, pick a pursuit, or try philosophy. Reading is also recommended.
It might be good to learn about viruses too, for example immunity and prevention of spread of infection.
Now may be the chance to expand your knowledge that will make your life better.
There is a Japanese proverb:
“There is no rain that does not end.
There is no night that does not see the dawn.”
Visit Fukuoka Tenjin University Network website here (in Japanese)
