Japan calling youths from India, Japan to participate in 9-day Ideathon – Hack The Innovative Future

NEW DELHI: Celebrating the current year as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-India diplomatic relations, Japan has called upon youths from India and Japan to set for a 900 km road journey from New Delhi to Varanasi spending nine days together, and generating ideas to solve social and economical issues.

Starting September 16, forty youths from Japan and India (20 from each country) will get together under the youth exchange program in New Delhi to participate in 900km venture-based Ideathon “Hack the Innovative Future” that will culminate in India’s temple city Varanasi on September 24.

Divided into 10 teams of four with two youths from Japan and India each, these selected youths after starting from New Delhi would halt at Agra, Lucknow, Prayagraj experiencing diverse culture and values, and finally at Varanasi. Here, these teams would stay for three days, and make presentations at the Varanasi Convention Center (VCC) – Rudraksh (Bodhi tree fruit).

Being organised by the Steering Committee of the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Japan-India Diplomatic Relations, the event is open for participation but the youths would selected through a well-laid out selection criteria.

The last date of filing applications is July 17, and those interested should be aged between 18 and 25. They can apply online at https://www.hif.asia/english (Japanese/English), and the entire trip is free-of-cost. The names of those selected would be announced by the end of August.

The Steering Committee of 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Japan-India Diplomatic Relations” consists of the Embassy of Japan, Japan Association Delhi, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (JCCII), Japan Foundation New Delhi, JETRO New Delhi Office, JICA India Office and JNTO Delhi Office.

According to Kenji Sugino, Secretary-General, JCCII the event “Hack the Innovative Future”, which is an Ideathon with a 900km trip from New Delhi to Varanasi – also known as the city of temples with over 3000 years of history, aims to bring together the young people as well as two diverse cultures of India and Japan together, and also to find solutions together for the social and economical issues.

The Ideathon theme is to bring forth the ideas or project proposals based on fields in which Japan and India are strong or unique, and which will solve problems faced by both countries and deepen exchanges between the two countries.

The participating youths would be expected to suggest how to deepen India-Japan relations and exchanges between the two countries aiming towards 2040? They would delve upon the subjects such as “Future of bilateral relations towards the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and QUAD”, and also make their presentations.

Through the 900 km journey from Delhi to Varanasi, participants will be exposed to the diversity of India, and through team discussions the teams be able to gain various hints for deepening the relationship between Japan and India.

Sep 17: Hack the Innovative Future to take off from New Delhi   

The 9-day journey would take off from New Delhi on January 17 when they would experience the capital of the world‘s 5th largest economy, expanding future city, cutting edge of the world from India. This will set the image of India right in the eyes of youths especially from Japan, and they will also visit Japanese and Indian companies here and also witness Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Some of the features to be highlighted during the first leg of the trip include High-tech Urban development, Urban development momentum, Huge consumer market, Highly skilled IT human resource base, Base for producing management talent and Export base

Sep 18: Journeys enters Agra, the city of Taj Mahal :  

Here the traveling youths would experience the contrast between the history of the Indian subcontinent and the island & maritime nation of Japan. These youths would visit to Taj Mahal – the most beautiful mausoleum in the world, and Agra Castle and experience the history of India on the site.

Here the youths will experience the differences in history between the two countries India and Japan, which is island and maritime nation. Here the students from both countries would introduce the history of their respective countries to each other. It will help them understand the historical, geographical and cultural differences between the two countries.

Sep 19: The contingent reaches Lucknow, the city of erstwhile Nawabs:

Lucknow, here the youths would experience and compare the old and new cityscapes of UP, India’s most populous state, and visit places like Badha Imambadha, Gomti riverfront, Phoenix Palassio Mall.

The deep contrast in the developments of the two parts of a big city would be interesting topic of research for the traveling youths here as the new town developing in the lower reaches of the old town. Development of houses, shopping malls, entertainment, parks, etc. one after another in the new town section of the city is another aspect.

Sep 20: Halt at Allahabad (Prayagraj):  

One of the most exciting stays for the youths from Japan and India would be Prayagraj where they would witness the use of Japanese technology in organic farming, and they will visit Makino School. In 2004, the program was jointly established by small farmers in Allahabad in UP State, and the School of Continuing Education (Makino School) at the Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, and a Japanese NPO AHSA (Asian Sustainable Holistic Approach), with support from JICA.

The participants will also experience the difficulties and sense of accomplishment of practicing Japanese agriculture in India, and also to see the small and marginal farmers’ commitment to self-reliance and sustainable development of rural communities.

In addition to agriculture, the program also supports rural women who are unable to participate in society by teaching them sewing techniques and selling their products through trade fairs.

Sep 21-23: The final leg at Varanasi: 

Here the youths would have the opportunity to feel the raw power of Varanasi, a city with 3,000 years of history, and also witness various Japanese initiatives in the region. On day one, they would visit Ganges river as well as see Ganges River Cleaning up Project (Water purification plant), a vivid learning from real-life examples of Japan-India cooperation to solve social issues in India. Established in 2018 with technical guidance from JICA, wastewater from each household is purified and re-discharged into the Ganges River. It is a Japan-India collaboration with Japanese technology and made in India control equipment.

Interestingly, the VCC the main venue for the final three days of the Hack the Innovative Future” event was constructed with the grant aid by JICA.

Prime Minister Modi, who attended the inauguration ceremony of VCC in 2021, nicknamed it “Rudraksh” (meaning “Bodhi Tree Fruit”), wishing it to be a symbol of wisdom. The then Prime Minister had called it a new symbol of India-Japan friendship.

During the 3-day stay here, the Ideathon would finally take its practical shape as all 10 teams comprising of two youths from Japan and India each (total four) would deliver their presentations on the given themes.

Ideas or project proposals based on fields in which Japan and India are strong or unique, and which will solve problems faced by both countries and deepen exchanges between the two countries

The evaluation criteria would involve ideas with the highest social significance, ideas with the highest economic impact, and ideas that will bring about significant progress in bilateral relations.

The winner teams would be awarded with suitable prizes by the event sponsors.

All youths would return to New Delhi on the final day – September 24.