From Honduras to Japan　~Interview with SDG Global Leadership Course Student~

Hello everyone! My name is Sara Iwase from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, currently working at JICA as an internship student in the Latin American and Caribbean Department.
This time, I would like to introduce an interview with Mr. BEJARANO TORRES Wenceslao ( Wen san), a long-term JICA trainee from Honduras who is visiting Japan by SDGs Global Leaders Course (*1).

Mr. BEJARANO TORRES Wenceslao
Kyushu Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering

－First I would like to ask you about your research project. What kind of research are you currently doing?

I'm studying space systems. My research is about how we can test satellites here on Earth. Space condition is completely different from what is on earth because we have low gravity, we don't have air in space. So what I'm researching is how we can test these satellites, and how we can test the control of these satellites on Earth while simulating these conditions.

－Why did you have interest in this topic?

Well, actually it have been a dream to work for space since I was a kid. I was interested more in this topic because I really love the part of control. 11 years I have been working with drones as well. The part of control of drones is really tough and amazing. That's why I entered this field of control of satellites.

－And, what brought you to Japan in this field of space systems?

Honduras is a small country, so we don't have any experience space and now we are making our first satellite. I'm part of that group and was working in the project as a student when I was in university. Then I graduate from university from my bachelor, and this opportunity with JICA appeared, to come to Japan to study.
And I decided to come to Japan because the satellites are strongly related with Japan because it's a collaboration between Honduras and other countries from Central America, United Nations and JAXA. The project was a winner of an award called KiboCUBE(*2) by United Nations and JAXA. That's why I came to Japan.

－Why is Honduras now turning its attention to space?

Well, all countries or all nations need to have space in their countries. Because for example, we need to advance in technology. It's important as a site for creating advancements in technology. They also help with international cooperation, with economy and with education. Also, it is even for young people like me. At some point I was dreaming about space, but I didn't have any opportunity to study. It was because we don't have any space project in Honduras. So, with this opportunity we can open some type of space programs, space studies, and space education for children, for young people that really wants and really are dreaming about this field in Honduras like me at some point. That's why it's also important for Honduras to have it.

－You are in the great project for the future.
It's difficult, but we try and try and try.

－So how would you like to advance or apply your research in the future? Do you have any career plans?

With my research it is a little difficult. For example for Honduras because we don't have like the testing facilities for it, but it will be nice to know and to learn about this topic for future. For 10 years, 20 years from now when we are going to begin our space race or when we are developing more and more satellites, probably we are going to need the knowledge about what I am studying.

Also, in Kyu-tech, we really, really spend time working on satellite projects, real projects that go to space. This gives me a lot of insight and knowledge about space. It's not like you're only seeing topics on your computer. Researching about it now, you have your hands in the satellite and that satellite is going to be launched. So, I can have so many insights about this field.

－ So you will be a pioneer in this field in Honduras.
Yes, Being the pioneer of space project in my country in space is what I'm actually trying to do.

－Next, I would like to ask about your real-life experience in Japan. Is there anything that surprised you when you came to Japan?

Basically, Me and people from Latin America including Honduras are really energetic, and love to make friends. So when I first came to Japan and what I had a culture shock, was when I tried to relate with Japanese people. Basically, Japanese people are not very close, I try to meet someone and thinking that it's going to be my friend but they’re not here in Japan. But when you try to meet them and then you spend time with them, they are really nice. That was my first culture shock.

Then the security here is amazing and it surprised me so much because, we all know Honduras is not a country that is the safest place in the world. So I have never felt that freedom than in Japan. For example, when I was studying and stayed in the university until 2 or 3 AM in the morning. And walking home or riding my bike home in the middle of 3:00 AM in the night and feeling comfortable feeling never feeling any fear, it is really, really amazing.

And another thing that shocked me is Japanese kids. It's the most amazing thing I have ever seen, they are so polite, and when you see little kids walking alone on the street, that's another amazing thing about security. That really amazed me.

I love food here as well. Well, we have Japanese food in Honduras. But this will never be the same, for example sushi. Sushi in Honduras is kind of same with the United States and it is a rolled style. But when you come to Japan and try the real sushi, it was like “What? This is real sushi!” Also ramen is really amazing. Here in Fukuoka, we have Tonkotsu-ramen, and this is the best thing ever.

• Maybe you sometimes want to eat food from right here back home, but are you able to eat those kinds of things in Japan?

Actually, it's really difficult to eat that kind of things. Well, because I'm living in Kitakyushu, not in Tokyo, sometimes it's difficult to find ingredients. I miss food of Honduras a lot. What I miss the most is beef we are so used to eating it but here it is so expensive. I could probably eat it onceend I will be happy. But it's really different. Latin American food has strong taste, and the flavor of Japanese food is plain. So I think that's why I really love Tonkotsu ramen, cause the ramen has a really strong flavour, right?

－You're currently using this program called “SDGs global leader scholarship” and came to Japan. What have you experienced through this program?

I have experienced so many things. We have a saying in my university that If you are with JICA, you have everything you want. This is not only your allowance or tuition, but JICA goes deeper, it goes to try to teach you Japanese culture. They have so many different programs. I have tried to participate in whatever program, because I want to know about Japan. For example, at one event, I went to talk with Japanese people who wanted to speak English. It's amazing to meet people like that. There's also programs we're going to know about the history of Japan. They're always supporting you on that. If you're a person who really likes Japanese culture like me, this constant support is amazing. I cannot ask for more.

－And you went to Japanese school by JICA’s program?

Yes. I went to elementary school, high school and college. First, I visited English class in elementary school. What all internationals say is, Japanese they don't really like to speak English, right? They know how to speak, but they don't like to speak it, so it's sometimes a little difficult to find someone who can speak English.
But when you go to elementary schools that teaches English, you're amazed about the level of English. I have been talking English with seven years old and it they were really good in English, they can understand me, and communicate in English, so it was amazing to see that. When I went to high school, I saw how these kids are really trying to involve in everything and they always trying to help you and they are curious about you and they ask you where you from and everything. It's really amazing to see this type of excitement about international people.
And in college it's the same. And that's what I love from these experiences, this excitement about me and I also love to share.

－What kind of impression do people in Honduras have about Japan?

There are a lot of people in Honduras, but I can say for example, for young people, they have an amazing impression about Japan because they are really into culture of Japan. This is because of Anime, J-POP and everything that Japan can offer to young people. I really love Japan because I was an anime lover.
So that's why there's a lot of young people love Japan and they eager and dream to come to Japan because of that. For more older people, we can talk about the cooperation. They have seen the cooperation with Japan. There's always Japan’s cooperation. If you go to someplace like countryside in Honduras, you're going to see a sign with a Japan’s flag that shows that this was built with the help of Japan, so they know Japanese people really help us.
So we love them. If they see a Japanese person like whatever they are going to be so welcoming to them. They'd really want and eager to learn more about Japanese people.

－I didn't know that even J-POP is popular.

Yes, actually, there are groups like there are dancing groups for this, so they really like to have this idol style. We also have anime conventions, we have cosplay... Japanese culture is really inside Honduras.


－And, do you have opportunity to talk about your country to Japanese people as well?

Yes, I talked about it when I went to high school, and for college students and even this weekend, I'm going to talk about Honduras here in Kitakyushu City. It's kind of difficult to explain where Honduras is, but it’s also funny telling it.

－After you go back to Honduras, do you have a vision for how you communicate and utilize your experience in Japan?

Yes, everything that I have learned Japan inside my field, outside my personal growing, can be applied to Honduras. I have seen so many things that have opened my mind in a different way that can be applied to different sectors and parts of Honduras. If we talk about my field, for example, I'm going to apply it in many different ways because we have an open door right now with Honduras in this field. Also, I can apply Japanese culture to try to teach what Japanese are like, for example punctuality security and everything. There are so many things that can be applied. The future is many bright and so many things to do. So I could probably not say it all right now, but I think that's the way. Bringing this first hand experience to people don't really know about Japan is really a good thing.
And I think for my field need to continue studying and make my PhD. For now, I think that's that would be my plan.

Wen san, thank you so much for your time and cooperation in this interview!

（*1）: SDGs Global Leaders Course
A study abroad program to accept people from other countries into Japanese graduate schools (master's/doctoral programs) to develop high-level human resources who will contribute to appropriate policy decisions and initiatives of the relevant government on policy issues in various fields necessary for SDG contributions.
SDGsグローバルリーダーコース ｜ 海外での取り組み - JICA

（*2）KiboCUBE
A collaborative cooperation between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to provide opportunities for the release of nano-satellites from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station (ISS).
(Reference) JAXA | JAXAと国連宇宙部との連携協力（KiboCUBE）に基づく第5回選定の結果、協力の継続および第6回の公募の開始について