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Outward Bound Japan

"My heart was full of satisfaction, in sharp contrast to the exhaustion I felt throughout my body. Hot, uncontrollable tears were streaming down my cheeks. It was only a 20-meter climb, but I had learned many things from this experience: fear of death, challenge, spirit, trust, my own power, camaraderie, achievement…So this is what Outward Bound is all about!" Outward Bound Japan Student

Giving the youth of Japan this real to life, physical learning is what Koichi Inasawa sought when, in 1974, he envisioned Outward Bound in Japan. It took fifteen years (1989) for that dream to be realized in full. By the year 2000 OBJ had touched over 14,099 students lives in Japan.

Outward Bound Japan's national base is located in Otari, a small village in the northernmost part of Nagano Prefecture. Out of Otari, students can glimpse part of their ancient history as they walk the legendary Salt Road. East of Otari is Mt. Amakazari, a lone cone-shaped peak that rises 1,963 meters above sea level. On a clear day, a 360-degree view of the Japan Sea, Sado Island, The Noto Peninsula, and the peaks of the North Alps can be seen from the mountaintops around Otari.

Students at OBJ can participate in a variety of activities suited to ages 8 through adult. Some of these activities include mountaineering, trekking, ski touring, kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing and waterfall rock climbing. Courses are run in a range from a three to five-day discovery program, a 21-day traverse of Japan, to a 75-day outdoor instructor training program.

The common theme running through all the programs is self-discovery. Perhaps the words of Koichi Inasawa capture what OBJ does best for the youth of Japan: "With all the excitement over new high-tech innovations, computer wizardry and so on, it's easy to forget that the biggest challenge we face is not advancing the abilities of machines around us, but in advancing ourselves. In particular, giving our youth the skills and attitudes they need to function as effective and caring adults."

What students say about Outward Bound Japan:

"I always thought that I had to do everything for myself, and that it was wrong to depend on other people. However, during the course, I realized that there is a limit to my own power, and that being supported by others and supporting others gives us a much greater power to make possible things which are impossible as an individual." --Ms. Shiho Okabe, 27 years old, 10 days course in Hokkaido Summer 2000

"Through relating deeply with other people, I could understand the real me." --Ms. Shiho Okabe, 27 years old, 10 days course in Hokkaido Summer 2000

"I am great!"

"In the marathon at the end of the course, I could feel a great power, but this was not a new power. I had discovered a great power, which already existed inside of me. Because of this, instead of having to change, I felt I could go forward as myself. Now I know that I can use this new-found power to make more and more progress in my life."
--Mr. Shintaro Takano, 17 years old
21 days course crossing of Japan. 2000 summer

Thoughts from Instructors:

"OBS (Japan) is a place that can help people to grow, and share in the pleasure of growing, against the vast backdrop of nature." --Koichi Kajitani, Manager of General Affairs, OBJ Nagano

"In a course where we were traveling down through Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, everyone began badly organized and without considering other members. However, we reached our goal as a mature group after experiencing both success and failure." --Hiroshi Hamatani, operations director

Seiji Shimura , Program Director at OB Japan's favorite Outward Bound moment is: "When I see the emotions of participants, and the moment I can see their facial expressions showing that they have gained great confidence."

CONTACT OUTWARD BOUND JAPAN:
Outward Bound Japan
Rm 422 Sanno Grand Building
14-2, Negata-cho 2-Chome
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100
Japan
Bus: 81 335803451
Bus Fax: 81 335813633
E-mail: obsjapan@feis.com
Web Page: http://www.feis.com/obs