"Hello, congratulations! You are selected for JDS 11th batch"- a JICE Voice made my office morning charismatic.

August 22, 2012. Very bright Tokyo Sky I was taken aback while looking like a bird from Thai Air. Wow! Is it geometric agricultural green-land, is this pencil scale sketching on paper!

My Japan episode started at Meiji University, which is committed to fostering incumbents satisfying "creation of new intellect" and "needs of the times" for largely aiming contribution vastly to the development of society. All the orientations starting in Shinjuku Washington Hotel was organized by effective support from JICA, JICE as part of its mission dynamic development viewing to the creation of lustrous professionals of developing countries.

Meiji University is one of the paramount overseas study destinations for incumbents who are venturing for study in Japan. It has profound academic amenities for learning and ample facilities of disseminating knowledge and culture to international students. It has the scholars of innovators, designers, ingenious mentors of intellectual experts. During the last four years, across all Japanese universities, Meiji has attracted the highest number of high school applicants. It was nominated as one of 13 universities to take part in the Global 30 mission, fitting a centre for the globalization of Japanese universities by growing the number of global students studying in Japan. Before going to Japan, I came to know that Meiji was offering courses: HRM, TQM, Crisis Management, Public Policy, etc., which are very essential to me. As a civil servant in Bangladesh, these courses are very important for my career. Many of the professors are former civil servants, which is another good opportunity to practically learn about the governance of Japan. In JDS, I chose Meiji, which is in the heart of Tokyo giving scope in experiencing the most developed city life in Japan. Meiji has a good record for schooling government officials of many countries, so it is a unique opportunity for me to be a part of them.

During the two years, I had vast beautiful memories and discovered a lot of things regarding Japanese unique culture and society. What the thing impressed everyone is the whole society is time conscious and punctual. It is one of the safest countries in the world with its low crime rate, secure borders, and renowned transportation system. I saw office-going commuters running towards eki (Train Station) even in chilling cold. I acknowledge them for maintaining politeness, respect, generosity, etc virtues in practice while many think that even if they are keeping them behind from religion, Japanese do possess the recommend doctrines.

Japanese are really hard working and are committed to their jobs. Many think that the secret behind making so delicate citizens is "Hoikuen", which takes babies for parental duties. This daycare systems are administered by local governments and serving the community to nurture kids to make their best providing food, medical facilities as well as morality and ethics teachings.

Japanese are strict in timekeeping as we see in the train, which is managed meticulously as per schedule. Late doers are considered as unreliable. The natural disaster prone Japan gets back its infrastructure immediately in perfect and in good conditions by the prompt managerial and technological ecstasy. The garbage management is very much systematic and effective, which is efficiently handled by each prefectural government. The whole municipal waste is converted into resources by renowned 3R (recycle, reduce, reuse) policy thus presenting clean and green city.

Japanese lifestyle and social rituals are distinguishable through numerous festivals such as: viewing cherry blossoms, drinking and eating, BBQ, Hanami, etc. Popular 'Karaoke' (song) at the Hanami sight is celebrated since old times in Edo Periods in 'Haru' (spring). People also enjoy sightseeing in the 'Golden Week'. Some remarkable festivals are 'Koinobori', 'Tanabata', 'Bon Odori', 'Matsuri', etc are unique in nature reflecting Japanese cultural fusion. My friend, Sahoko-san presented me a 'Kimono', token of Japanese noble dress still mirrors me visualizing the colorful ceremonies. 'Sushi' (hand-shaped rice containing seafood and vinegar), 'Tenpura', 'Ramen' are now in my favorite food list, which I got accustomed to eat using 'Hashi' (chopstick).

Japanese ‘Kazoku’ (family) is patriarchal in nature and prefer to live neither too close or near from parents. In past, they lived in communities having intimate personal relationships. Presently, while the aging group is increasing, thousands die alone and unnoticed every year. In my nearby apartment I experienced very bad smell and I made notice to caretaker of my apart. A young man around 35 died alone in his single room. For weeks his body decomposed, slumped in its own fluids and surrounded by putrid and old food. I never saw his friends nor wife, and no concerned children visiting his apart. His parents visited the dead rotten body when police came to notice the usual and routine fact. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there were some 3,700 “unaccompanied deaths” in Japan in 2013.

I encourage people to discover Japan not only to enjoy the ecstasy of technology but also to benefit owns moral setup. JICA people put effort in welcoming and managing the Tokyo episode with all sorts of cooperation. 'Arigato Gosaimasu'!