Hopefully Dicksie's computer can produce the photos next week!

Monday, July 10

SRKSEP launched into their 28 day journey bright and early, meeting at the Airport Express shortly before 6 am to catch the ride to SFO to board United direct to Tokyo! Only 11 hours to the adventure!

Tuesday, July 11

Arriving in Tokyo after an 11 hour trip, SRKSEP 2017 team was greeted by our long time local guide Midori!

After gathering their luggage and their gifts and supplies, it was off in style under Midori's escort.

Wednesday, July 12

On the schedule today is a visit to the Ghibli Museum; Studio Ghibli films are renowned for depicting daily life in great detail.

Thursday, July 13

Full Day Tokyo Panoramic Tour Day - Experiencing the highlights of Tokyo

Highlights included a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony

And then it was BBQ Lunch, Japanese style!

Friday and Saturday, July 14,15

On the way back from Nikko yesterday I mentioned to Midori I thought it would be wonderful to try to get on a tour bus to Mt. Fuji for my free day. She loved the idea! I went online to look for a tour and all the different agencies I found were booked up. Being the creative and intrepid traveler that I am, I found a public bus service that goes to Mt. Fuji's Fifth Station (the best one for hiking on the mountain). It's a three hour ride each way, and I've got three hours to explore on Mt. Fuji before I return to Shinjuku. 9 hours total for ¥5400 round trip. A tour would have been over ¥11000 and taken 11-12 hours. I told Midori, for me anyway, visiting Japan and not going to Mt. Fuji is like going to England and not going to Stonehenge. So this is like a pilgrimage of sorts.
I have excellent internet service on my phone. John also has internet on his phone, so Sprint is pretty awesome too I guess. Ian's mom got him an international plan for his phone. I have been leaving Tiffany in charge of the portable wifi so she has coverage when she is out and about. All the kids are doing a pretty good job of mixing up their groups but still sticking together, so Nash and Kenny will probably be with at least one of the one with wifi/internet. They are all planning to go wander around and shop today.
~ Deborah

Travels include Tokyo area, visiting Sky Tree Tower and Nikko area

 

The touring continued to Nikko Tosho-gu shrine, Lake Chuzenji, and Kegon Falls

 

Horrified by stories about an online suicide game called Blue Whale, Gabriel Kenji of Brazil decided to create a game to counter the dangerous online trend, and hopefully, save lives. 

The Blue Whale Challenge is a chilling suicide game allegedly run by a social media group. The game preys on vulnerable adolescents and teenagers, who are instructed to complete a set of challenges over a 50-day period. The tasks begin harmlessly but become increasingly more dangerous, including self-punishing, and end with the teenager being urged to take their own life. 

 

 

“When I first heard about the horrific game, I thought it was a problem far away from Brazil,” says Kenji, a member of the Interact Club of Pinhais, Parana, Brazil. “Once it reached my country I realized this type of evil can be anywhere. I had to do something to alert others about the seriousness of the problem.”

The game may have originated in Russia where more than 130 suicides have been allegedly linked to the game. The online trend has caused significant concern in Western Europe and South America, particularly in Brazil, where alleged suicide attempts from the game have cropped up in at least eight states. At least two suicide cases in the U.S. have been linked to the online fad. The title is said to refer to blue whales that beach themselves purposefully to die. 

While no one can prove the existence of the game or identify who is behind these suicidal challenges, what is clear is that young people are ending their lives and documenting it on social media. 

So Kenji decided to do something about it. He devised a social media game that he named White Whale to help boost self-esteem, self-worth, and peaceful interactions among young people. 

Challenges include forgiving yourself for mistakes, exercising daily, discovering new facts about people in your life, participating in volunteer activities, and posting positive messages on social media. 

White Whale is a way for teenagers, who may be vulnerable to the suicide game, to engage in positive activities and feel valued, says Kenji. He chose the name White Whale because he says the color white signifies peace, purity, and clarity. 

“We want to show young people that they can make small changes to change the direction of their lives,” says Kenji, who will enter college this year to study dentistry. “There is another path for teenagers to take that is far removed from an action like taking their own lives.”

Fellow Interactors and local Rotaract club members are helping to spread the word about White Whale by passing out brochures and information at bus and train stops, busy intersections, and to friends and family. They also helped Kenji create some of the game’s challenges. “I’m so grateful that my club and others people in the Rotary family are taking a small idea and making it big,” he says. 

According to Kenji, about 4,000 people have shared the White Whale’s Facebook page with a reach of nearly 30,000. 

Kenji says he’s already seen tangible results from the game among his own friends. “I’ve had friends tell me that the game is giving them the courage to reconcile broken friendships. It’s great to see. I hope this is just a start.”