Theme: BONDING, THE ASIAN WAY

The second Fireside retreat will take place in Tokyo in the wake of the tragic Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that took away close to 16,000 lives. Members of Fireside will gather to show support for our Japanese members as they deal with the aftermath of the national tragedy. The discussions will focus on various aspects of human suffering, the role of neighboring countries and the lessons learned from Japan. The Tokyo Retreat will be about Asians bonding – both in compassion for our friends’ losses and also in more light-hearted moments of friendship.

Program

Fireside members from Japan will report on the latest situation in Tohoku and present their efforts to help the orphans of the earthquake. Members from Korea will also discuss the concept of “One Asia” and its significance for initiatives such as Fireside. A new member from the Greater China will join Fireside for the first time, completing the triangle of China, Japan, and Korea. “What’s On Your Mind” conversation will continue following its success at the first retreat in Seoul. There will be  onsen (Japanese hot spring bath) time in the evening for the members to reveal their true colors and bond Asian style. For the culture part of the retreat, members will be given a private showing of ukiyoe (Japanese wood block prints) in the university/gallery district of Tokyo.