Cover photo: Taken from one of my favorite photo spots at Kiyomizu-dera.
Under the blazing sun, the usually crowded stage was almost empty. That’s when our intern from Niger flashed a big, cheerful wave to the camera—capturing the perfect “I’m enjoying Kyoto!” moment despite the heat.
Was This a Tough mission!? A Sizzling Sightseeing Day in Kyoto
Today, I went sightseeing in Kyoto with an intern from Niger.
But of all days… it happened to be a scorching hot day, and of all places… we headed to Kiyomizu-dera, one of the busiest tourist spots in town.
Lately, Kyoto has been overflowing with tourists—bus stops are packed and moving through the streets feels like swimming through a sea of people. Visiting Kiyomizu-dera under these conditions? It was starting to feel like a test of endurance!
“Are you sure we’re going out in this heat…?” Even our staff had their doubts.
But we set off cheerfully—because this was more than just sightseeing. It was a special reunion.
A Former Intern Returns – A Reunion to Remember
He originally came to our company through JICA’s short-term internship program.
Even after the program, he continued to support our projects in Niger and remained deeply interested in our technologies.
This time, he asked to come back—not through JICA, but on a private internship arrangement.
“Wait, is that even possible?” you might wonder.
We explained the situation to the relevant organizations and carefully went through every step needed to make it happen—and after many confirmations, we finally pulled it off.
What moved us most was his dedication.
He worked hard on his graduation thesis, completed it to the point where submission was guaranteed, and even got the green light from his academic advisor to participate. He made time in his packed schedule to come back.
This reunion was truly the result of mutual commitment and preparation—a special and irreplaceable experience.
Sushi Over Everything! A Love for Japanese Food
He’s a huge fan of Japanese food.
Well, everything except natto (fermented soybeans)—he made that very clear with a laugh.
Among his favorites? Sushi!
So naturally, we headed straight to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant for lunch.
Plates of tuna, salmon, shrimp, tuna mayo… one after another, stacking up quickly in front of him. He lit up with excitement: “This is my first time trying this!”
He couldn’t stop eating—and the growing tower of empty plates was proof.
It was the kind of enthusiastic eating that makes you want to say, “You really love sushi, don’t you?”
Hot Weather? No Problem. Cold Weather? Absolutely Not.
Kyoto’s heat that day was no joke—a brutal combination of humidity and sun, the kind that makes you sweat just by standing still.
It honestly felt more like a sauna tour than a sightseeing trip.
I remembered something a previous intern from Kenya once said:
“The hardest thing in Japan? Osaka’s summer.”
Apparently, the muggy urban heat was the most painful thing he’d ever experienced.
So, I braced myself for another overheated intern… but to my surprise, our Niger intern was full of energy!
“I’m totally fine with heat. But cold weather? Absolutely not,” he said with a straight face.
He’s extremely sensitive to cold—even winters in Okinawa are rough for him.
It brought back memories of my own trip to Niger this January.
The temperature was around 30–32°C (86–90°F), and I was definitely sweating while walking outside.
But everyone I met kept saying:
“It’s cool today, isn’t it?”
And I kept thinking, What!? It’s hot!!
I laughed remembering how I kept trying to convince them otherwise.
Still, with few humidity, it’s true that stepping into the shade in Niger felt refreshingly cool—very different from the sticky heat of Kyoto.
A Serious Mission: Building Skills for Niger’s Future
This visit wasn’t just for sightseeing—he had a clear, important goal.
As we look to expand our business in Niger, we’re focusing on training local talent who can handle not just sales, but also installation and maintenance of our equipment.
Right now, there are very few engineers in Niger who understand the structure of solar power systems.
Most don’t even have basic measurement tools.
And many local vendors operate with a “connect it and hope it works” mindset.
Durability and safety? Not even on the radar.
This approach leads to short-lived equipment and lost trust.
That’s why, during this internship, he’s receiving thorough training—learning about system design, how everything works, and how to handle on-site maintenance and troubleshooting.
Because our goal isn’t just to sell and leave, but to build a sustainable system that lasts.
And young people like him hold the key to making that future possible.
Closing Thoughts: A Day Hotter Than Kiyomizu’s Stage
At first, I thought, “Sightseeing on a day like this… are we crazy?”
But in the end, his bright smile, love of sushi, and eagerness to learn gave me more energy than I expected.
It was a day where the view from Kiyomizu’s stage felt symbolic—of the path ahead for him, and for all of us trying to build something meaningful together.
A short Kyoto outing that turned into something unforgettable—even under the scorching sun.
