Our trip to Japan will be an adventure of a lifetime. We explore Japanese history and culture at a variety of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, indulge in diverse Japanese cuisine, or experience rides on the lighting-fast Shinkansen trains. You have the chance to visit some of the many impressive manufacturing facilities, temples, and castles around the country. Participants will visit Tokyo, Nagoya, and travel to Atsugi, a Japanese friendship city (sister city) to New Britain. We will be hosted by our friends in Atsugi.
Atsugi is charming city known as a “bedroom community” for the TokyoYokohama metropolitan area. Nissan, Sony Technology Center, and Tokyo Polytechnic University have locations in Atsugi. Tokyo is a city where technology and ancient traditions blend beautifully. Tokyo is undoubtedly one of the great cities of the world with unrivaled and enchanting allure. It is a showcase of architecture, with many buildings displaying the talents of world-renowned architects and designers.
Additionally, there are many incredible historical structures to be seen. Japan is a world leader in everything quality. We will visit Toyota Motor Corporation in Nagoya, Japan. The Toyota Production System (TPS) is the foundation for Lean management. This course abroad focuses on the influence that Japanese “Quality Culture” has had on organizations and companies throughout the world. Dr. W. Edwards Deming, a United States quality expert, taught the Japanese many of the quality concepts that helped propel companies like Sony, Honda, and Toyota to the top of the list for owner satisfaction and quality. Our group observes first-hand how these manufacturers implemented these systems and how they developed a culture of quality and respect for people. This program offers a unique combination of manufacturing site visits and cultural excursions designed to convey how culture influenced technology and technology, in turn, is shaping modern-day culture.
