On Friday, July 3rd, we gathered in front of the Shinjuku Center Building, and boarded the chartered bus to "CHÂTERAISÉ Hotel Nirasaki no Mori." Due to the unfortunate traffic, the trip took longer than expected. However, it also helped allowing us to speak to fellow scholars and Raccoon seniors, from deep topics to friendly chats, making the atmosphere friendly from the start. We had lunch at the service area, with the grand view of nature of the Shosenkyo, considered "the most beautiful gorge in Japan," in our sight. Afterwards, we arrived at the Museum of Shadowgraph. What awaited us there was the world of "Poet of Light and Shadow" Fujishiro Kiyoharu. In the museum surrounded by rich nature, we saw the collection of meticulous and youthful shadowgraphs, the fantastical world of light and shadow healing our travelling fatigue.

Arriving at CHÂTERAISÉ Hotel Nirasaki no Mori, and after a short break, all participants gathered in one place for the first time. As an ice-breaking activity, we had a game of bingo looking for "someone who's done X" among us. As participants spoke to each other in their attempt to fill in the empty tiles, we learned interesting pieces of information about each other such as unexpected background and hobby. The activity served as the first step in us getting to know more of each other. The dinner was a buffet with many dishes, and our day's exhaustion dissipated in front of such ample food.

After dinner, as the first session of the workshop, the warming up session began. The session was organized by Idzieva Diana-san, a 2024 fellow. Participants put on an eyemask and walked forward, placing our hands on the shoulders of the person in front. Blinded, experiencing being forced to trust in others, we then formed a circle. Diana-san then asked questions on war, conflict, and violence. In a space protected by the dark—in a way, anonymity—participants freely spoke their mind, some with a youthful directness, others with a deep contemplation. This marked the "beginning of thought" spanning three days.

The morning of Saturday, July 4th, began with a radio exercise among volunteers. After breakfast, each of the sessions began.

Session 1: "Why Cycles of War do not End" (Organizer: Nam Ki-jeong, 1996 Raccoon) began with a heavy introduction as to how various ideologies—realism, Marxism, or liberalism—have understood the causes of war. Nonetheless, the lecture artfully landed at "music." People across the world have expressed their thoughts on war, from various angles, through music. Hearing the actual tracks, I truly realized how ideologies could be expressed through music.

Session 2: "Conflict as Origin of Humans" (Organizer: He Xingyu [Ame-san], 2023 Raccoon) shifted from a macro perspective to a micro one. The way one deals with conflict during childhood may manifest in how one subconsciously acts in adulthood. With such question as a starting point, participants engaged in a roleplay of "how would you, as a nursery staff, respond to two children fighting over a picture book?" The room was filled with excitement seeing our responses, and the morning session ended with a series of relaxed laughter.

The afternoon session began with a perspective from natural science. In Session 3: "How has Technology been Involved in Human Conflict" (Organizer: Nishimoto Kazuki [Nimo-san], 2025 Raccoon), we reconsidered the new forms of conflict brought about by technological development—one of the largest conflicts we are facing in the 21st century. Technology is a "double-edged sword," and each participant deepened our thought with regards to how we can use it for good, preventing it from becoming fuels for new weapons and conflicts.

Session 4: "Think about Peace not just as 'Being Friendly'" (Guo Lifu, 2021 Raccoon) was also about an important issue in the 21st century: how to come to terms with the friction between peoples and groups, something unavoidable in a society. How may we overcome structural oppression? Despite it being among the most sensitive and secret matter, making it difficult for people to talk about, Lifu-san's gentle facilitation allowed us to freely speak our minds.

With a whole day of thinking behind us, we had a relaxing outdoor barbeque. After that, some of this year's fellows followed a Raccoon senior's invitation to the table tennis room. Little by little, people who heard of the rumors came along, turning the small table tennis room into a lively city bazaar. Some cheered on, others joined the matches, and this "ping-pong exchange" continued deep into the night.

On the last day, Sunday, July 5th, the session involved a groupwork wrapping up the three-day workshop. Participants condensed their thoughts on this topic on a single piece of poster. Some drew their impression, looking back at the activities in the past three days, while others presented their thoughts on the question "why cycles of war do not end." Each and every one of us certainly gained tremendously in the last three days.

The Nirasaki Workshop 2026 was a three-day period for participants to think and discuss "war" and "conflict" from various perspectives, rather than rushing to produce an answer. How is violence born, and how does it affect people's behavior or society? Even if a clear-cut conclusion could not be reached, sharing these questions with friends from various backgrounds definitely left a mark of thought in my mind. Growing closer with my fellow scholars, Raccoon seniors, as well as the Atsumi Foundation staffs was an invaluable experience. My sincere gratitude to everyone at the Atsumi International Foundation for creating the space for this wonderful learning experience.

Written by: Wang Ziwei (2026 Fellow)