湯澤ゼミでは毎年夏合宿を２泊3日で実施しますが、今年は8月下旬に静岡県伊東市で
合宿を行いました。夏合宿の主な目的は、各ゼミ生が年度末に提出する研究論文のベースとなる研究計画書について議論することおよびゼミ生間の親睦を深めることにあります。毎年合宿は、４年生の研究発表で幕を開けます。昨年度に研究を一通り経験している4年生は、いつもながら教員の期待通りに3年生への手本となる計画書を披露してくれました。今後の研究の発展が楽しみです。2日目は、3年生が研究報告を行いました。毎年3年生は、指定された社会科学の研究方法に関する文献を熟読したうえで、計画書の作成に取り組みます。当然ながらこの段階で計画書をきちんと書ける3年生はほぼ皆無ですが、研究テーマから各ゼミ生のポテンシャルの高さを伺うことができます。初日のお昼に何を食べるかグループラインで議論し、事前に予約した海沿いの魚介の店で昼食を満喫するため、演習開始時間の2時間前に現地入りするゼミ生たちに「初日から観光に気合い入れ過ぎでしょ」と思わず突っ込みを入れましたが、本番ではきちんと結果を出してくれました。
2日間にわたる演習の後は打ち上げ会です。毎年少なからず酒豪が集うゼミですが、今年は例年以上に酒豪揃いでした。酒通のゼミ生が持参した貴重な酒類を温泉でさっぱりした後にちびちびといただこうとする教員でしたが、酒豪たちを前にしてそのような矮小な狙いが通用するはずもなく、それら酒類はあっという間になくなりました。合宿中ゼミ生は、旅先での開放感もあってか、キャンパスでは少なくとも教員には決して見せないような本性を出してくれます。教員にとって、これも合宿中の楽しみの一つです。最終日は、レクレーションとして、東伊豆随一の景勝地である城ケ崎海岸を訪れました。なぜかほぼ毎年暑い中を長距離歩く修行のような行事になってしまいますが、今年も全員汗だくになりながら、雄大な自然を満喫しました。
毎年合宿では、良い意味でマイナーな研究テーマに出会うことできますが、よくこのような事象まで観察しているなと、ゼミ生の国際政治に関する洞察力の高さには驚くばかりです。教員にとって、ゼミ合宿は春学期に頑張って課題をこなしてきたゼミ生の成長を実感できる大変嬉しい機会です。今年のゼミ合宿は、9月に卒業するゼミ生の卒業祝いも兼ねましたが、毎年1月に開催するゼミのOBOG会で一段と成長した姿を見せてくれることを楽しみにしています。
Every year, the Yuzawa Seminar holds a three-day, two-night summer camp. This year, the camp took place in late August in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The main purpose of the summer camp was to discuss research plans which form the basis of the research papers that every seminar student will submit at the end of the academic year. The summer camp also aims to deepen friendships among the seminar students. Each year, the camp kicks off with the fourth-year students presenting their research. These fourth-year students, who have already completed a full range of research experiences, as always, lived up to their instructors' expectations by presenting exemplary plans for the third-year students. We are looking forward to seeing the future development of these research projects.
On the second day of the summer camp, the third-year students presented their own research reports. Every year, the third-year students thoroughly read assigned literature on social science research methods and then begin writing their research plans. Naturally, almost no third-year students can write a proper plan at this stage, but the research topics they have selected indicate the high potential of each seminar student.
On the first day, though, the seminar students discussed what to eat for lunch on their LINE app. They arrived two hours early to enjoy a pre-booked lunch at a seaside seafood restaurant! I couldn't help but comment, "You're getting too excited about sightseeing on the first day," but in the end, all the students delivered their research presentations on time and as expected.
After the two-day seminar, there was a wrap-up party. While our seminar attracts a fair number of heavy drinkers every year, this year the number of serious drinkers was even higher than usual. The faculty members tried to sip on the precious alcoholic beverages brought by the well-known seminar students after they had rejuvenated themselves in the hot springs. However, such petty tactics of sipping our drinks slowly were unacceptable to the heavy drinkers, and the drinks quickly vanished. Perhaps due to the sense of freedom they felt while traveling, the seminar students revealed their true selves during the camp, a side they never show on campus, at least not to faculty. For the faculty, seeing the students relax and show their real faces was another enjoyable part of the camp.
On the final day of our summer retreat, we visited Jogasaki Coast, one of East Izu's most scenic spots, for recreation. For some reason, almost every year the event turns into a training-like event involving long walks in the heat, but this year, everyone got drenched in sweat and thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent natural scenery.
Every year during our summer camp, we encounter research topics that are, in a good way, minor, and I am always amazed at the high level of insight the seminar students have into international politics, and how they are able to even observe such phenomena. For faculty, the seminar camp is a wonderful opportunity to see the growth of seminar students who have worked hard to complete their assignments during the spring semester. This year's camp also served as a graduation celebration for the seminar students graduating in September. I look forward to seeing these graduates demonstrate further growth at the seminar alumni reunion held every January.