Natasha Asghar MS is brimming with ideas to bring to Wales in a bid to benefit residents following a hugely successful trip to Japan.
The South Wales East politician visited Tokyo as part of a fact-finding mission to look at the differences and similarities between Japan and Wales when it comes to things like transport, technology, health, and education.
It also gave Natasha a great opportunity to explore best practises and see what could be introduced back in Wales to improve things.
Natasha kick-started her trip with a meeting at the British Embassy in Tokyo with UK Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom.
The pair discussed a range of topics including Japan’s education system, public transport network, economy, and health service.
One area Natasha was particularly interested in finding out more about, was the ‘Silver Centres’, which have proven to be incredibly popular in Japan.
Newport, a destination the Ambassador visited not too long ago, was also high up on the agenda for discussion with the duo discussing the area’s highlights and ways to regenerate Welsh towns and city centres.
Natasha then joined the Ambassador for a short reception at her official residence.
Staff at Central Japan Railways welcomed Natasha onboard the Shinkansen - also known as a bullet train - to get a taste of modern-day transport.
Natasha joined the train driver in the cab for the journey from Tokyo to Shin-Yokohama to get an in-depth insight into the inner workings of the high-speed train.
This followed a meeting with senior staff at Central Japan Railway in their Tokyo headquarters.
The group discussed the company’s history, plans for the future, logistics of high-speed railways, affordability, and efficiency.
Natasha received an exclusive viewing and Q&A at the company’s general control centre which looks after train operation, rolling stock, electric power, infrastructure, signals, and telecommunications.
Not only that, but the centre gathers and analyses information when it comes to things like rain, earthquakes, maintenance and makes decisions before giving orders to the field.
With a maximum speed of 285km an hour, more than 470,000 passengers use the Shinkansen every day with some 373 daily departures.
Since launching in 1964, there have been zero fatalities or injuries and the annual average delay per train is less than one minute.
The Shinkansen visit also provided an opportunity for Natasha to experience truly integrated transport - something she strongly believes in - and will be raising with the Welsh Government going forward.
Natasha invited representatives from the company to visit Wales and see first-hand the stark difference in the public transport offering back home.
Students at the British School in Tokyo took time out of their busy day for a talk and Q&A session with Natasha.
Natasha gave them an insight into workings of the Welsh Parliament, an overview of the Senedd building, discussed her career journey, some of the many highlights of the job so far and of course 20mph speed limits.
It also gave students, many from the UN Model, the opportunity to share what they thought worked well in Japan and could be replicated in Wales.
She then fielded questions from the group on a range of topics including the UK Government’s Rwanda policy, the use of AI, the cost of living and showcasing Wales to the world.
With some of the students planning to head to the UK, Natasha offered them all the chance of work experience and a tour of the Welsh Parliament as well as some 'useful tips' if they ever wished to embark upon a career in politics.
Natasha also visited the Meiji Shrine, which is the Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.
Whilst there, Natasha wrote a votive tablet on behalf of her constituents across South Wales East.
During the trip Natasha also met with staff at Samsung to discuss technology, visited Shibuya Women’s International School, explored the city’s tech district, and toured the National Diet, Japan’s Parliament.
Commenting on her trip, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“Japan is light years ahead of Wales in some areas, and vice versa, so it was great to be able to see that first-hand, discuss ideas, and explore what we could do differently back home.
“Not only has this trip been hugely beneficial for me as a Member of the Senedd and as Shadow Minister for Transport and Technology, but it has also been a fantastic opportunity for me to showcase Wales, and the Welsh Parliament, to Japan.
“I have learnt a lot in the short time I was in Tokyo, and I am looking forwarding to raising some of the things I’ve uncovered with the new Welsh Government, and working with ministers to implement them in a bid to bring big benefits to residents across the country, with the first steps hopefully starting in South Wales East.”
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Mae Natasha Asghar A wedi dod a môr o syniadau yn ôl i Gymru a fydd gobeithio o fudd i drigolion, yn dilyn taith hynod lwyddiannus i Japan.
Ymwelodd yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ddwyrain De Cymru â Tokyo fel rhan o daith canfod ffeithiau i edrych ar y gwahaniaethau a'r tebygrwydd rhwng Japan a Chymru o ran pethau fel trafnidiaeth, technoleg, iechyd ac addysg.
Roedd hefyd yn gyfle gwych i Natasha archwilio arferion gorau a gweld beth ellid ei gyflwyno yma yng Nghymru i wella pethau.
Cychwynnodd Natasha ei thaith gyda chyfarfod yn Llysgenhadaeth Prydain yn Tokyo gyda Llysgennad y DU i Japan, Julia Longbottom.
Trafododd y ddwy ystod o bynciau gan gynnwys system addysg Japan, y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, yr economi a'r gwasanaeth iechyd.
Un maes roedd gan Natasha ddiddordeb arbennig ynddo ac am gael clywed mwy amdano oedd y 'Canolfannau Arian', sydd wedi bod mor boblogaidd yn Japan.
Roedd Casnewydd, lle bu’r Llysgennad ar ymweliad yn eithaf diweddar, hefyd yn uchel ar yr agenda i'w drafod gyda'r ddwy yn trafod uchafbwyntiau’r ardal a ffyrdd o adfywio trefi a dinasoedd Cymru.
Yna ymunodd Natasha â'r Llysgennad am dderbyniad byr yn ei chartref swyddogol.
Croesawodd staff Rheilffyrdd Canol Japan Natasha ar fwrdd y Shinkansen – y trên bwled - i gael blas ar drafnidiaeth fodern.
Ymunodd Natasha â'r gyrrwr trên yn y caban ar gyfer y daith o Tokyo i Shin-Yokohama i gael blas go iawn ar waith mewnol y trên cyflym.
Roedd hyn yn dilyn cyfarfod gydag uwch staff Rheilffordd Canol Japan yn eu pencadlys yn Tokyo.
Trafododd y grŵp hanes y cwmni, cynlluniau ar gyfer y dyfodol, logisteg rheilffyrdd cyflym, fforddiadwyedd ac effeithlonrwydd.
Cafodd Natasha sesiwn holi ac ateb a thaith arbennig o gwmpas canolfan reoli gyffredinol y cwmni sy'n gofalu am weithrediad trenau, cerbydau, pŵer trydan, seilwaith, signalau, a thelathrebu.
Nid yn unig hynny, ond mae'r ganolfan yn casglu ac yn dadansoddi gwybodaeth am bethau fel glaw, daeargrynfeydd, cynnal a chadw ac yn gwneud penderfyniadau cyn rhoi gorchmynion i'r maes.
Gyda chyflymder uchaf o 285km yr awr, mae mwy na 470,000 o deithwyr yn defnyddio'r Shinkansen bob dydd gyda 373 gwasanaeth bob diwrnod.
Ers ei lansio ym 1964, ni fu unrhyw farwolaethau neu anafiadau ac mae'r oedi blynyddol fesul trên yn llai nag un funud ar gyfartaledd.
Roedd ymweliad Shinkansen hefyd yn gyfle i Natasha brofi trafnidiaeth wirioneddol integredig - rhywbeth y mae'n credu'n gryf ynddo - a bydd yn trafod hyn gyda Llywodraeth Cymru wrth symud ymlaen.
Gwahoddodd Natasha gynrychiolwyr o'r cwmni i ymweld â Chymru a gweld drostyn nhw eu hunain y gwahaniaeth llwyr yn y drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sydd ar gael adref.
Neilltuodd myfyrwyr yn yr Ysgol Brydeinig yn Tokyo amser o'u diwrnod prysur ar gyfer sgwrs a sesiwn holi ac ateb gyda Natasha.
Rhoddodd Natasha flas iddyn nhw ar waith y Senedd, trosolwg o adeilad y Senedd, bu’n trafod llwybr ei gyrfa, rhai o uchafbwyntiau'r swydd hyd yma ac wrth gwrs terfynau cyflymder 20mya.
Cafwyd cyfle hefyd i’r myfyrwyr, llawer o Fodel y Cenhedloedd Unedig, rannu'r hyn yr oedden nhw’n meddwl oedd yn gweithio'n dda yn Japan ac y gellid ei efelychu yng Nghymru.
Yna, atebodd gwestiynau gan y grŵp ar amrywiaeth o bynciau gan gynnwys polisi Rwanda Llywodraeth y DU, defnyddio Deallusrwydd Artiffisial, costau byw ac arddangos Cymru i'r byd.
Gyda rhai o'r myfyrwyr yn bwriadu mynd i'r DU, cynigiodd Natasha bob cyfle iddyn nhw gael profiad gwaith a thaith o amgylch y Senedd yn ogystal â rhai 'awgrymiadau defnyddiol' os oedden nhw byth am ddechrau ar yrfa yn y byd gwleidyddol.
Ymwelodd Natasha â Shrine Meiji hefyd, sef cysegrfa Shinto sydd wedi’i chysegru i ysbrydion dwyfol yr Ymerawdwr Meiji a'i wraig, yr Ymerodres Shōken.
Yno, ysgrifennodd Natasha lechen addunedol ar ran ei hetholwyr ledled Dwyrain De Cymru.
Yn ystod y daith, cyfarfu Natasha â staff Samsung i drafod technoleg, ymwelodd ag Ysgol Ryngwladol y Merched Shibuya, bu’n crwydro o amgylch ardal dechnoleg y ddinas, a theithiodd o amgylch y Diet Cenedlaethol, Senedd Japan.
Wrth sôn am ei thaith dywedodd Natasha Asghar AS:
"Mae Japan flynyddoedd lawer ar y blaen i Gymru mewn rhai meysydd, a Chymru flynyddoedd lawer ar y blaen i Japan mewn meysydd eraill, felly roedd hi'n wych gallu gweld hynny'n uniongyrchol, trafod syniadau, a phwyso a mesur yr hyn y gallen ni ei wneud yn wahanol yn ôl adref.
"Mae'r daith hon nid yn unig wedi bod o fudd mawr i mi fel Aelod o'r Senedd ac fel Gweinidog Trafnidiaeth a Thechnoleg yr Wrthblaid, ond mae hefyd wedi bod yn gyfle gwych i mi arddangos Cymru, a’r Senedd, i Japan.
"Rydw i wedi dysgu llawer yn ystod y cyfnod byr roeddwn i yn Tokyo, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at godi rhai o'r pethau rydw i wedi'u gweld gyda Llywodraeth newydd Cymru, a gweithio gyda gweinidogion i'w rhoi ar waith mewn ymgais i ddod â manteision mawr i drigolion ledled y wlad, gyda'r camau cyntaf gobeithio yn dechrau yn Nwyrain De Cymru."
