University and college students in Japan are among the luckiest young people on the planet. They have been raised in an environment of relative physical and social safety, in an affluent society that has valued education for all. One of the goals set by Japan's Ministry of Education is for Japanese students "to be capable of contributing to a peaceful international society" (Onishi, 1995, p. 236). Yet, how many college students are able to use their capacities to attain this goal? In this article, we will share some specific activities that we have found useful in empowering our students to recognize and develop competency in their ability to fulfill this noble goal, while at the same time helping them to overcome some of the cultural obstacles to its achievement.