International Exchange Takes Students to Hakone and Kamakura—“Why do Japanese people put their hands together in prayer at shrines?”

Lesson on the Korean Language

International students and Japanese science and engineering students took trips to Hakone and Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture. The day trip to Hakone was held in May and the overnight trip to Kamakura in July.

“Do all Japanese people worship the Shinto religion?”—I was asked this question by an international student. When I replied that Japanese people are not particularly devoted to the Shinto religion, I received a follow-up question: “Then why do Japanese people put their hands together in prayer at shrines?”

International students also asked many other interesting questions—“What are wabi and sabi?” “Why are all Japanese people so well-mannered when it comes to following rules?”

Although some Japanese students were thrown off balance by such questions which are difficult to answer quickly, this kind of experience is an excellent opportunity for us Japanese to reconfirm our understanding of Japanese culture. It is also an outstanding opportunity for international students to learn about Japanese culture.

Personally, I’m really bad at English. Some of the international students also have a difficult time speaking in Japanese. When communicating with such students, I would use simple English words and gestures. Occasionally, I also received assistance from Shiroikaze members who speak multiple languages, so I was able to enjoy my exchanges with international students. Initially, I was worried if I would be able to make friends, but now I really enjoy spending time with students from around the world.

One day, international students volunteered as teachers and gave Japanese students mini-lessons on topics such as their native language, history, and food culture. These lessons are also very popular among students from outside Shiroikaze who speak or study foreign languages.

In recent years, the Internet has enabled us to easily obtain almost any kind of information. However, interacting with international students enables Japanese students to get a first-hand perspective on foreign countries. This experience is invaluable in forming personal opinions and engaging in two-way communication.

Students try making hand-rolled sushi

I came to Japan in April 2018 in order to do my engineering thesis at the Chuo University Korakuen campus.

Shiroikaze circle club was an important role for me during my stay in Japan. Thank to this circle I met a lot of great people and had opportunities to visit and travel in Japan. Shiroikaze does something really great, such as creating a relationship between exchange students and Japanese students.

Japanese students can easily practice their English while exchange students can learn more about the Japanese people and culture.

Even though English isn't my mother tongue, I was able to communicate easily with people from all around the world and share my culture with Japanese students by doing a small English presentation about my country which is Switzerland. Thanks to my Swiss friend who came to visit me here, my Japanese friends were able to try different Swiss dishes such as cheese, sausage and Swiss fondue.

I recommend everybody to go through Shiroikaze circle club. You will never regret it.

At the start of a calligraphy class

Community-based activities

Japanese and international students participate together in festivals held by the Tomisaka 2-chome neighborhood of Bunkyo City and other surrounding community associations located close to the Korakuen Campus. Through conversations different from those held on campus and through interaction with local residents, Chuo students learn about the culture and history of the community.

Consultation on studying abroad

Shiroikaze holds activities such as information events and consultations on studying abroad. These events feature stories of personal experiences given by Japanese students who studied overseas through the Tobitate! (Leap for Tomorrow) Study Abroad Initiative led by the MEXT. Shiroikaze also cooperates with the International Center in the Faculty of Science and Engineering to hold these events.

The opportunity to listen to the experiences of students who have actually studied abroad is a major impetus towards developing interest in overseas study. Since science and engineering students generally have less experience studying overseas than other students, it was especially necessary to plan such an event as an opportunity for forming a concrete image of what it is like to study abroad. This is why Shiroikaze holds events to learn about overseas study.

Many students from different grades attended the event. There was a lively interaction, with attendees staying after the event in order to ask more questions to students who had experienced studying abroad.