Connecting to culture: international students on fieldwork excursion

Nov 26, 2024

On November 15th, an excursion was organized for our international students (32 postgraduate students and some of their family members) with 7 staff members to connect with Japanese traditions.
The purpose of this annual excursion was to broaden the international students' understanding of Japanese culture, history, climate, industry, etc., and to deepen mutual understanding and friendship among international students and faculty members.
This year, the participants toured Buddhist temples and historical sites in the Mikawa region of Aichi Prefecture. At Toyokawa Inari, the first stop, they were fascinated by the magnificent main shrine and the mysterious space where many fox statues are enshrined. For lunch, they visited Shinpukuji Temple, which is said to be the oldest temple in Mikawa, and enjoyed the famous full-course bamboo shoot cuisine. The group then visited Okazaki Castle and the "Mikawa Bushi no Yakata Ieyasu-kan" to appreciate the view from the castle tower and learn about the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and other aspects of Japanese history and culture of the time. The last stop was "Kakukyu Hatcho Miso no Sato," where the group toured a factory making traditional Japanese miso and tasted miso soup.
This excursion tour was a great opportunity to experience not only Japanese culture and history but also its food culture, while deepening friendship among international students and faculty members beyond the boundaries of nationality and course affiliation in a friendly atmosphere from start to finish. Many participants commented that they were able to enjoy delicious Japanese food, visit temples and castles, and learn about Japanese history and culture, and build better relationships with their fellow students and faculty members.