First Intensive Japanese Course students of academic year 2023 soak up history and culture in Kamakura

Fourteen international students joined a field trip to enjoy the sights and sounds of Kamakura City on May 31, 2023. The outing was organized as part of the Intensive Japanese Course offered by the Japanese Section at Tokyo Tech's Institute for Liberal Arts (ILA). The language learners, together with three Tokyo Tech faculty and staff members, split into three teams during the visit and were guided around the historical area by eight members of the Kanagawa Systematized Goodwill Guide Club (KSGG), a volunteer guide group based in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The journey, which began at Kamakura Station, first took the participants to Komachi Dori, a long shopping street in the heart of the city, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. The students and guides then boarded the Enoshima Electric Railway, a train line with its own historical charm, to reach Kotokuin Temple and the famous Daibutsu, an outdoor statue of Buddha that is designated as a national treasure. By walking around the city and visiting numerous shrines and temples, the students received a hands-on lesson in Japanese history, and learned about the various differences and similarities between Shintoism and Buddhism.

At Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the participants were interviewed by elementary school students as part of their field trip assignment. The youngsters asked questions in English while Tokyo Tech students answered in Japanese, ensuring that both groups put into practice what they had learned in the classroom.

Participants concluded the tour at Yuigahama beach, where everyone enjoyed lunch, took commemorative photos, and just relaxed on the serene oceanfront.

Tokyo Tech's Intensive Japanese Courses, held twice a year, are aimed mainly at Japanese government-sponsored international students looking to progress to graduate-level studies. Other students are also invited to join if capacity allows.

These courses aim to develop Japanese proficiency among beginner-level students who have just arrived in Japan. By the end of the course, each international student will have acquired sufficient language skills to make an oral presentation in basic Japanese. ILA's Japanese Section functions as "a hub for meeting and learning" for students from different cultural backgrounds, and a safe place where international students can exchange information about life in Japan.

Encounters with Japanese culture are important components of the courses. In addition to visiting Kamakura, students can discover hidden gems such as Todoroki Valley nestled in Tokyo's Setagaya City and conduct active exchanges with elementary school students in Ota City.