Exploring Japan 2015 – Study Tour to Nagoya and Kyoto (9 -18 June 2015)

Exploring central Japan

A total of 13 students participated in a study tour to Japan, organised by LML, during the period of 9-18 June under the guidance of Assistant Professor Dr Shin Kataoka. Apart from students of language studies, other participants came from multiple disciplines, including Music, Global and Environmental Studies, Sports Science, among others.

The tour aimed to offer students an opportunity to understand the local culture and use of language and to promote EdUHK and Hong Kong culture while fostering the spirit of mutual help among students. During the 10-day tour, they visited Nagoya, Takayama, Kyoto and Osaka.

With language learning as the focus, the students visited Meijo University and Doshisha University where they attended seminars on linguistics and differences between Japanese and English/Chinese, such as phonology and grammar. They also learned about the history of central Japan and took part in group activities with local students. One of the interesting tasks assigned to the students was to try “hitsudan” (i.e. “communication through a pen”) with local Japanese students studying Putonghua. This was the way during the Meiji period where Japanese and Chinese people had to resort to written instead of oral communication. Learning took place beyond classroom. The students were also taken to Osu, where a subculture cosplay is originated, and Nagoya Castle – a great place to learn about Japanese history.

It was a memorable trip for the students. Not only had they the chance to experience the local culture, such as wearing yukata (Japanese traditional clothing), making wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) and matcha (green tea), joining the Japanese people after work hours, they were also given the opportunity to communicate and interact with local people, albeit their limited knowledge of Japanese, especially when they had to travel from one place to another. (Source: LML, CO)