Due to the impact of COVID-19, online classes were held from April. Finally in June, we returned to regular in-person attendance after a long break. ASAHI文化学院 distributed free masks to students on multiple occasions. In addition, Ms. Hayashi's mother made cloth masks for the students! There are plenty! Thank you so very much.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, regular in-person attendance has resumed for the first time in two months! Students sanitize their hands at the entrance and have their temperature checked before entering the classroom. Students said "After all, we want to study at school!" Being together really is more fun!
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the ceremony concluded in a very short time — with hand sanitization at the entrance, everyone wearing masks throughout, no guests, no graduation speeches, and no farewell messages from current students. There was no graduation party either. It was a truly simple graduation ceremony, but perhaps that made it all the more special. Although it was a very modest ceremony, our dedication as faculty and staff to celebrating our graduates was immense!
Everyone, congratulations on your graduation! ASAHI文化学院 will always be wishing you happiness!
At today's New Year cultural experience event, we split into groups and walked to the nearby Kuragari no Mori Hachiman Shrine for the first shrine visit of the New Year (hatsumode).
After studying about Kuragari no Mori Hachiman Shrine and how to visit a shrine in the classroom, we all walked there together.
Thanks to the kindness of the chief priest (guji), we were also allowed to draw omikuji (fortune slips)!
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!
For the New Year's calligraphy (kakizome), after carefully practicing brush techniques such as "tome" (stopping), "hane" (flicking), and "harai" (sweeping), everyone wrote their favorite characters.
Everyone did a wonderful job!
ASAHI文化学院 held its cultural festival on December 21st, with approximately 120 participants including international students and related parties.
Nepalese students dressed in traditional costumes and performed a dance!
Sri Lankan students performed a song!
The Vietnamese group gave a presentation on the Vietnamese dish "Banh mi"!
Chinese students explained the differences between Chinese food in Japan and cooking in China itself, saying things like "Tenshinhan (a Japanese-Chinese dish) doesn't exist in China — I ate it for the first time in Japan" and "Japanese mapo tofu doesn't have Sichuan pepper, so I thought it had no taste."
Participants in the Japanese language teacher training course came to watch the festival, and commented things like "I saw a Nepalese dance for the first time" and "I was surprised by how good the international students' Japanese was."
Friday, October 25th
Today was the Ise field trip we had all been looking forward to.
But it was cloudy from the morning and looked like rain.
Still, everyone set off in good spirits.
We visited Ise Jingu Shrine, long cherished as the spiritual home of the Japanese people, and our hearts were cleansed by the crisp air of the vast forest.
We enjoyed strolling through the lively "Okage Yokocho" area, with its long-established Japanese confectionery shops, restaurants serving the local specialty Ise udon noodles, and charming Japanese-style souvenir stores.
We also visited the famous "Meoto-iwa" (Wedded Rocks), and students who were seeing the ocean for the first time were overjoyed.
On October 19th, during the morning, Mr. Nishikuma held a last-minute power-up course for the Japanese Language Teaching Proficiency Test! The test is just around the corner! Best of luck to all those taking it.
A Japanese language salon seminar organized by Bonjinsha was held at ASAHI文化学院 in Nagoya.
We welcomed a full house of participants and held the Nagoya seminar as the first among five venues nationwide. Once again, the enthusiasm for Japanese language education in the workplace was palpable — it was a swift two and a half hours.
Our school's instructors also participated and studied the textbook "Hatarakutame no Nihongo" (Japanese for the Workplace).
Career planning is important for international students too. It was very informative!
We would like to express our gratitude to all attendees and to ASAHI文化学院 for the use of the venue.
A public lecture titled "Women's Culture Lecture," introducing the garments of Heian-period nobility and others, was held on October 17th at the Nagoya Nohgakudo in Naka-ku, Nagoya. By invitation of the organizing General Foundation for the Promotion of Folk Costume Culture, approximately 65 international students from ASAHI文化学院 learned about the kimono and culture of that era.
The procession of the Saio (an imperial princess who left the capital to serve the great deity of Ise in the emperor's name) and her entourage was vividly re-enacted, with beautiful garments presented one after another, captivating the international students.
Everyone, welcome to ASAHI文化学院! We hope your student life here will be a wonderful one!
Keep working hard toward your dreams!
The sushi from Kani Honke is super popular!
In connection with September 1st — Disaster Prevention Day — on Monday, September 2nd, firefighters from the Nakagawa Fire Station of the Nagoya City Fire Department came to our school and held the first disaster preparedness drill of the year for all students.
The activities carried out were as follows:
Firefighters held a lecture in the classroom, and students studied about fires and earthquakes. After learning the importance of "don't push, don't run, don't talk" when evacuating, they also practiced using fire extinguishers and carried out the evacuation drill.
The firefighters explained each key point clearly and provided easy-to-understand demonstrations, which allowed the evacuation drill to proceed smoothly. Receiving guidance from professionals was a great stimulus for the students.
ASAHI文化学院 currently has international students from 5 countries studying Japanese. In order to protect the safety of our students, we will continue to conduct regular drills and raise awareness about disaster preparedness.
Thank you to all the staff at the Nakagawa Fire Station of the Nagoya City Fire Department for your guidance.
When you think of Japanese summer, it's all about festivals — the season that sets your heart dancing.
Yukata, decorative hair accessories, festival stalls, bon odori dancing, fireworks, flowing somen noodles — to help international students from overseas experience Japan's summer, ASAHI文化学院 held a summer cultural experience event on August 9th as part of its cultural experience curriculum. International students who had come from China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other countries enjoyed yukata dressing, flowing somen noodles, bon odori dancing, and more, all within the school grounds.
The participating international students transformed into yukata-clad figures, were amazed by their first experience of flowing somen noodles, curiously tasted the noodles flowing through bamboo tubes, and the event was a great success.
Many local residents and people from other schools also participated, and international students joined the circle of bon odori for the first time amid calls from those in attendance — scenes of students enjoying Japan's summer to the fullest were visible everywhere, making it an excellent opportunity for international students to sharpen their global sensibilities.
Thank you to everyone who cooperated in the summer cultural experience event!
