Hutt Valley High students take in the modern and the ancient on Japan visit
Twenty-four Japanese-language students from Hutt Valley High experienced both ancient and modern Japan on a long-anticipated class visit—from the tranquillity of Meiji Shrine to the bustling energy of Tokyo's Shibuya district. In this article, Hutt Valley High Japanese teacher Sarah Langley reflects on the trip and what made it such a special learning experience for her students. The class was supported to travel to Japan through an Asia New Zealand Foundation Japan Study Grant, kindly funded by Nakashimato Co Ltd. of Japan.
Arriving in Tokyo, the Hutt Valley High students were immediately hit by the hot, muggy weather and quickly found the nearest jidohanbaiki (vending machine).
With so many options to choose from, these machines quickly became prized discoveries wherever we went, as did Konbini (convenience stores), which offer a huge range of snacks, from fresh pineapple and fruit smoothies to onigiri (Japanese rice balls) and Family Mart Chicken.
Travelling around the city by Tokyo's famous underground system, our first destination was the beautiful Imperial Gardens and Meiji Shrine.
The students really seemed to like the sense of serenity surrounding these places. They were interested (although nervous) about the protocol surrounding the shrines. They had a lot of questions like: "How many times do I clap? Or bow? And in what order?" It was a new experience for them and one they really seemed to appreciate.
These peaceful, serene places were a stark contrast to our next destinations — the cultural and shopping epicentres of Harajuku and Shibuya. The crowded streets and shops were initially a huge cultural shock for many of the group, but they quickly got into the swing of navigating their way through the throngs.
A trip to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa and Japan’s National Museum in Ueno gave us a chance to learn about the ancient history and culture of Japan.
At the National Museum, the students were drawn to the armour and katana exhibits, as well as a piece of pottery from the Jōmon period that was around 5000 years old. They couldn't believe that something so old still exists!
While the impressive and ancient sights of Japan awed the students, sometimes it was the small things that really caught their imaginations — gachapon (capsule-toy vending machines) in the district of Akihabara being a big hit with many of the group.
While in Tokyo, we visited our sister school, Suginami High School.
The students were very nervous to meet their homestay buddies and their families who we had so far only spoken to via email, but nerves were largely assuaged by the walm welcome we received.
This homestay experience was the highlight of trip for almost everyone.
Spending time with our Japanese 'buddies' at school, Disneyland, and over the weekend gave the students a great insight into Japanese everyday life.
While at school, we had the opportunity to do shōdo (calligraphy) and take part in a tea ceremony led by Suginami students. It was interesting to learn about this traditional ceremony.
Our families were incredibly generous, showing us around Tokyo and introducing us to a range of delicious food like takoyaki, shabushabu, MosBurger, ramen and udon. We were incredibly sad to say goodbye the following Monday.
Next we were on the shinkansen (bullet train) to Osaka. On arrival, we were taken to the Hep5 Ferris Wheel, which, while scary for some, gave us a great view of the city.
We had some free time here to explore the fashion shops and find our own choice of food in Dotonbori and Namba. The okonomiyaki and takoyaki here were supreme!
A day trip to Kyoto revealed the oldest temples and shrines in Japan as well as a chance to eat matcha ice-cream to help keep us cool!
Another highlight was visiting Osaka-jō and learning about the history of the samurai in Japan.
Osaka-jō, or Osaka Castle, was an important site during the conflict leading up to Japan's unification after the Battle of Sekigahara. Most of the exhibits inside the castle inform visitors about this history, with historical painted screens depicting the battle as well as video re-enactments on display. The students were fascinated by the historical artifacts and images of battle.
We went shopping for souvenirs to give to our family back home then finished the trip off with a group meal at a sushi train restaurant. It was so delicious and empty plates were piled high!
This trip has definitely been an experience of a lifetime and one our students will never forget.
They were surrounded by spoken and written Japanese all the time, so it was an incredible experience for developing their language skills.
The cross-cultural understanding that visits like this foster is another important aspect of why we take the students to Japan.
They gained insight into not only how to use the language but also how Japanese people live. Particularly while at their homestays, they could come to see Japanese customs not as strange or foreign but as somewhat more familiar and, hopefully, understandable.
We are looking forward to hosting our sister school in March 2025, so many students will be able to meet up with their host buddies and friends from Japan again. Without a doubt, many will also return to Japan in the future.
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