2012 International Student Practical Field Trip
On the first day, the students first visited the Kyushu National Museum and Dazaifu Tenmangu, both of which are located in Fukuoka Prefecture. At the Kyushu National Museum, students saw exhibits and displays from the Paleolithic period through to the Edo period, from which they learned how Japanese culture took form through cultural relations with other Asian countries. Later at Dazaifu Tenmangu, the combination of traditional architecture and the uniquely Japanese panorama created by the brightly-colored plum blossoms and other delicate spring flowers left a deep impression on the students.
That night, participants stayed at a Japanese inn replete with a hot spring in Ureshino Onsen Town, Saga Prefecture. Students had the opportunity to experience traditional Japanese accommodation as well as to bathe in a hot spring, one of Japan’s most famous cultural assets. Some of the students had never been to a hot spring before, and the warm water and relaxing atmosphere put a smile on their faces.
On the second day, students visited The Saga City Cultural Museum and Yoshinogari Historical Park before taking a factory tour of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc. The Saga City Cultural Museum was holding part of the Saga Castle Town Hina Doll Festival. Hina Doll Festivals are held all over the country in celebration of Girl’s Day on March 3rd each year, and the Saga Castle Town Hina Doll Festival is just one of those festivals. Many of the students had never seen a hina doll, or in fact had even heard of the Hina Doll Festival, so they were able to experience another facet of Japanese culture. Meanwhile at Yoshinogari Historical Park, students looked around a reconstructed Yayoi period village, where they discovered how Japanese people lived at that time. Finally, at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, students learned the methods in which Japanese companies deal with recycling and quality control and were given an insight into the Japanese corporate world. After returning to the university, participants each wrote a report stating what they had learned and felt on the trip.
The field trip gave international students enrolled at our university the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Japan and its history, culture, science and technology. It also provided them with the chance to make friends with international students from other departments, whom they would not normally meet in everyday life. A number of participants even stated that they are already looking forward to the next field trip.