「日本が大好き」 – How I Came to Love Japan

My favourite subject is, without a doubt, 「日本の文化」 JAPANESE CULTURE. Where has my passion for this country first started you ask? It is a very long tale indeed, one that starts with two little girls completely immersed in Manga and Anime culture. My best friend and I met in grade 1 of high school. We … Continue reading →

Day 5: First Day of School & Kenrokuen Gardens

First day of school! Summer school is always unpleasant, even in a foreign country. While the sun is shining brightly outside and people are enjoying the warmer weather, we’re stuck on the inside diligently studying. However, our Japanese class wasn’t boring or cumbersome (as are most summer classes) but rather something interesting to look forward … Continue reading →

Kawaii Japan: Justified or Not?

「かわいい」 is such an overused term in the West that is has become one of the primary symbols of Japan and Japanese culture. Obviously, the term is about the only really accessible word to Westerners, unless of course you are a student of languages. But the question remains: is it an overused word? And is … Continue reading →

Day 4: Prefectural Courtesy Visit

Our morning was quite eventful, what with the official Opening Ceremony (a small official event meant to welcome us to the school and introduce us to our new teachers). We sat there for a while as the director of the programme introduced staff members and teachers, and prepared us for the visit to the government … Continue reading →