日本語On Saturday, 18th November 2023, 15 international and Japanese students joined the bus tour held by the International Exchange Center.
The theme of the tour was to help international students and Japanese students not from this area to learn about the charms of the Okitama region, visiting spots in Yonezawa City, Takahata Town and Nagai City. Another purpose of the tour was to encourage interaction between international and Japanese students as well as with locals.
The first stop was the Yoneori Kaikan, a Yonezawa fabrics store and museum in a building boasting a history from the Taisho period. Here, students learnt a bit about the history of Yonezawa fabrics and how they were made. Students then tried on kimono that were made using Yonezawa fabrics and went to the nearby Uesugi Shrine to immerse in the traditional Japanese atmosphere, lined with beautiful autumn leaves.
After lunch, the next stop was the Takahata Winery. Students were given a tour where they learnt how the region is one of the topic wine-making regions in Japan. They learned about how red wine and white wine is made, and saw the machinery used to ferment the grapes. Although it was a shame not to be able to see the vineyard full of grapes grown especially for the wine, students were able to try grape juice and wine that was made using them, and many students tried the grape or wine-flavoured ice cream.
During the bus journey to the third stop, Ms. Ishiyama Kyoko from the Yonezawa International Relations Association (YIRA) gave a mini lesson on the Yonezawa dialect. Students enjoyed learning the Japanese words that are used in their current home city.
The third stop was the Nagai City Kodai no Oka, where students could see ruins and restored houses from the Jomon period. The guide explained about the four wooden pillars that were used as a clock many many years ago. Inside the museum, students were able to see how people lived back then, and saw pottery and tools that were found.
The fourth stop was the kendama shop, Spike. As the number one producer of kendama in Japan, Nagai has attracted kendama world champions to become the current runners of the store. Here, the students were given a demonstration of how to use this traditional toy, enjoying the many spectacular tricks and a kendama that has 10 balls! Students tried the kendama, and bouts of laughter could be heard throughout the store as students succeeded and failed at mastering the kendama.
The final stop was the former Elementary School First School Building, a registered cultural property in Nagai City. The building is completely made of wood and was used up until 2015, now hosting a museum, community center, and free space for locals to use.
Although a long trip, students enjoyed getting to know the area more and trying the various traditional activities while interacting with each other. We hope students will enjoy their time here more with a better understanding of this area.
