Extracurricular Activities

Immersion in a work environment in a different culture equips students with skills that go beyond the specific internship experience, and makes the program more rewarding and fruitful for the students. We designed the program to be an opportunity to explore not only academic interests, but also cultural views. Based on such a policy, we included extracurricular activities such as a one-day excursion and Japanese culture experiences.

Events to meet and greet UTokyo students

Snack and Sandwich party joined by UTokyo students

Field Trip

The Great Buddha of Kamakura and Komachi Street

Students visited Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu), a colossal copper image of Amida-butsu (Amitabha Buddha). Construction of the Great Buddah, designated as National Treasure by Japanese government, began in almost 800 years ago. Students were astonished by the beauty of Japanese Buddhist art, construction technology and tequniques back then. They also enjoyed strolling in Komachi street (Komachi-dori), famous tourist spot. Various shops and restaurants along the street lured them. Some student visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the most important shrine in Kamakura Shogunate. Through a visit to Kamakura, students experienced Japanese traditional cultures.

Cooking Japanese Confectionery

Students experienced cooking Japanese confectionery (Wagashi) at Sosaku Wagashi Temari, a Japanese traditional private house type studio. They have created Lucky Rabbit (Fuku Usagi) using kneaded soft dough with mochi, bean paste, and red pigment. The history of Wagashi is said to date back to the Jomon period, and mochi, which is said to be the oldest processed food in Japan, appeared in the Wamyo-ruijusho more than 1000 years ago. The students were able to enjoy a very unique and exciting production experience.

Japanese cultural workshops

Students participated in Japanese cultural workshops: Japanese tea ceremony, yukata wearing, and calligraphy at Shinjuku Gyoen National Park.

Japanese Language Course

Japanese language courses were provided online by the Japanese Language Education Division, Center for Global Education, UTokyo. The course was specially arranged as an intensive survival course for UTRIP students. They mainly practiced conventional dialogues for situations in daily life.