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On February 17, OSS held a Samurai Workshop where about 20 students joined and experienced Japanese traditional sword action taught by a professional group of teachers. The teachers were a group of sword performers called “Kamui,” who also choreographed and acted in the movie Kill Bill. The workshop was held at a community center near Tamachi Station where the students were very enthusiastic about learning the Japanese sword action. The students learned several basic moves as well as a choreographed routine in which they each performed at the end.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
The students were very excited about experiencing how to make the most traditional of Japanese food – sushi. A group of students visited a famous sushi restaurant – Bikkuri Sushi, where the Sushi Shokunin, or sushi chef, went very carefully in teaching the foreign students the art of making sushi. The students made a variety of sushi, which they later got to eat. They also learned about the history and the usage of traditional Japanese knives used to cut fish in making sushi. All of the students did a very good job in making sushi for the first time and impressed the chef.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
On a cold and snowy day in Tokyo, you wouldn’t expect anyone to be crazy enough to go out walking around, but when the location is Akihabara and you are an Otaku, a little snowflake or two couldn’t possibly keep you away.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
When considering Japan, the colossal image of the sumo wrestler is one of the concepts that comes to mind. However, when closely examined, one finds that there is much more to the sumo wrestler than the stereotypes. TUJ students who attended the event were fortunate enough to be able to experience sumo for themselves in Ryogoku, an area in Sumida, Tokyo that is often considered the heartland of sumo. While watching the event, many questions were raised. What is it that the wrestlers toss into the air? Why do they stomp the ground with their feet? Simply watching sumo is one thing, but to truly appreciate this ancient art of Japan, a knowledge of the rich tradition that lies within it is needed.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
On Monday, February 2, 2010, OSS held a Koto workshop at Mita Hall. This workshop’s primary goal was to teach students about Koto, a traditional Japanese musical instrument. So, what is the Koto? First, check out this video of my fellow students in action!
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
On January 26th, 2010, OSS hosted a basketball sports night at the Higashimachi Elementary school gymnasium. We focused only on basketball for this sports night so that we could attrack all of TUJ’s basketball lovers to come and enjoy some good-hearted competition.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
It was a very pleasant almost spring day and everybody was looking forward to meeting Ms. Akagi and experiencing Japanese traditional arts for their first time. Ms. Akagi’s house is a very traditional Japanese-style house with a very lovely garden.
First, we received a warm welcome and were sat down on the Japanese tatami mat. The workshop started with an explanation about the Shinto religion and we all prayed together, then Ms. Akagi played two traditional songs on the Japanese koto, which is like a harp. One was a very famous song about sakura cherry blossoms, which reminded us how quickly spring is approaching Tokyo this year, when we will be able to do hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
The purpose of the Language Partner Program (LPP) is to pair up native Japanese speakers who wish to improve their English language skills with native English speakers who wish to improve their Japanese language skills, though we have a number of participants with neither Japanese or English as their native language. It is also a great way to know people outside of your classroom.
The first meeting for this semesters’s LPP took place on Friday, January 22 in Azabu Hall. Close to 70 students, both Japanese and international (including some friends from Musashi University), registered and showed up to meet their new language partners. We had snacks prepared for our likely hungry students, and it wasn’t long before we started to get things rolling…
There were more than 20 students who have submitted their photos, and we have had quite a variety of submissions this semester. Thank you all for your participation. The photos were voted on per category by OSS-related staff members. From each category winner, the photo that received the most votes is the winner of the grand prize!!
And the Grand Prize Winner is…..
From the Studen Life Category, “Sporting the colors of Tokyo” by Richard Loria (Fall 2009 SA Student)!!
Student Life: Sporting the Colors of Tokyo by Richard Loria
The first place winners for each of the other categories are……
City and Scenic: Sleepless by Yejun Jeong
Japan: Food Market by Saleem Ahmed
TUJ Activities and Events: The Fight Begins by Jordan Sheng-Hung Chien
The following is a student’s account of the OSS-organized Culture Exchange Camp, which took place from September 25-26, 2009 at the Center Village Campsite in Yamanashi Prefecture.
After leaving home at around 6:30 AM, I arrived at the meeting spot and met some other people who were attending the camp. We left the school around 8:30 AM.
We stopped at a resting spot about half way. At the resting spot, we bought some snacks and lunch. I ate dango.
After that we went back to the bus and then continued heading to the camping spot, which is deep in the mountains. The roads were curvy and up-hill. The weather was nice and not cold. Because the bus couldn’t get into the camp site, once we arrived to a certain point, we had to get off the bus and walk the rest of the way…
