We held a party for 39 students (including new students studying abroad, current foreign students and Japanese students) to get to know each other. They played games organized by student staff while having natural conversations with one another.

We held an online gaming meeting planned by exchange room tutors. 26 Japanese and study abroad students from Ibaraki University and 5 students from Ibaraki Christian University joined this project and got to know each other through playing games.

We held a project that encouraged students to write their wishes online and share them on the day of the festival.

In the class of “Human and Communication: Japanese Pop Culture B,” which is offered by the Center for Global Engagement, students took an online field trip to Oarai town.
The Japanese anime series “Girls and Panzer” is set in Oarai, so usually students could visit there physically and explore. However, because of the pandemic, we had to switch to an online field trip this year. Students created an itinerary for the field trip, and a teacher went there and to explore and stream the events for the students to enjoy online. Other than for our own students, we livestreamed the event for many students who are studying Japanese at our partner schools in Korea, Australia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan and Indonesia. Although it was online only this year, the applicants seemed to enjoy the experience.

It was our second time to hold such a reunion. This time, we asked professors who had worked with lots of study abroad students to join. Applicants enjoyed the event, saying, “It was so glad to see old familiar faces” and, “I was so happy to get interacted with all of them even during this COVID-19 situation.”

Exchange tutors provided this activity for 19 students from both study abroad and Japanese student programs. Students were divided into small groups and chatted about their favorite manga, games or places to visit while having lunch together.

We held this activity with the theme of “we can connect anywhere.” In the past, we have had an international interaction camp provided by Japanese students to give study abroad students an opportunity to meet and get to know each other. But, because of the COVID-19 situation, we had to cancel the camp for the second year in a row. This event was a successful alternative that still provided students with the chance to meet and engage with each other.

We held an easy Japanese rakugo meeting. This was for students in our partner schools. In part one, students from Ibaraki University and students & teachers from our partner schools in America and Vietnam joined the meeting?12 people in total. In part two, students from Ibaraki University and students & teachers from our partner schools in France, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Australia and Vietnam joined the meeting?33 people in total. At the event, members of Ibaraki University’s rakugo research society explained rakugo (a form of Japanese storytelling using comedy) and performed it in English and easy Japanese. Students overseas were laughing and impressed by the performances. After the play, we explained about our exchange program to the students overseas. We received a lot of questions about out program, and it seemed that the participants really enjoyed themselves.

We held this event online because of the COVID-19 situation, but this time we used a virtual space called “oVice.” The applicants were study abroad students at our school who were from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Syria and Sri Lanka. In addition to them, students and teachers from Ibaraki University joined, along with some of the international interaction association staff, totaling 70 applicants. This time we provided each applicant with a “Tasting Ibaraki” set, which was loved when we provided it last time. Additionally, all supporting staff prepared one Halloween item to use for dressing up and made this activity exciting. The applicants played some games provided by student staff. There was a chatting time after the activity, and in the online party place, many chatrooms were created. It seemed the students enjoyed talking as much as time allowed.

We held an online zazen workshop using Zoom. Students and teachers from Ibaraki University, as well as students and teachers from our partner schools in foreign countries, joined this activity, totaling 20 participants. In the workshop, the deputy priest of Gion-ji Temple in Mito explained about zazen (a Buddhist meditation activity), and then the applicants experienced doing zazen. After the workshop, applicants were divided into small groups for a general meet and greet. One student from a partner school said, “I was glad that I could learn how to do zazen before I experienced it for the first time.” Another student (from Ibaraki University) said, “I was happy to have some opportunities to talk with students who are learning about Japan or Japanese language. I was able to have a lot of fun.” The other comments were also affirmative.

We held an online origami workshop using Zoom. Students and teachers from Ibaraki University and our partner schools in foreign countries participated. Applicants in foreign countries got paper beforehand. At the workshop, applicants made a penguin, Mt. Fuji, a crane and Santa Claus. A teacher from the Japanese Origami Association explained about origami (the art of paper folding) and guided them how to fold papers using both Japanese and English. After the workshop, applicants were divided into small groups for a general meet and greet. One student from a partner school said, “the explanation was easy to understand, both in Japanese and in English, and that helped me a lot. I had never been able to make a paper crane before, but today I could make one.” One Japanese student said, “Because I want to be an English teacher, to see and hear the explanation how to make origami in English was very helpful and meaningful.”