Japanese Field Studies A(Tuesday, April 28)

On Tuesday, April 28, 2025, as part of Japanese Field Studies A, we visited Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki Prefecture with 20 exchange students.

During the visit, students enjoyed a traditional monkey performance, toured Ushiku Daibutsu—one of the world’s largest Buddha statues—and participated in a sutra-copying experience (shakyo), deepening their understanding of Japanese culture and spiritual traditions.

Participants shared comments such as, “I was surprised to see the Great Buddha from far away even before arriving at the parking lot. After getting off the bus, I was amazed once again by the view of the Buddha from the parking area,” “Through the Ushiku Daibutsu experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the Buddhist philosophy of life,” and “Ushiku Daibutsu was educational, enjoyable, and meaningful.” These responses showed that the visit provided students with a valuable opportunity to learn about Japanese culture through direct and enjoyable experiences.

 

You can view the posters summarizing the students’ learning outcomes at the link below.