The “Study at Tamagawa 2024 Summer” program took place from July 31 to August 14, 2024, concluding successfully with the active participation of eight international students from Tamagawa’s partner universities along with Tamagawa students. Over the course of two weeks, students engaged with one another through lectures and various cultural activities, resulting in a fulfilling experience.

Students attended lectures in English on “Current Issues in Japan,” covering diverse fields such as English education, pop culture, art, business, tourism and immigrants. On the final day, they formed small groups and presented in English on “The Attractions and Challenges of Japan Today.”

International students remarked “I think that the program covers wide variety of topics and is engaging to people from all backgrounds, while still engaging people who may not originally come from a background associated with the topic.” “I liked that these lecture topics I would not have experienced in my home country but I got to learn more in depth while at Tamagawa.” “All of the classes had skilled and experienced teachers which made instruction both interesting and sufficient.” and “The most eye-opening insight was the lecture on English education. I was unaware of the strenuous standards Japanese students face to achieve 'native speaker status.”

In addition to the academic sessions, international students participated in hands-on experiences of Japanese culture, including calligraphy, tea ceremony, traditional dance, and Japanese cuisine. Fieldwork in central Tokyo and an excursion to Hakone allowed students to explore new discoveries and gain deeper insights about Japan.

Overall, feedback from the program was overwhelmingly positive. “Thank you to all the staff and the faculties who helped make this program possible. This experience has been incredible,” said one student. Another echoed, “I didn’t expect to make good friends during these 2 weeks but I was able to thanks to all the activities and friendliness of the students!”

Through these comments, we are pleased to say that international students enjoyed their time at Tamagawa and had meaningful interactions with their peers. This experience not only sparked their interest in Japan but also deepened their understanding of the Japanese culture.

We look forward to welcoming more students in our next program!