From July 30 to August 14, 2025, Tamagawa University hosted Study at Tamagawa 2025 Summer. Eight international students from partner universities joined Tamagawa students participating in the concurrent summer session. Through lectures and a variety of activities, participants deepened their academic learning and cross-cultural understanding. The campus was filled with energy every day, making for two vibrant weeks full of smiles.

During the program, students studied in English about current issues in Japan across a wide range of fields, such as education, society, culture, business, tourism, pop culture, and immigration. On the final day, each team chose either “Japan’s current attractiveness and future development” or “Japan’s challenges and areas for improvement” as their theme and gave presentations in English to showcase what they had learned.

As part of the Japanese cultural experience, participants learned how to wear yukata and its etiquette, practiced flower arrangement, played taiko drums, and experienced the art of sencha tea ceremony. By directly engaging with these traditional practices, the international students were able to appreciate the beauty and spirit of Japanese culture, deepening their understanding through hands-on experience. The fieldwork in central Tokyo and the excursion to Hakone also offered valuable opportunities to explore the charm of Japan from both urban and natural perspectives.

The participants shared many positive impressions, such as “I had a wonderful time going out for dinner and interacting with Tamagawa students throughout the program.”“The excursion to Hakone was especially amazing.”“I was initially interested in Japan’s pop culture, but through experiencing its nature and people’s everyday lives, I gained a deeper understanding of Japan.”

Other comments included, “I truly felt welcomed”“The entire program was very well coordinated,” and “I came to understand that some aspects of Japanese culture are fading, and I now feel a desire to help preserve them.”
These reflections show that the students found the program to be both meaningful and fulfilling.

Through this program, the international students deepened their understanding of Japan by learning and interacting at Tamagawa University, while Tamagawa students gained valuable experiences that broadened their international perspectives. The next edition of the program is eagerly anticipated, promising even more opportunities for diverse learning and new connections.