All posts by M. Girod

International Festival

General

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The?7th Annual Izumisano Cross-cultural Association’s International Festival took place in Rinku Town. This year attendees had?the opportunity to experience?various Japanese?pastimes. ?Participants?played?traditional Japanese drums, spun plates on poles,??and danced Yosakoi, a dance that?originates from in the city of?Kochi.?In addition, there were Philippine and Indonesian dances, an Indonesian style flute performance,??Nankin Tamasudare, a traditional Japanese street performance, and a lively hip-hop dance?by local high school students.??Offstage children made dragonflies and frogs out of paper.

Cross-cultural Exchange for Children

events

Parents, along with their children ranging in ages from two to eight, played games and did activities in their native languages. Plastic key rings with hand written messages in Italian, Tagalog, and Chinese were made and given to the children.

Here’s what some participants had to say:

“I enjoyed talking with foreigners because I usually don’t have a chance to talk with them. I thought it was a good experience for my children as well.”

“I was surprised to see that we have the same games in our own countries. The words may be different but the rules are the same.”

2015 Summer Obon Festival in Izumisano

General

Japanese?language?students from ica, dressed in yukata, participated in the traditional Bon Odori (Bon Dance).

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The Izumisano Obon Festival ?was?held on August 29. Despite the rainy weather many local residents of Izumisano, Japanese language?learners of ica and their friends were able to attend.?Attendees had a chance to?meet new people?for the first time and make new friends as they gathered around the vendor stalls and danced to?the traditional folk song of Izumisano,?Sano Kudoki.

Naguham, a native of Syria, sold her handicrafts at the?ica booth. “I am?so?happy to sell these handicrafts that I made. I appreciate everyone’s help with this.”, Nagamu said. When not selling her handicrafts she took many?pictures that she had planned to send to her?mother?who lives in Syria.

Emilio, an Italian?exchange student at Sano High School who had recently?arrived to Japan commented.?”It was a nice festival. It’s impressive that various?things are?very orderly. For?example, the event schedule,?the parking staff, and the way people ?generally move about. ?Although, the weather wasn’t so good, I really enjoyed the festival because I got to meet lots of people and dance. But, since?I’ve been walking around in these traditional Japanese sandals, I have sore feet.”

Luke, an?American who had briefly visited Japan three years prior, remarked in fluent Japanese. ?”The festival food was impressive. In particular, the egg crackers and croquette were delicious. I was taught how to dance Bon Odori. I was also able to learn?how to do the dance while wearing a real?yukata. It was a great chance to really?experience?the festival rather than simply be a spectator.