HITP STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME 29/09/16 – 9/10/16 PLACES OF VISIT / ACTIVITIES

HIT senior High School Yukata wearing Peace Memorial Park HIT Polytechnic Miyajima Mishima Foods Nagisa Koen Elementary School Nagisa High School Nagisa Junior High School HIT Yachiyo Facilities Ishida Asaki Vocational School of Fashion Alpenrose Japanese culture calligraphy Rice-cake making Hiroshima Castle Homestay HIT SENIOR HIGH (ALL BOYS SCHOOL, WILL BE ACCEPTING GIRLS STARTING NEXT YEAR)

On the first day of the exchange program, we visited HIT senior high school, where we were given a chance to try one out of 3 Japanese martial arts, in which I chose Kyudo, a Japanese archery. Kyudo means The way of the bow. It was mainly used for war, hunting and games in the past. The bow is taller than an average sized human and you’ll need strength to pull the arrow all the way back and utter control and reflex to hit the target. A fun sport where concentration plays an important role. BADMINTON

In the morning of the second day, we went to HITP university and played 2 matches of badminton each with different partners. The Japanese students are very fun and outgoing while playing badminton, very kind and also athletic. PEACE MEMORIAL PARK

After the badminton matches at HIT University, we visited the peace memorial park and chanced upon the flame that will never perish, named as the flame of peace, which was first lit in 1964, and is to remain lit until all the nuclear bombs in the world is perished and destroyed and all of humanity are safe from any nuclear threats. A BOMB DOME

A bomb dome, located nearby the peace memorial park, tells of the story of the building that didn’t perish during the nuclear bombing that landed on Hiroshima. We managed to witness its building structures, of what’s left behind. Some flowers were left behind as a tribute and offering for the victims that succumbed to the bombings. MIYAJIMA

On our third day, we visited the island of Miyajima, where the Itsukushima shrine was located. It is also an island populated by deers roaming around, and its famous for their momiji manjyuu. Sadly the Itsukushima shrine was undergoing renovations so we couldn’t witness it at its utmost glory. A ferry ride is needed from miyajima guchi (port) to reach miyajima island. It also showcases their large rice scoop. NAGISA KOEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

On our 4th day , We visited Nagisa Koen Elementary school, where children aged 7-12 years go to. We folded origami with the students, making boxes, paper cranes and also flowers. The school system is in a way where once you reach school, you will have to change into another pair of shoes for indoor class activities and remove footwear when you are playing out in the field. NAGISA JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL

After our visit at the elementary school, we visited the junior high and high school. There the students taught us a few Japanese games mainly cat’s cradle, kendama, fukuwarai( stick the face features on the paper), and also otedama( small bean bags used to juggle)

Their school uniform according to season SCHEDULE FOR JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH

School time  8.15 am – 4pm Saturday (1pm) (Junior High)  8.45am – 3.10pm Monday and Wednesday – 4.10pm Saturday 12.35pm (High) Club activities after class, ends at 6pm to be out of school by 6.30pm 1 class consists of 40 students English class consists of 20 students Boys and girls are separated during p.e class Boys  soccer, baseball, rugby, running Girls  Volleyball, badminton, yoga, dodgeball Both  Table tennis, marathon(time limit of 20 mins at miyajima island, boys 5km girls 4km) MISHIMA FOOD CO

We visited the Mishima Food company, a company that produces seasonings to be eaten with rice. Made in different sizes of packets for different consumers. Small packets for children bringing packed lunch . We were given a factory tour of how the machines operate and help in the process of making and producing the seasoning. We were also given 3 packets of different seasonings as gifts. HIT YACHIYO FACILITIES

The following day we visited HIT yachiyo facilities, located far away from the bustling city near the mountains, where we had our woodmaking and pizzamaking. We were asked if Singaporeans do woodmaking often because Japanese students usually does. ISHIDA ASAKI VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OF FASHION

On the following day, we visited Ishida Asaki Vocational School of Fashion. The students of the fashion school performed a mini runway fashion show for us, with 3 different themes. First was Formal dress, followed by Japanese traditional (kimono) design dress and lastly a theme inspired by colour. After the mini show , the girls made a mini brooch keychain while the guys made small pouch bags. KENDAMA

We came back to HITP to learn kendama playing. Kendama was first originated from Hiroshima. We learned first hand from an expert of more than 20 years. Honestly I am not a fan of kendama after getting easily irritated by kids in Singapore playing in public with the noise it makes. ENGINEERING STUDENT EXCHANGE

We had a short exchange program with the engineering students of the HIT University. They showed us a few of their projects such as a sound detector and recorder and also showed us their “clean room” and also a machine that can cut boards perfectly. JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY

We were given the opportunity to try Japanese calligraphy, though its kanji is similar to that of Chinese and thus most of my friends knew how to write while it is my first time writing. I chose the letter ‘Ai’ meaning love and I tried to perfect it although its still not up to standard ALPENROSE

We visited the alpenrose, an old folk’s home, where we helped clean the outside windows of the entire 3rd and 4th floor. We made crane origamis together and also played games together. The elderly there loved to sing and have fun. We performed for them and they seemed to enjoy it. While we were playing a game, the song memeshikute was showing on the tv and one of the elderly stood up from her sit and danced along to the song. RICE CAKE MAKING

We tried rice cake making first hand. The hot rice was first put into the stone which is then pounded continuously, also adding a little bit of hot water from time to time, and molding it before continuing to pound. Once it was finely pounded and has the soft sticky texture, it was then brought up to the table where we cut them into smaller pieces, rolled into a ball covered with flour, and is then ready to be served. Honestly I didn’t really like rice cake much but after making it together, I learned of the sweet taste of effort being put into making the rice cake. YUKATA WEARING

We were borrowed a piece of yukata and were assisted in putting it on by the teacher in-charge. Honestly that was my first time wearing a yukata. It felt tight as they had to secure and tighten around the chest area for the ribbon and so as to not let the yukata fall loose. We were also given a pair geta to wear to pair along with the beautiful yukata HIROSHIMA CASTLE

The Hiroshima Castle tells the story of the past, about what happened during the edo period, of the shogunate, and also of the people who were once in control of the castle, and how Hiroshima came to be. The original castle was destroyed during the nuclear bombing and what’s left of it were the pioneer stones. The castle also provided some armor and also clothes from the past to be tried on. HOMESTAY During the homestay period of 2 days and 1 night, I managed to experience what it felt like to be in a Japanese household. They were very warm and welcoming, kind and fun to be with. Their houses are mainly 3 stories, with the bedroom being on the upper floor and the first and second floors are separated. They like their food covered with tempura, which is very delicious.

Traditional Japanese tatami mat

Home cooked Dinner TOILET

The toilets in Japan have multiple button functions. It helps clean yourself up by spraying water automatically when you press either of the buttons. Some toilets also a dryer button. DONE BY: SITI NUR HADIRAH BTE MOHAMADNORI