Japan US Exchange Day 7 : Omuta & Fukuoka

Today was another fascinating day experiencing the culture of Japan. It is great to be traveling with Fulbright Japan expose us to unique experiences that would not be possible without their organization and expertise. I am amazed at the amount of staff and volunteers organized for our visits. From bus drivers, to professors, to school personnel, to community leaders – there are so many people working to make our visit special.

In the morning we went to  Omuta City hall to meet with the mayor of Omuta and the local Board of Education.

We spent the afternoon at a community center in Omuta, where we participated in a cooking class, it almost felt like being in the TV show Iron Chef! During the class we prepared a Japanese style lunch.

After lunch we took a quick class on the Japanese art of origami.

Our very talented and prolific origami teacher.

After origami we learned the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Our teachers were a group of veteran tea masters that go to schools and around the community teaching the ceremony in order to preserve this important Japanese tradition.

After leaving the community center in Omuta we traveled to the Omuta City Ecosanc. In Omuta they have  massive fields of solar panels that generate energy for more than 1/3 of this city. In total there are 70,000 solar panels!  Fantastic to see a town that was dependent on coal and devastated when the mines closed  now revived with the existence of renewable energy.
A panoramic view of the 70,000 solar panels in Omuta City.

This evening we took a train to Fukuoka, Japan’s sixth largest city on the northern shore of Kyushu Island. This city is famous for it’s Ramen and although we were only there a couple of hours it was impressive. Fukuoka is a very livley city.

Delicious ramen spots right along the city street in Fukuoka. 

Japan US Exchange Day 6: Omuta

Today we visited two different schools here in Omuta City. The first school we went to was Yoshino Elementary School where Mr. Nakamura teaches, he is also part of the teacher exchange program. Then we visited Takuma Junior High School. This area has seen and will continue to see significant growth and development due to the opening of a Shinkansen station (Shinkansen is the Japanese bullet train) in the local community.

When we arrived at Yoshino Elementary we were greeted warmly but the principal and staff.  We began the day at Yoshino learning about Education for Sustainable Development initiatives in Japan and specifically at the school.

The students gave us tour through the school and showed us some of the amazing things they are doing with education for sustainable development such as the Biotope.

Also, the students have a garden they tend. The students are working with the local community to plant Sakura (cherry) trees around the school. At one time there were more than 80 cherry trees and the students have a goal to replenish them.

Nearly all schools, including elementary schools in Japan have a swimming pool. Students do swimming 3 days a week as part of the PE curriculum during the summer months.

Students in the school also take English. Below you can see their book for English that they use. The students asked us their interview question for the day and had an opportunity to practice with us.

I am so  impressed with the writing. Writing in the symbols of Kanji and Katakana is most definitely an art. Students practice the symbols daily. Today they were learning the Kanji symbol for growth. There is a very specific path to creating each of the more than 2000 characters that these students are exposed to in school.

We also had a special treat today as we got to eat lunch with the students. In Japan students eat in the classroom with the teacher. The lunch is prepared in the school kitchen and then brought to the classroom by students. I was most impressed by the efficiency of the students.

In the kitchen, after lunch, this is apparently what was not eaten by the more than 500 students at the school. As you can see students ate nearly everything that was served to them.

Later in the afternoon the entire school takes 15 minutes and cleans the hallways and their learning spaces. Students sweep and mop the floors of the classrooms, hallways, and stairs. I was impressed by this as the students did this enthusiastically. The classroom is their learning space and they seemed to have a genuine desire to care for it.

Later in the afternoon we went to Takuma Junior High School. In Japan elementary school is 1st grade – 6th grade and junior high is 7th through 9th.

After being greeted by the principal and his staff we were invited to see one of the grade levels presenting speeches to their classmates. Notice that all of the students are wearing uniforms. All junior high students wear uniforms in Japan. One of the things that stood out to me was the straight and neat rows as all students listened to their classmates.

After touring this school we were invited to stay around for their extra-curricular activities. Approximately 70% of the students stay after school for these club activities which include music, art, soccer, baseball and as you see above Kendo or Japanese fencing.

Japan US Exchange Day 5: Homestay Omuta

Today was great day as I got to expore more of Kyushu, the southern island of Japan. I had a wonderful breakfast with my host  family this morning before we headed out to spend the day in Yanagawa, the city of water.

About to head out for a day of adventure.

bamboo forest

We took a boat ride “Donko-Bune” through the city. The boat ride was 70 minutes and wound through waterways and past the historic site of Yanagawa castle.

I visted the Tachibanake Museum and viewing the incredible displays of Samurai armour and weapons. Somewhat similar to Darth Vadar's uniform.

Japan US Exchange Day 4: Omuta

Today was our first full day in Omuta. We explored Omuta’s historic sites and this afternoon we were all picked up at our hotel by our host families.

Miyanohara Pit, Miike Coal Mine
We began the day with a trip to the Miyanohara Pit of the Miike Coal Mine. The mine was instrumental in fueling industry and growth in Japan. Our visit here made the local news in Japan.

Miike Harbor
Next we visited Miike harbor. For centuries Japan had a policy of isolation toward the rest of the world. Miike harbor was instrumental in changing that. Our tour guide told us today that when Miike harbor was opened in 1901 it was instrumental in opening Japan up to the world.


 Host Family Stay
Today we also began our host family stay. They generously opened up their traditional style home and prepared a Japanese dinner and breakfast.  I slept on a Tatami mat which was surprisingly very comfortable.  The Japanese usually bathe before bed.  They prepared a hot bath for me which was very relaxing.  We shared pictures of our families and watched the local news I was surprised to see myself on TV along with the other visiting  US teachers during our visit to the coal mine earlier today.

Japan US Exchange Day 3: Tokyo to Omuta City

We left the hotel this morning at around 7:30AM  for Omuta City in the Fukuoka Prefecture on the southern island of Japan. We will be in Omuta City and the surrounding area for the next several days visiting schools, world heritage sites, and doing a homestay. Not many tourist  visit Omuta as it is an industrial town so we will be some of the first.

Our path from Tokyo to Saga.

Map showing Omuta City.

Omuta City
Omuta City has a population of about 120,000 people. This industrial area was once home to the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine. Mining in this area began in the Kyoho era in the early 1700’s. The mine was nationalised in 1872 and operated until its closure in 1997. The mine was a major factor in supplying the energy needed for the rapid growth of Japan in the 20th century. When the mine closed there were significant effects on the local economy. Having been here only one day so far it is easy to see many similarities between Omuta City and similar towns in the United States that have been hurt by large industries and corporations moving.

The schools in Omuta City have embraced the idea of Education for Sustainable Development. The entire purpose of ESD is to not create a present world that endangers future generations. All 34 of the schools in Omuta City are UNECSO schools (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The board of education has embraced the idea of teaching students not to create a present that endangers the future.

Hotel vending machines, fresh lettuce or cigarettes...

The Milke Coal Mine Museum

Japan US Exchange Day 2: School Visits "Convenience Makes a Lazy Mind"

Today we visited 2 schools. I impressed by the dedication of the staff and students as well as the independence and collaboration revealed by the Japanese students.

JIYU
Our first stop today was JIYU Gakuen. JIYU is a private school that offers Kindergarten through university on its 25 acre campus in the western suburbs of Tokyo. The name of the school JIYU means “freedom”. This was evident throughout the school. This is an learning environment that takes pride in putting the students in charge of more than just their learning. Students in junior high and high school live on campus. However, all students take part in the experience of community. Students at JIYU prepare and serve lunch, they manage the gardens and grounds, they also wash their own laundry by hand in the dormitories as we were told "convenience makes a lazy mind" However, most impressive is that the students live in the dormitories in junior high school and up with no adults. The students are in charge of managing the dormitory and each other. Students here spend approximately 6 hours a day on academics and 1-2 hours a day on preparing food, working in the gardens, or other chores. We were told that JIYU is a unique school. It attracts students from all over Japan and is quite different than public schools.

Learning about JIYU school

The cafeteria all wood furniture made by students in woodshop class.

Trout pond

Pig pen

The first building of the school was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright after he met the founder of the school in 1921.

Student organized school lunch plan, students are responsible for  cooking and serving meals as well as clean up.

Check your shoes at the door. In Japanese schools you do not wear your outdoor shoes into the buildings. You exchange your outdoor shoes for slippers.

Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architecture.

Farm to table. Students tend to the gardens at JIYU which include many vegetables and  green tea plants.

One of my favorite parts of the day. Getting a calligraphy lesson from a JIYU high school student.

Next stop...

 Inagi Daini Elementary School
The whole school welcomed us with an assembly where the students sang the school song and presented us with gifts. Afterwards we spent time in the classrooms of several grade levels observing lessons. The teacher at this school is the single most important factor in a child’s learning. The rooms at the school were pretty sparse. There was a TV mounted in the corner of each room but other than that there was just a chalkboard, desks, bulletin boards, and students. However, in the short time I spent in the classrooms I saw incredibly high levels of engagement and creative problem solving in every classroom – all of this being led by the teacher. The students at Inagi Diani seemed so happy at the school.

Welcome assembly.

Classroom

Learning about rice production.

student calligraphy