The participating students of the World School spent the morning preparing for this years seminar theme. An international curriculum for the year 2029. In the evening, Okitsu Junior High School students visited us. The junior high school students were incredibly well prepared and did a great job introducing Japanese culture to all of us. Activities included Judo, Kendo, Origami and Calligraphy.

Judo and Kendo are Japanese martial arts, Origami is a paper craft which is all created by folding square paper. At the end, all of the World School students, Okitsu students and Kanto students shared a wonderful time together with the local community who organized a traditional Japanese summer festival.

The local community set up a wonderful festival for us. We enjoyed Japanese barbecue, steamed rice with curry, fried noodles, and so on. Professional Japanese drummers who had played in the Nagano Olympics in 1998 came to visit us. They showed us Japanese traditional drum performances, traditional festival music and we joined together in a ceremony where a small shrine is carried by everyone. The participants even got a chance to try playing the Japanese drums, something that is considered sacred and never permitted!

世界教室の参加者は午前中はセミナーの準備をして過ごしました。10月28日に訪問したお返しに,夕方には興津中学校の生徒達が勝浦研修施設を訪問しました。生徒達は、柔道や剣道,折り紙や書道などの日本文化を大変準備よく発表してくれました。発表の最後には世界教室の参加者,興津中学、関東国際高校の生徒達全員がともにダンスをして時を過ごしました。

夜には,外で伝統的な素晴らしい料理を楽しみました。日本の焼き鳥、カレーライス、焼きそばなどを楽しみました。また、近隣の方々が日本の太鼓の芸やお囃子、お神輿などを披露してくれました。そして参加者に衣装を着せ、太鼓を打たせてくれました。たいてい、このようなプロ用の道具を一般の人々は触ることさえできないのですが。