Spotlights
Report: “Doshisha Summer Session 2025”
The Center for Global Education and Japanese Studies(CGJ) hosted“Doshisha Summer Session 2025” for four weeks, from July 8, 2025 to August 5. This year, there were 18 participants from Saudi Arabia, France, United States, United Kingdom, Korea, China, Hongkong, and Taiwan.
Japanese Kimono Culture
The Japanese language classes were divided into two levels, and lessons were conducted in the areas of grammar, reading comprehension, and oral expression. In addition, in the course "Traditional culture and daily life in Kyoto," ten guest speakers were invited to give lectures about Kyoto’s traditional culture, such as the Gion Festival and Nishijin weaving. The participants also participated in hands-on cultural experiences, including tea ceremony, Aikido, Noh, Zen meditation, Kimono, and Japanese food making.
During the period, more than 40 students from both Doshisha University and Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts participated in classes as volunteer study partners, joining in conversation practice and other activities. In the second week of the program, a get-together session with study partners was organized. Participants and study partners made some small groups and discussed about what they would like to do during their stay in Japan. Then they made up a plan and carried them out outside of class hours. (For example, going to karaoke, eating sushi, and hanging out wearing yukata.) Through this activity, participants and study partners grew closer and were able to interact actively outside of class.
On the final day, there was an opportunity for deepening what they learned and experienced during the program. Each participant selected topics of interest and gave presentations in Japanese followed by a discussion with study partners.
We received positive feedback from the participants. All participants said they would recommend the program to their friends and juniors, and 92% answered that they could achieve their goals for participating in the program. These responses clearly indicate a high level of satisfaction with this program. Furthermore, 85% of the students expressed an interest to study abroad at Doshisha University, showing that the program has contributed to enhancing the university’s presence.
Looking at the feedback by content, students shared the following comments about the Japanese language classes:
“All the teachers were kind and enthusiastic, and they made learning fun and easy to understand.” “The explanations were clear, and I learned something new every time.” “I gained much more confidence in my Japanese compared to before the program.”
Regarding the course “Traditional culture and daily life in Kyoto”, students commented:
“I was able to deeply experience the history, beauty, and traditional culture of Kyoto. Every class was memorable.” “It was a special experience because the content would have been difficult to learn through self-study.”
Among the classes of “Traditional culture and daily life in Kyoto”, the Gion Festival was a highlight. Participants’ comments on this reflect that they learned the perspective of festival organizers and their dedication. They commented:
“We visited the Ofunehoko float’s preparation place and learned about the behind-the-scenes works and the spirit of festival organizers”. “The unity of the local community in creating the festival truly reflected the characteristics of traditional Japanese culture”
The participants shared the following comments about the program as a whole:
“Thanks to the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the teachers, I was able to participate with a sense of ease.” “It was a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience.” “I learned a lot, and I am now inspired to study even more.” Some participants said that cultural exchange with study partners motivated them to learn Japanese more. Study partners have also shared that the interactions gained through volunteering in this program provided new insights and motivation for their future studies, indicating that our program served as an opportunity for growth for both participants and study partners.
We aim to improve the program content based on the feedback and provide a program that more accurately meets the needs of the participants.
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Office of the Center for Global Education and Japanese Studies Telephone : +81-75-251-3240
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