To visit another country is always interesting and enjoyable. To visit another country, to be hosted by people so kind, courteous and determined that we would experience and understand as much as possible of the culture and of the society is a rare privilege indeed.

My journey began with my orientation evening with members of the Japan Wales Club in Cardiff, these kind friends not only gave me an introduction to Japanese cuisine, eating etiquette and manners, but also primed me with information which proved to be invaluable in ensuring that I was able to observe Japanese etiquette and custom, particularly when staying with my host families. They will be pleased to know I managed to remember to change my slippers!

From the moment I was greeted so warmly by Mrs. Moromi at the airport, I felt welcomed and valued as an educator, a feeling which tends to be relatively unusual for teachers in the UK! I was impressed with the organisation and attention to detail that had been put into the planning for our programme by the staff at Jetro and also with the contribution of the volunteers, who were all unfailingly patient and supportive of us. Mr. and Mrs. Moromi and their team cared for us the whole time with infinite patience and forbearance.

We were given a series of lectures on Japanese society and the education system The emphasis on the success of the group rather than the cult of the individual is most interesting and on the way that an employee will have a loyalty to his company and vice versa, although we were told that this is beginning to change. The importance of the theme of harmony was stressed, harmony through teamwork and mutual support. Indeed harmony was a recurring theme threading through much of my visit. Harmony in society as imposed by the system, harmony in nature, architecture and art through my home visits, visits to temples, my (enthusiastic but amateur) attempts at Ikebana and the tea ceremonies, so ..]]> http://www.maesyrhaul.com/blog/japan.php?id=35 Cultural experience in Tokyo]]> http://www.maesyrhaul.com/blog/japan.php?id=12 At Toyota City...
Click here to find out more about Toyota City.
Watch a video (5.4 MB) about Toyota City (requires WIndows Media Player)

1. School visits
2. Factory visits
3. Experiencing local culture

1. Expo 2005 Aichi
   
2. Visit to Toyota City

1. Kindergarten
2. Nishi-honganji Temple
   Click HERE for a virtual tour of The Temple.
   
3. Gekkeikan Sake Factory
   
4. Japanese song concert

1. Ikaruga Elementary School
2. Ikaruga-Higashi Elementary School
3. Ikaruga-Nishi Elementary School

1. Todaiji Temple visit
    
2. Onjokan visit (children's songs and traditional arts)
    

1. Kimono-wearing experience
   
   
   Information about the Kimono @ japanesekimono.com.
   More information about the Kimono.
2. Origami-making experience
   
3. Asakusa Sensoji Temple visit
   
   Basic information about Sensoji Temple

1. Tachiai Elementary School
2. Sanko Elementary School
3. Tokai Junior High School
4. Kanagawa Soga Sangyo High School
   ]]> http://www.maesyrhaul.com/blog/japan.php?id=5 Today's list of activities include:
   1. Orientation - getting to know a little more about Japan.
      
   2. Class, "Survival Japanese" by Ms. Eriko Ezaki, JETRO
      
   3. Educational Seminar
      1. Lecture, "Japanese culture and its society" by Prof. Akimasa Mitsuta of Obirin University
         
      2. Lectures, "Current status and issues of Japanese compulsory education" and "Present situation and issues of education for returnee children" by Mr. Nobuyuki Sassa, Principal of Keimei Gakuen Elementary School
         
   ]]> http://www.maesyrhaul.com/blog/japan.php?id=4