Okayama University and the Okayama Visitors & Convention Association co-hosted a three-day online Japan Training Program for Chinese Students from March 22 to March 24, offering students the exciting opportunity to virtually experience Okayama’s scenic spots, including Korakuen and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.

The program was originally designed for winners of the Seventh Okayama Cup Speech Contest, which took place last year on October 29 and was hosted online by SixERS (Chiba University, Niigata University, Kanazawa University, Okayama University, Nagasaki University and Kumamoto University). Winners from the competitive speech and recitation categories had been awarded a study trip to Okayama University and were supposed to spend a week in Okayama, exploring the university and its surrounding historical and cultural attractions while learning more about Japanese language and culture, but unfortunately the itinerary had to be moved online due to the ongoing global pandemic.

Okayama University students enrolled in the Foundation Course for Post Graduate Studies (Pre-Master Course) who have been unable to leave China due to travel restrictions also took part in the first two days of the program, which focused on Okayama’s history and culture.

On the first day of the program, titled “Introducing Okayama: VR Tour of Okayama Castle and Okayama Korakuen/Okayama Mystery Quiz” a member of Okayama Sengoku Busho-tai dressed up as UKITA Hideie (a famous Japanese military commander) and gave participants a virtual tour of Korakuen and other local attractions. The program also included a virtual reality tea ceremony experience and a quiz session in which participants tried to solve local mysteries.

On the second day of the program, called “Introducing Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter: VR tour via rickshaw”, participants were given a tour of Bikan Historical Quarter on a rickshaw guided by Okayama University student and Kurashiki Komachi WATANABE Sachi (second year, Faculty of Law). Participants were able to ride through the streets of Kurashiki and enjoy the charm of the historical quarter. Afterwards, participants commented, “It was really interesting to hear about the history and culture of Okayama from a guest dressed as historical figures,” and “It felt like I was actually in Kurashiki.”

On the third day of the program, speech contest winners had the opportunity to interact with Japanese students from Okayama University’s Special Course for Global Human Resource Development. Students enjoyed their conversation in Japanese in a friendly atmosphere about where they would like to visit in each other’s countries, describing which cultural aspects of Japan and China they are interested in, and explaining popular words used among young people to each other. Then, at the end of the program, students were given a practical lesson in Japanese by Assoc. Prof. Mohri and Assist. Prof. Nanba from the Institute of Global Human Resource Development. Based on requests by participants, the lesson focused on Japanese phrases that would be helpful in job interviews for Japanese companies.

Okayama University will continue to promote academic exchange with China and encourage students to serve as a bridge for friendship between Japan and China.