Field Trip for International Students in Ohnan Town 2019

         With the kind hospitality of Ohnan town in Shimane Prefecture, Shimane University held its 10th International Students’ Field Trip to Ohnan town from August 30th to September 2nd. The purpose of this project is to expand international students’ understanding of Japanese culture in Shimane Prefecture. This endeavor was made possible by an agreement between Ohnan town and Shimane University. Ten international students from six countries, two Japanese students and four university staff participated in this field trip. During this period, activities included experiences of rural life at farmers’ homes, wood craft making and countryside cooking with local people, and an exchange with the children at Mizuho Elementary School.

          On the first day of the field trip, participants listened to a lecture by Mr. Miura of Ohnan Forestry and Agriculture Division about living in harmony with the forest, an important resource of Ohnan town. Students learned about the feelings imbued in wood crafts made in Ohnan, and the current situation concerning training personnel for educational activities with wooden toys. Later, the group visited Kurukuru Wood Workshop, a facility for seniors, and experienced making wood crafts with local craftsmen. The exchange students created crafts that used wood from Ohnan town while they were taught how to use an electric sanding machine. After that, students met their host families and started their three day and two night farm stay at traditional local houses.

          On the second day, students enjoyed a variety of rural life activities, such as rice and vegetable harvesting, cooking rice with an iron pot, somen nagashi (a game to catch somen noodles using chopsticks as they flow down in a water slide made of bamboo), mochi pounding, cutting weeds, and doing traditional Japanese cooking. During the somen nagashi experience, held in a discontinued train station built in a high place, students were delighted to be able to catch somen noodles and were interested in the structure of the bamboo tubes that were assembled. Local people actively interacted with the international students in Japanese and English, which the students enjoyed very much.

          In the morning of the third day, farm stay families and international students looked back on their three-day homestay experience together over tea. As the students left, they all gathered together as a group and sang a song to the tune of a ukulele in thanks to their host families. The afternoon activity consisted of a countryside cooking experience in an area of Ohnan town called Hiwa. After listening to the meanings and how to make the seasonal and hospitable dishes, the participants had fun conversing with the members of the Hiwa community while making cuisine such as pressed sushi, grilled eggplant, and bon dango (sweet rice dumplings). In the evening, the students enjoyed a performance called “Yamato no Orochi” by a local group, Yukita Kagura Troupe. In this way, the international students were able to experience traditional culture in Shimane Prefecture. During the performance, to everyone’s surprise, the actors suddenly spoke to the audience in English and invited two international students on stage, which created much excitement.

          On the final day of the trip, students visited Toricon Corporation, a company that creates and sells cannonball type LED lights. President Ueda gave an explanation about the company in English, saying, “I want to convey that even a rural area such as this can make the world’s best products and have the power to make everyone happy.” Because of his passion, the students listened to his talk on the edge of their seats. Next was a visit to Mizuho Elementary School where students interacted with children grades 1 to 6. This was the second time for the field trip to visit Mizuho Elementary School after its first visit nine years ago. The international students introduced themselves and their countries, and played games from both Japan and their own countries with the children.

           International students came into contact with traditional Japanese culture, lifestyle and the kindness of Ohnan people throughout the trip. They thought about their own countries and learned how to talk about them in an easy to understand way. Students and the people of Ohnan town deepened their mutual understanding that transcends the differences of nationality, age, language and backgrounds.

Welcome Ceremony by Ohnan Town Hall	Wood Working Experience
Somen Nagashi (Flowing Noodles)	Rice Reaping Experience
Gathering with Farm Stay Families	Countryside Cooking Experience
Performance with Kagura Troupe	Learning about Toricon Corp. LEDs
Exchange through National and International Games	Exchange at Mizuho Elementary School