2023 was a huge year for the Japanese department, during which we were able to successfully carry out our first overseas trip since 2018 to our sister school Tokiwagi Gakuen in Sendai, Japan.

This trip was hugely successful despite the Japanese summer heat. The 10 Hornby students and 2 staff members were very well looked after by their host families, and were able to enjoy a wide variety of intercultural experiences both at school and in the community.

Although the July Japan trip was definitely a major highlight, our students also participated in a number of inter school Japanese events this year, including the annual dance competition and NCEA workshop day held at the University of Canterbury in June, and the Year 9 Japanese Trivia Night held at Cashmere High School in June.

We were also again able to provide our students with a variety of in-class cultural activities this year, including Origami folding, Japanese calligraphy, Onigiri Rice Ball making, and Sumo wrestling. We also had a special guest come to our school earlier this month, Japanese National Languages Advisor Kaori Fukuzawa.

Kaori kindly taught a class of our Year 7 and 8 students how to use traditional Japanese Furoshiki cloths to beautifully wrap a variety of items.

Thank you to all staff, students and parents who have helped continue to grow our department, ensuring that our students continue to be provided with these amazing opportunities.

We look forward to continuing to encourage and stimulate student interest in the study of languages and cultures in our Kura, and we really consider ourselves quite lucky to have such a motivated and engaged group of students.

いつもお世話になっております

HOD Japanese

Nick Williams