2019 was another action packed year for the Japanese department.

Our preparations for the upcoming July 2020 Japan Trip have progressed significantly, and our current focus is on fundraising events for this trip.

To this end, we played a significant role in our International Foods festival earlier this year, where we produced a lot of tasty sushi and onigiri (rice balls) for everyone.

We have also recently participated in the annual Hornby Placemakers Christmas Market, for which I would like to thank Whaea Jude and all the parents and students who helped to ensure the day went well.

Hornby High School students studying Japanese were again able to participate in a number of interschool Japanese events this year, including the annual dance competition and NCEA workshop day held at the University of Canterbury in June, and the Year 10 Japanese afternoon held at Villa Maria College in September.

A major highlight of the year was when we moved into our new and improved learning space in the new Kahui, which has already proven to be an excellent and well resourced location for the Japanese department.

Thank you to all staff, students and parents who have helped bring the Japanese Department from strength to strength over the past few years.

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