Doshisha University’s Summer Program Highlights Kyoto's Rich Traditions and Cultural Preservation Efforts.

Global Participants Explore Kyoto’s Culture and Traditions in Doshisha Summer Session 2024.

To deepen understanding of  Japanese culture and learn the Japanese language, participants from around the world attended a short-term program at The Center for Global Education and Japanese Studies (CGJ), which recently hosted the “Doshisha Summer Session 2024,”  ran from July 9 to August 6 at the Imadegawa campus in Kyoto. This program welcomed 18 participants from China, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, and the United States and marked the first in-person session at the Kyoto campus in eight years.

In addition to Japanese language classes, participants engaged in courses about traditional Kyoto culture and daily life, as well as off-campus experiences including the Gion Festival. Special sessions featuring 10 guest speaking lectures were conducted to enhance students’ understanding of Japanese traditional culture. The participants delivered presentations in Japanese on topics of their choice. Additionally, over 50 students from Doshisha University and Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts volunteered as study partners, supporting conversation practice and other activities throughout the program.

Students learned the dedication of individuals who are working with pride, love, responsibility, and a strong sense of duty to preserve Kyoto’s traditional events and industries, which are at risk of fading away. Additionally, the program offered a unique opportunity for students to enter a traditional Kyoto machiya house, providing them with a deeper understanding that went beyond mere cultural experience.

Editor's Note: 

Held at Kyoto's Imadegawa campus from July 9 to August 6, the "Doshisha Summer Session 2024," sponsored by the Center for Global Education and Japanese Studies, provided international students with an enlightening experience. For the first time in eight years, the program this year was conducted in person and gave participants a thorough immersion in the Japanese language and culture. Students acquired important insights into the preservation of Kyoto's cultural legacy through classroom instruction and experiential learning, which included trips to iconic locations in the city and involvement in local celebrations. Additionally, by fostering relationships with nearby pupils, the program improved understanding and cross-cultural interchange. 

Skoobuzz appreciates the efforts of The Center for Global Education and Japanese Studies for working towards preserving Japanese tradition and familiarising its unique traditions to different countries around the world.