2016 Toyokawa Sister City Visit - Isha Venkatesh reporting ...for Cupertino Patch

On June 28th of this year, the Cupertino-Toyokawa Student
Delegation 2016 started their trip to Japan. The Cupertino-Toyokawa Student
Delegation is part of a student exchange program through the sister city
relationship of Cupertino and Toyokawa. The student delegation consisted of 14
students from the Cupertino Union School District, along with 2 chaperones who
worked in the CUSD. These students were selected in February of this year.
Since then, they have gone through hours of cultural and language classes in
order to prepare for this trip.

The student’s first stop in Japan was Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. There, they visited the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, Nagoya Castle, and Astuta Shrine. Later that day, they arrived in Toyokawa, meeting their host families for the first time. After staying their first night in Japan, the Cupertino delegation had a welcome ceremony where speeches from both sides were made. Then, they went sightseeing in Toyokawa, visiting the Toyokawa Inari, the famous Japanese Fox Shrine, and the Toyota Motor Plant in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. The Toyokawa Inari is famous for its hundreds of fox statues, no two with the same expression. Their first day in Toyokawa ended with a welcome reception where the delegates enjoyed conversation with the Toyokawa delegates as well as a buffet. To conclude the welcome reception, Cupertino students performed a medley of American music from the 1900's to the 2000's. They danced and played their instruments to classics, as well as new hits. The 2016 Cupertino delegation was the first delegation to get the audience up on their feet. During the Cha Cha Slide, students encouraged the audience to get on their feet and dance with them. The moves were translated, and then spoken into a mic by one of the delegates. Soon after, they returned with their host family.

The weekend was spent with their host families. Students enjoyed activities such as the nearby amusement park, Japanese spas, shopping, and getting together with other delegates.

The Cupertino delegation’s next two days were spent at Chubu Jr. High School, a middle school in Toyokawa. On their first day, the school hosted a welcome ceremony which consisted of their famous band and a Japanese dance. For the rest of their time there, the delegation shadowed Japanese students, ate lunch with them, and engaged in cultural projects such as Japanese cloisonne work, calligraphy, and stamp making. Shadowing Japanese students showed the delegates how Japanese schools compared and contrasted with their schooling. Lunch was a great time to make friends with classmates. Cultural projects helped students experience the Japanese culture firsthand. On their last day at school, delegates were shown various club activities that were available to students. To conclude their visit to the school, Chubu Jr. High School hosted a farewell ceremony with team games and a Japanese Taiko Drum Performance from one of the Cupertino Delegates. The next morning was their last few hours in Toyokawa. A farewell ceremony was held where speeches were given. During their last few minutes in Toyokawa, the delegates said their farewells to their host families. Many delegates and host parents were in tears, sad to be leaving each other.

Their next stop was the Toyohashi Station where the delegation rode a Shinkansen, or bullet train, to Kyoto. In Kyoto, they visited Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, and enjoyed a Kimono fashion show. After a night at their hotel, the Cupertino students visited Uzumasa Movie Town, Kiyomizu Temple, and the Kyoto Handicraft Center. At the handicraft center, chaperones and students picked between two cultural projects: woodblock printing and incense bag making. The next day marked their last day in Japan. After touring the Fushimi Shrine in Kyoto, they stopped at the Todaiji Temple and Deer Park in Nara. Then, they made their way to Umeda Sky Building in Osaka before making their way to the Osaka airport.

After a long journey back home, the Cupertino-Toyokawa Student Delegation 2016 was greeted by families. After saying goodbye to the friends they had shared a truly wonderful experience with, the delegates and chaperones made their way home. Welcome back, Cupertino-Toyokawa Student Delegation 2016!

Photo 1: The Cupertino-Toyokawa Student Delegation 2016 is posing for a picture at Uzumasa Movie Town, Kyoto, Japan. One of the places the delegation toured on their trip, this movie town resembles ancient Japan. Apart from the old time appearance of this town, Samurai and Ninja shows were also held to show tourists the culture of ancient Japan.

Photo 2: Along with their two chaperones, the Cupertino-Toyokawa Student Delegation 2016 takes a picture in front of Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan. During their stay in Japan, the delegation visited many temples, including this temple. Visiting temples gave the students and chaperones a view of traditional Japanese culture.

Photo 3: Students of the Cupertino-Toyokawa Student Delegation try their hand at traditional Japanese Woodblock Printing at the Kyoto Handicraft Center in Kyoto, Japan. Woodblock printing and incense bag making were the two options given to students and chaperones at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. This opportunity shone light on yet another aspect of Japanese culture.