Seiritsu International Education

Hi, Meg here!


We went to Nikko on March 10th. It took me about 4 hours to get there from my house.


It was so far and I had to wake up at 4am in order to get ready!


When we got to Nikko station we all went to buy food. Then we got on a bus to go to Toshogu shrine.


Mel, Michiru and I bought Daifuku [What is Daifuku? It's sweet mochi usually filled with red bean paste, but here it was filled with custard and other delicious flavours. See wikipedia's article for more information! - PW]. It was delicious!!! We even took a picture with the guy selling the Daifuku.





We also took a picture with all the students at the entrance.





We saw a lot of Japanese traditional buildings that have been here for many hundreds of yearsand there were many hidden animals!


Mel, Michiru and I were in a team so we took many pictures of the statue
animals.





After that we climbed the steps to Tokugawa's tomb. It was so long that when I got to the top I couldn't feel my legs! At the top we all had a break on a bench but then it started raining. It was cold ...... But it felt to me as if it were only raining while we were high up.





On the way back home we had lunch /dinner together. We went to a restaurant
and I ate ramen and curry. We walked on a bridge and the view from there was
beautiful.

writer: staff  date: 11:04 PM | Life at Seiritsu

Hi everyone Gab again!


This month life at the dorm has been relativity smooth this month as its slowly getting warmer and the students are rarely coming to school, so it's given me some extra time to do my own Japanese study, do my own training and have more time to rest. I'm now starting to adapt to the Japanese diet and am having rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner and actually starting to enjoy it! The Japanese diet includes a high amount of carbohydrates, but lacks other nutritional benefits, so I've been having fruit (apples and bananas) in my room as an available snack and I've been buying tomatoes. My parents had also sent some treats from back home, which was very nice as I had been craving them for a while.





Training on the other hand has been very hard since we are into preseason and has been mainly focusing on fitness, with high intensity running and high intensity training games. In my spare time I do my own personal running training to work on my fitness. I have also been doing core strengthening.


We have played a couple of practice matches and have been playing well, beating Maebashi Ikue 4-2 a very well known high school who are ranked 3rd best high school in Japan for its soccer. Personally I have scored 3 goals with multiple assists as well, and I've been loving every minute of it.





I look forward to what the future holds, and can't wait for the season to start!

writer: staff  date: 10:02 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Gab here!


All the international students went on an excursion to Nikko to explore the area, where there are spiritual and traditional shrines and temples.


We caught a train from Kasukabe to Nikko very early. When we arrived the weather wasn't the best as it was a freezing -1 degrees and there was a little snow as well.



We walked through the forest looking at the different buildings all with different meanings and unique styles. Most of the buildings had animals and mythical creatures on them which had particular meaning to them as well. We could see gifts that countries had sent to Japan.


Though the weather wasn't great it was still a great experience and was great to learn some Japanese history and about Nikko. It was also nice to freely speak English for a change and spent time with people who share a similar life to me.





Seiritu's International Department strives to enrich international students and returnees with cultural knowledge and experiences to help them better understand Japanese society and traditions. This includes excursions such as visiting Nikko.

Why don't you come and visit too? Download an application form for gap studies by clicking here!

writer: staff  date: 9:43 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Teresa here!


This month, my fiancé and I set out to hike our first mountain, Mount Takao in West Tokyo! The commute took about two hours, and when we arrived, we mentally prepared ourselves as we absorbed the blue sky.




Initially, we wanted to climb Route 6, which is an unpaved route that brings us to Biwa Waterfall, but it was CLOSED! We were looking forward to seeing the the waterfall too..

So instead, we hiked the paved path up the mountain. According to a sign, it usually takes only 45 minutes to climb to the summit, but we took 2 hours. We need a serious workout session soon.

Along the way up, we saw this beautiful structure, which prompted my fiancé to say, “Takao-san? Don’t you mean Tako-san?” I promptly started to fall over in laughter because tako is octopus.

Even better though, I met a real life Eevee. Look at the ears!




The end prize was the best. I saw Mount Fuji shining in all its glory!



The hike was full of tears, laughter, empowerment, and fear, just like a good (and perhaps cheesy) movie. If you like an easy hike while feeling like a movie star, visit Mount “Tako!”

Cheers!


Teresa Fong
JET Assistant English Language Teacher

writer: staff  date: 8:39 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Laurence Here. Ah, spring!


Trees are blooming, nature is blooming, love is booming, lattes are…also blooming?





That’s right, it’s Sakura season here in Japan and so, temporarily, everything will be flowery and pink.



It’s also starting to get warmer here, finally! I can’t believe I made it! I’m also currently on the hunt for plane tickets for this summer. I will be going back home during mid-July, escaping the much dreaded Japanese summer. I’ve heard that last year last was especially hot and as a result, I didn’t really appreciate my first Japanese summer experience.

This month, I attended a Japanese graduation ceremony for the first time. It a lot more formal and longer than it is abroad. Case in point: I barely remember mine in high school and it wasn’t that long ago. Even though I haven’t been here for long, I could understand how important this day is for the students and their parents as well as the teachers. There were a lot of tears shed, but they were lots of smiles and laughter too. I felt very privileged to be able to take part in such an event.



As you might have read in other blog posts, this month, the international department students and teachers went to Nikko! It was a long trip, but I really enjoyed looking at the beautiful buildings, learning about the history of the World Heritage site as well as spending more time with the international students, who we haven’t been able to spend a lot of time with lately. I definitely want to go back at least once before I leave Japan.



A local snack I really enjoyed was the sweet and salty yuba fried manju. The combination of the crispiness and the saltiness of the batter and the softness of the manju mixed with the sweetness of the sweet red bean paste was an eye-opening experience. That’s when I realized that when push comes to shove, I don’t really need a man in my life, you know? Just manju.




See you next month!

writer: staff  date: 8:16 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Peter here,


On the fine warm morning of Sunday March 6, Seiritsu's third year high school students took part in their final home room and graduation ceremony.





This year was particularly special, as it was the first graduation for students who have been at Seiritsu for the whole six years of junior and senior high. It was an emotional time for both students and the teachers who saw them grow into who they are today.






The Graduation ceremony and final home room is a chance for all classmates and club team mates to say goodbye. After receiving their graduation diplomas, the students leave into the courtyard where a 'hanamichi' (flower road) of their 'kohai' (juniors) are waiting for them. lots of pictures are taken, lots of tears are shed, and lots of celebrations and singing happen.














Among the graduates was international student Connor, who has signed professionally for Brisbane Roar FC, who are currently leading the Australian A League! Congratulations, Connor, it was a pleasure to have you here for three years and we look forward to seeing your future successes.





It was also an emotional time for me, as I am becoming a full-time Karate instructor in Saitama from April. I will still be at Seiritsu in a marketing and support role, but this change in work pattern means that, after five years, I will no longer be able to coach the Seiritsu karate club. Good luck guys, I will come and cheer for you whenever I can!





From now until the end of term on March 19th, the school will enter a slower-paced schedule, as students and staff start to prepare for the next school year.



Peter Williams
International Department Coordinator

writer: staff  date: 9:18 AM | Life at Seiritsu