Languages News 

Year 10 Japanese Excursion

A week ago, Year 10 Japanese students were granted the privilege of going on an excursion to the city. The itinerary for the day was filled with activities at prominent locations, such as the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) - The Pauline Gandle Permanent Japanese Exhibition, the Consulate-General of Japan, as well as Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen.  

The day commenced with a visit to the NGV, where our guide, Sarah Fang, led us to the Japanese section of the building to talk about Japanese artefacts. Here, we delved into the significance of seasons in specific traditional artworks. Notably, we looked at the masterful oeuvre Hokusai, an artist renowned for his iconic masterpiece, the Great Wave of Kanagawa. We also explored artworks that featured Kurobune - black ships that played a significant role in Japan's history.

We then proceeded to visit the Consulate-General of Japan, where we were involved in an insightful discussion about the intricacies of Japanese Pop Culture. We learned about several aspects, some of which comprised music, food, and fashion. We also had the honour of meeting and listening to Mrs. Shimada, the wife of the Consul-General speak.

To conclude the excursion, we indulged in delicious ramen at Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen. We sat in a traditional horigotatsu-style room which made our dining experience even more special.

Ultimately, us Year 10 Japanese students were bestowed with an invaluable experience. It afforded us the chance to submerge ourselves in various facets of Japanese culture and practices that most of us have not encountered outside of what we read online or in a magazine.

by Elina Chanana