2010-2011 Study-Tour Program-Physical and Human Geography of Japan

I have been awarded a grant to participate in a study-tour for Educators this summer in Japan, sponsored by the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA) program and funded by the Freeman Foundation.  This 2010-2011 Japan Study Tour Program entitled, Physical and Human Geography of Japan will take place from June 29th- July 21st.

The itinerary of the study tour includes visits to Sapporo, Tokyo, Kamakura, Hiroshima, and Kyoto and will include home stays, visits to schools and vistis to various cultural sites as well as a range of presentations on Japanese history and culture.

I hope all of you can join me as I travel throughout Japan on The 2010 NCTA Teachers Study Tour. Check out the blog as I share my journey through Japan. Don't forget I will also be hanging our 1,000 paper cranes when I arrive in Hiroshima. Read my blog and I'll share that moment with you all! And please post a comment! I'd love to hear from you!!

Sapporo, Japan

As the days began to lead up to my exciting journey to Japan, I thought it would be a good idea to get a little background on the physical geography of Japan.  Japan is an island nation made up of over 3,800 minor and four major islands.  It stretches for approximately 1,860 miles from Siberia in the north to Taiwan in the south.  It is the approximately the size of California.  Geographically speaking, if Japan were to be placed onto top of a map of the eastern half of the United States it would look like this.

Well, 2 plane rides and 24 hours later, I'm in the beautiful city of Sapporo, Japan.  The city of Sapporo is located on the northern most island of Japan called Hokkaido.  It has a population of nearly two million people and is the fifth largest city in Japan.  It is considered by the Japanese to be their frontier island, having only been settled by the Japanese at the end of the Edo Period in 1866.  Prior to that time it was home to the indigenous Ainu people.

Odori Park & The Clock Tower

Odori Park is an urban area that stretches from east to west through the city of Sapporo.  It features lovely gardens and water fountains, providing locals a place to relax.  Annual festivals and events take place here including the Yuki Matsuri or the Sapporo Snow Festival.  Too bad I missed that!  Although it's the summer time here in Sopporo, the temperature is comfortable with temperatures in the 70s. I was told that Hokkaido always has a cooler temperature being up in the north.  It's climate is similar to that of state of Maine.

William S. Clark in Odori Park

The city of Sapporo was founded in 1868 and in 1870 the Meiji Government asked for assistance from the American government to help develop the land.  Sapporo's city design is very similar to the grid plan in US cities as a result.  This close advisory relationship continued in education as well and in 1876 William S. Clark, president of the the University of Massachusetts Amherst came to Sapporo and helped found Hokkaido University.  "Boys Be Ambitious" was Clark's advice given to the students of Hokkaido University when he was Vice-president.  Those words are still recited by school children today.

Hokkaido Government Building

The Hokkaido Government Building was built in 1888 and symbolizes the importance that the Meiji Government placed on developing Hokkaido.

Home Stay in Sapporo

I had a fabulous time with my host family while in Sapporo.  They were so very friendly and gracious as they opened their home to me.  Before entering their home, I took my shoes off.  They showed me around their lovely home.  There home was small (which is typical of Japanese homes due to limited space) but very nicely kept.  I noticed the family slept in "western style" beds that were off the floor and they had a dinning room table that was off the floor as well.

I had a lovely home made dinner of sashimi, grilled beaf and tempora as well as other delicious foods.  The company was wonderful as I enjoyed the dinner with my host and her two lovely teenage daughters.  I also ate nato and enjoyed it!

After dinner we went outside and lit fireworks, a typical Japanese summer event.  The night I slept in the tatami room.  My host pulled out my bedding (futon and sheets) from the room's closet and laid it on the tatami floor.  I quite enjoyed my nights sleep.

The next day, I spent the morning with my host, Miyuki as well as John's host and was honored to watch a kendo practice as well as a participating in a tea ceremony.

In the afternoon I enjoyed lunch with my host and then spent time at a local onsen before returning to downtown Sapporo for a fabulous dinner!  It was hard to say goodbye to Miyuki after our time spent together.  I will take the memories of this time with me back to America.  If you're ever in the states my door is open!

The Ainu in Japan

Visiting Shin'ei Middle School & Sapporo Kaisei Senior High School

Shin'ei Middle School, Sapporo, Japan

The students in Japan don't start their summer vacations until July 21st.  So while we were in Sapporo we were pleased to be able to visit two schools.  In the morning we visited Shin'ei Middle School.  The middle school is home to about 800 middle schoolers from the 7th to 9th grades.  The students greeted us very warmly and we greatly enjoyed the smiles and enthusiasm on the faces of the teachers and students we met. 

The students have to take their shoes off before entering the school and put on their "inside sneekers."  We had to take our shoes off as well.  Since we didn't have "inside shoes" we were provided with slippers and we put our shoes in a plastice bag.

The students were all very excited to see us and to practice their English skills.  I was greeted by many "Hello's" and  "Nice to meet you's!"  I had fun responding back in English as well as Japanese, "Konnichiwa" and " Hajimimashte!"  I visited many classrooms including a Social Studies classroom.  I was able to chat with a few students about the geography they were learning.

I had lunch with a 7th grade class.  This is a picture of my lunch group.  In Japan the students don't change classes (except for Science and technology lab) the teachers do.  Also, the students don't eat lunch in a cafeteria.  They eat in their classrooms with their teacher.  We had a delicious, freshly prepared lunch of rice and beef, miso soup, pickeled greens and of course milk! 

The students have assigned jobs that include serving their fellow students.  And of course the students must clean up after they're done eating.  Food not eaten is placed in the proper pans for recycling. 

Sapporo Kaisei High School (Student Bike Racks)

In the afternoon we visited the Sapporo Kaisei Senior High School.  This school for 10th-12th graders focuses on English learning for the medical/science fields.  Japanese teenagers can't get their drivers license until 18, so they ride their bicycles to school in.  The school day starts around 87:30 am and lasts until 5pm.  The students have their classes and then attend afterschool clubs. 

We visited an English language class and watched as the students used technology to improve theirEnglish  language skills.  Afterwards we listened to some students give a presentation in English on various aspects of Japanese culture.

Shopping in Japan

Electronics Store in Japan (Photo by S. Kopecki)

Japan is a shopper's paradise, offering everything from high-tech gadgetry and electronics to traditional arts and crafts. Large department stores, specialty shops, fashion boutiques, hotel arcades and shopping centres abound. Popular buys include cameras, watches, CD players, hi-fi equipment, silk goods, lacquer ware, Japanese dolls, and woodblock prints.

Revolving Sushi Bar at Sopporo Station

NCTA Group Enjoying Revolving Sushi Bar (Photo By S. Kopecki)

Photo By S. Kopecki

 Imagine.....sitting at the counter and watching your favorite pieces of sushi and sashimi (raw fish on rice or alone) passing you by on a conveyor belt....So many decisions....What should I get?????....the plates are color coded to help you with pricing....One important rule to remember....once you pick up the plate of your choice it's yours!  There's no putting it back.  Japan is VERY serious about food freshness, expecially since fresh fish is so much apart of their daily diet.