[Date and Time] Saturday, July 23, at 9:00～15:00
[Spots] Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha), and Hasedera Temple
[Visitors] 12 foreign students from 6 countries, with 3 from Taiwan, 2 each from Italy, Russia, Brazil, and China, and 1 from Denmark, 18 students of Kanagawa University from 2 countries, with 6 from China and 12 from Japan, and 4 staff
[Attendants] 4 KSGG members
The visitors divided into three groups, listened to their group guide explain at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and drew an Omikuji, an oracle. As we had a plenty of time, we enjoyed shopping at Komachidori shopping street. Then we got on a bus and had lunch at a restaurant near Kotokuin Temple. We took a group photo of us in front of the Great Buddha as usual and walked to Hasedera Temple. In farewell, they were so happy to get a paper doll, a present made by our members, and headed for Hakone by bus. It seemed that they wanted to stay in Kamakura longer.
I was a little nervous as it was our first guiding for students of Kanagawa University. However, it turned out to be successful thanks to the serious and cooperative students, who had studied about Kamakura beforehand and asked us a lot of pointed questions. It was such a fruitful event that the foreign students could have a good cultural exchange with the Japanese students, too. I hope we will be able to have more events with students of Kanagawa University.
☆The Students who are Deeply Interested in Cultural Exchange
I was lost for words when Mr. S, who is in his doctor’s course, said, “You told us that Peace is brought to the place where Hase Kannon is placed. Why did big tsunami hit Japan many times?” It happened right after I told them at Kotokuin Temple that tsunami hit Japan many times in the 14th century. He seemed to ask that question as he remembered what I had said. I couldn’t find any answer to that question, but could only say to him who can speak fluent Japanese, “We can’t tell what will happen in our life.” We said good bye at a parking lot of Hasedera Temple and saw off the students heading for Hakone.
