Can you guess what they are holding in their hands? - These pretty products are called wagashi, Japanese traditional sweets made with beans and mochi. Our boarding and tea ceremony students had a wonderful opportunity to learn how to make wagashi from an experienced craftsperson in Kyoto. This was part of the special one-day trip, which Ms. Smailes, our Tea Ceremony Coordinator, organized for the students.
“Oh, are we going to make them ourselves?” When the students arrived at the wagashi workshop in Kyoto, they were amazed by the finely crafted wagashi in persimmon fruit and ginkgo leaf shapes. The craftsperson showed how to transform chunks of paste into the beautiful shapes step by step. Fascinated with the artisanship, our students enjoyed trying to imitate the technique and producing their first wagashi ever.
In the afternoon, they visited Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site.
The castle was built in 1603 on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and has witnessed many historical moments in Japanese history. Our students were excited to walk into the spectacular Ninomaru Goten Palace, decorated with gorgeous wall paintings, such as tigers and pine trees, to show off the power of the Tokugawa family. The students also enjoyed connecting their knowledge of historical architecture with the Palace building.
As you may be aware, one of the most exciting aspects of being an international boarding student is to explore the home country and get familiar with the local culture. Our boarding students have endless options for local attractions to enjoy on weekends, both within Kobe and in the entire Kansai area. We are always excited to see them exploring different areas in Japan, either by participating in trips organized by the school or organizing outings themselves.