Japanese Language Program for Overseas Students - Outstanding Students (Philippine participant - Ma. Denise Verastigue)

Rock gardens, serene temples, yukata, onsen - as a Japanese culture enthusiast, I have always dreamed to experience these images of Japan that I often see from the mangas that I read and the animes that I watch. Also, to have a deeper understanding on Japan and its culture, I have been studying the language in Nihongo Center since high school, and even took up a minor in Japanese studies in Ateneo de Manila. Last September, my dream of experiencing Japan finally came true as I was chosen to represent the Philippines in the study tour for this year's Japanese Language Program for outstanding students.

During my two weeks in Japan, my fellow grantees from other countries and I mostly stayed in Japan Foundation's Japanese-Language Institute located in the Sennan district, Osaka. The Japan Foundation Kansai that boasts of a wonderful scenery from my room on the 17th floor has various facilities including a dining area, a karaoke room, a bike lending facility, and an extensive library which contains classical comic books and other cultural books that really made me itch to read.

It was too bad though that I couldn't take full advantage of these due to the countless activities that were scheduled for us. Such activities included a glimpse of the everyday life in Japan through an over-night stay with a Japanese family, and some cultural classes. We were asked to choose 2 out of 4 classes they offered: tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy and Aikijujutsu. As much as I had wanted to attend all four, I finally decided to take the tea ceremony and Aikijujutsu. Both classes were very informative and enjoyable. And I am proud to say that I was one of those who successfully made a foamy green tea on my first try.

Of course, let's not leave out the most thrilling part of my stay in Japan: the trips to some of the famous temples, shrines and castles in Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo. In Osaka, I got to tread on the same path samurais of the Tokugawa Period marched on at the Osaka Castle. We went to shrines like Itsukushima in Miyajima Island, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto and the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. We also visited Buddhist temples like the Toudaiji Temple in Nara, the Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo, and the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. It was such a wonder, actually gazing at these traditional structures that I only see in pictures; their beauty stand out in the highly industrialized cities of Japan!

Aside from these traditional sites, we also visited the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, the Edo-Tokyo Museum, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Having reported in class regarding the horrors of the Hiroshima bombing a few weeks before the study program, I was quite stunned to actually see the real remains right in front of me, and even managed to touch some of them.

One thing that made this trip to Japan very memorable was the people that I got to meet during the program. Despite coming from different cultures, different countries, different time zones, these barriers were broken down due to our common goal and interest - to be able to learn as much as we can regarding Japan. But it wasn't only my interest in the Japanese culture that was been taken to greater heights. From sharing things about my own country in relation to Japan, I realized in this study tour has also enabled me to appreciate my being a Filipino even more. (from SUKI the Official Newsletter of the Japan Foundation, Manila)