国際交流センター

毎年秋に世界各国の留学生が参加する「国際連携プログラム」。地元の方との交流もあるこちらのプログラムですが、秋には「根津神社例大祭」に参加させていただき、日本ならではの体験をしています。今回は2019年9月に行われたお祭りの様子をアメリア人チューターがレポートいたします！

Every September, we invite the multilateral students to join us for a weekend of celebrating the Nezu Shrine Festival. This is a fun, unique experience for international students to experience and participate in a part of Japanese culture. The students dress up in the traditional happi and are able to join a mikoshi team to carry a portable shrine through the streets of the surrounding Nezu area. Our group has our own mikoshi and every student is able to take turns in being a part of the fun.

↑It was so exiciting!!

We had to lift and walk around and dance with a mikoshi. It is said that during matsuri, God transfers to the mikoshi and walks along with us. It was heavy, and I tried to be in between tall boys to not lift it but I was sweating a lot, too. The last hour was painful because I actually felt the heaviness of the mikoshi. We carried the mikoshi for two whole hours and we were screaming at the top of our lungs words we did not even know and we were stepping on each other. I had the blessing of being pulled inside by somebody. For the first time, I did not think of anything else but enjoying the moment. I felt like I was living in the moment and it was truly inspiring and purifying.

Overall, it was a great opportunity for the international students visiting Japan to understand some of the costumes and traditions. I think it helped unite us. I wish we had more events like this one, but being a part of one is already more than enough.”

↑The multilateral students & Japanese studens