Ten young people from Gabrovo participated in a youth exchange with students from Seijo High School in the Japanese city of Toyoake in July. They lived for two weeks with Japanese families and shared their way of life, went to school, explored Japan, participated in various demonstrations and workshops and learned a lot about its culture, history, cuisine and curiosities.
Of course, they also showed the Japanese students a lot of the culture of Bulgaria, studied people together, tested their strength in their favorite sport Kendo, demonstrated the woodcarving craft, told them about Gabrovo and their high schools, about how they spend their free time and which places and sights in our country and city they like and love.
The Japanese families welcomed the group with posters of their guests' favorite things they had read about in the introduction forms they exchanged. Being greeted with a poster themed around your favorite sport, hobby, even your dog is a lovely gesture.
We share with you some of the most memorable and interesting moments from this amazing trip:
At Seijo High School. The first hour is dedicated to prayer and setting the program for the day. Students clean the school themselves. Many of the offices and spaces there are entered with slippers or socks, and the library is full of manga comics.
The students from Seijo High School and the Bulgarian participants had the opportunity to watch the musical "Cats" at the Shiki Theater in the city of Nagoya. Unique performance, sets, dance, song - world stage.
Dressed in traditional Japanese yukata. Originally used as a home garment, today the yukata is extremely popular in Japan. With its beautiful colors and the wonderful posture it gives, everyone feels special. Dressed up beautifully, the youngsters had the opportunity to walk around the streets around the castle and into Inuyama Castle itself, which has recently been opened to visitors as it was privately owned.
At the Nagoya Science Museum.
At the Nagoya Fireworks Festival on July 17. The day is Japan's national holiday, Sea Day, and Japanese and Gabrovo students visited together and enjoyed the over an hour long fireworks show.
Unagi or in Bulgarian - eel. The dish is called hitsumabushi, it is one of the traditional for Japan and has a special way of eating. You pour 1/4 into the bowl and eat as it is prepared. Pour the second 1/4 into the bowl and add onions and wasabi, pour the third 1/4 into the bowl, add onions and wasabi, and from the tea into the teapot. And fourth – you choose one of the previous three ways and I finished the meal like this 🙂 In the bowl on the top right there is broth, eel liver and rice strips. Oishi! or "delicious" in Bulgarian. According to the internet, 70% of the world's eel catch is destined for Japan.
Kinkaku-ji or also known as the Golden Pavilion is one of the most famous temples in Japan. The temple has the status of a National Historic Site of Special Importance and a National Landscape of Special Importance, and is one of 17 sites included in the Ancient Kyoto Complex, which has World Heritage status. Kinkaku-ji is also one of the most famous buildings in Japan, attracting a large number of visitors.
Tokyo - the capital of Japan. 14 million people.
The Toyota Museum. In it you can trace the history of Toyota and see and hear many wonderful things, such as the music of a robot orchestra.
The Nagoya Aquarium is a wonderful place where you can see a show with dolphins and orcas, see belugas, trace the history of the diving suit, meet wonderful creatures you never knew existed.
Traditional Japanese dyeing. The group taught us some of the secrets and everyone took home to Bulgaria a towel that they had made themselves.
At a meeting with the International Relations Association in Toyoake. Dressing in samurai armor, a calligraphy lesson and a tea ceremony were among the day's activities. The Bulgarian students presented themselves with modern dances and a wood carving lesson for the members of the association. They told about Gabrovo and Bulgaria.
At a Kendo tournament.
With Toyoake Mayor Mr. Masafumi Kouki.
At the Fish and Seafood Exchange.
Nagoya Castle. Bamboo forest.
Museum of the toilet bowl.
Photo from the farewell party. Students, teachers and parents once again told each other how important they are to each other and promised each other not to break the wonderful friendships that had been formed.
Mount Fuji seen from the plane. Fuji is the highest point of the Japanese islands - 3776m. In addition to being a natural wonder, it is also a sacred place in Shintoism, and Buddhists revere it as a gateway to the afterlife.
The youth exchange is organized by the Municipality of Gabrovo and "Seijo" High School, based on the idea of Svetla Hasegawa from Gabrovo, who has been living and teaching in Japan for many years. This is the third visit of our students to the land of the rising sun. The Japanese students visited Bulgaria once. Unfortunately, the pandemic briefly interrupted the exchange, but during that time the relationship did not break and was quickly resumed. We are expecting a group of 10 Japanese youngsters next year, and the families are already making plans about what they want to show them in Gabrovo and Bulgaria.
You can find more photos from the initiative on the Facebook page of the youth exchange at this link Facebook
