MARINCE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Students from Bunkyo Women’s University visited students of Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 23, 2015.
The Bunkyo Women’s University students attended the classes of M.C. Perry High School and learned about the material taught on a daily basis. This gave the Japanese students insight on the American educational system, process and overall culture.
“This allowed my students, who didn’t know much about the United States, to a gain an understating of American culture,” said Yasuko Iwashita, a teacher at Bunkyo Women’s University.
While the university students came to learn about American culture, they did not miss the opportunity to teach the M.C. Perry students a little bit about Japanese culture as well.
The university students taught M.C. Perry students the proper way to drink tea when it’s served to you in Japan and performed traditional Japanese dances.
“I enjoy talking to the students here,” said Ayayari Okimoto, a student at Bunkyo Women’s University. “We talked about what they learned and also what I’ve learned. It’s important for us to share our culture with one another to gain a better understanding of each other.”
Students from M.C. Perry High School said they felt the same way about the experience.
“I found everything they taught very interesting,” said Matthew Payne Hageter, a student a M.C. Perry High School. “They showed us two cool dances and ended up doing better than me at what I taught them.”
Learning about each other’s culture through events like these helps strengthen the relationship between the Japanese and Americans.
Iwashita said she hopes she gets the opportunity to bring her students back here in the future to continue the cycle of understanding and knowledge in both Japanese and American culture.