From March 1 to March 19, 13 students from Japan’s Takushoku University completed a Chinese language and culture workshop at CFLC. They were majoring in law, political science and business administration while minoring in the Chinese language in their home institutions. The majority of them had never been to China before.
During the 19-day workshop, they received basic Chinese lessons and attended a good variety of cultural lessons in Chinese martial arts, calligraphy, south Fujian culture, and traditional Chinese musical instruments. They also tried their hands at Chinese calligraphy and Tai Chi, and attended demonstrations of traditional Chinese musical instruments, such as Pi Pa and Zhong Ruan.
While in Xiamen, they visited the Overseas Chinese Museum, Gulangyu Islet, Island Ring Road and other landmark; they also sampled local cuisine, fascinated by the profound Chinese culinary culture. Moreover, they traveled out of town, visiting the renowned Fujian Tulou. During the process, they forged friendships with CFLC student volunteers. While at XMU, they watched a basketball game and attended a networking event with XMU students.
The workshop enabled the Japanese students to get to know China’s ancient culture on a personal level. It provided an opportunity for the Japanese students to saturate themselves with the Chinese language and culture.

Arriving at XMU

Mingling with CFLC students

Posing for a photo in Furong Tunnel

Tasting delicacies on campus

With their Chinese language instructor

Attending a lecture on south Fujian culture

Appreciating Chinese instrumental music

Learning Chinese martial arts

Conversing with CFLC first-year students majoring in Japanese

Experiencing a “Japanese interpreting lesson”

Giving a demonstration of Japanese tea ceremony

Introducing Japanese baseball rules

Introducing Kimono

Networking with CFLC students

A “Japanese Corner”

Touring Fujian Tulou

Touring Gulangyu Islet

CFLC students serve as interpreters

Touring Zhongshan Road

Sampling local cuisine

Watching a Chinese movie

A basketball game with XMU students

A singing session

Writing in Chinese

Checking up a word in the dictionary

Presenting results of the workshop

Receiving a workshop completion certificate

Workshop completion ceremony

Posing for a photo with student volunteers

Workshop wraps up!

A group photo with student volunteers

Ready to return home

Thank you, XMU! We’ll be back!

Workshop Album