On Wednesday, December 17th, the "International Exchange Party 2025" (hereinafter referred to as “party”) hosted by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences was held at the Kitchen SAKU-LA (1st floor of the Kuramoto-kaikan, on Kuramoto Campus). This party was started in 2005 with the aim of enabling international students from the Kuramoto district living far from their home countries in Tokushima to deepen their relationships with each other as well as with Japanese students and faculty members, and to bring back fond memories of Tokushima to their home countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the party was suspended for three years from 2020, but resumed in 2023. When we called for the party to be held this year, 72 people from 12 countries (India, Indonesia, Egypt, China, Chile, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Japan) participated.
The party kicked off with an opening address by Professor Akaike Masashi, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and participants enjoyed a meal together in a relaxed atmosphere. In between meals, some of participants gave presentations and performances, further expanding the circle of interaction across nationalities and generations.
First, Mr. Lutfi Putra Perdana, a fourth-year student from Indonesia in the Graduate School of Oral Sciences, introduced his home country. Next, Ms. Aihara Yuzuha, a second-year student in the Faculty of Dentistry, performed a medley of Christmas songs on the koto, enveloping the venue in gentle tones with her blend of Japanese and Western elements. At last, second-year students in the Faculty of Dentistry, Ms. Hasaka Hime, Ms. Abe Otoha, and Ms. Sugimoto Yumina, performed a lively dance of the Soran Bushi accompanied by powerful shouts (shouts: Mr. Hayashi Kohei, fifth-year student in the Faculty of Dentistry), which greatly excited the audience.
Finally, all participants took a commemorative group photo and the party came to a close with fond memories.
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| Opening address by Dean Akaike | Introduction of Indonesia by Mr. Lutfi Putra Perdana |
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| Koto performance by Ms. Aihara | Soran Bushi dance by Ms. Hasaka, Ms. Abe and Ms. Sugimoto |
Participants enjoying the exchange
Commemorative group photo
