On December 5, the School of Global Japanese Studies held the third International Exchange Forum, Syabekuri 006 (named after the popular Japanese television talk show, Syabekuri 007), in which international teachers and students served as panelists talking about Japan and their own countries. The forum was held in the Izumi Campus International Exchange Lounge.
The forum was held for the purpose of deepening relationships between international students and Japanese students, and was held as part of International Exchange Practicum 2, a course taught by Professor Keizo Yamawaki of the School of Global Japanese Studies. The event was divided into two parts, the teacher's part and the students' part, and the panelists freely shared their opinions. A total of 90 people participated, including 12 panelists representing 10 countries, students from the School of Global Japanese Studies and other schools, teachers, as well as students from Meiji University High School.
Six teachers from Canada, the United States, Ireland, Ukraine, and Japan participated in the teachers' part. They each shared how they came to work in Japan, what they liked and did not like about Japan, and their opinions on the "inward-looking" nature of the younger generation in today's Japan.
During the event, one teacher advised Japanese students saying, "Japanese students seem to be not very interested in world affairs or do not have their own opinions on global events, but having and expressing your own opinions is something that is necessary when interacting with people in the world."
During the students' part of the forum, six students from Turkey, Vietnam, China, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States discussed with plenty of humor how they spend Christmas, big events in their respective countries, popular date spots, and what they liked and disliked about Japan.
Participating students were surprised at how much customs and opinions which seemed natural in Japan were different in other countries. The forum provided a good opportunity for them to learn about the many cultures and values in the world.
