At KCJS, I had the opportunity to learn Ikebana under Ashida Sensei. I first learned the basic rules of Ikebana and the general mindset one should possess while placing the flowers. Then I was free to create my pieces in any manner as long as I followed the few rules. We explored different styles of Ikebana such as traditional style, vertical style, modern style, etc. I learned a great deal regarding the aesthetic of Japanese flowers and the way the people of old regarded beauty.
I joined a Volleyball Club named Kyoto MICS. Within that club I met many new people and participated in many activities such as practices and tournaments.
I found this to be a really great way to make lots of new friends and put into practical practice everything that we learned in class.
My advice to incoming students would be to find a club for an activity you enjoy and don’t be afraid to talk to the other members.
Alongside Sam and Jonah, I volunteered at Umekoji Koen on Saturday mornings for 2 hours alongside Kyoto locals. Every week, we would work on different parks of the park for the sake of beautifying it, and by the end we could see our efforts paying off. No week was the same, one week we would be trimming trees and pulling out stumps, the next we could be digging holes to plant new flowers into, it kept the activity fresh and interesting. Everyone was also very welcoming to our different levels of Japanese, and despite language barriers, they made sure we were understood, felt welcome, and made their best efforts
to try to get every point across. After the CIP activities ended, we would huddle around the backyard and drink tea and socialize. Afterwards, we would find ourselves grabbing lunch together as well. I found myself often finding or learning one new thing about plants and Japanese culture just from participating in conversation and volunteering activities.
To future students: This CIP is a fun laid back one if you like gardening, and a low stakes environment to practice your Japanese and learn more about Japanese culture. It is also a great place to get to know one of Kyoto’s largest green areas, and also contribute to a place where much of Kyoto’s greenery thrives and people come to play and host festivals.
For my CIP this semester, I chose to volunteer at the Kyoto International Manga Museum, as I enjoy reading manga to enhance my reading skills and Japanese and thought this would be a good opportunity to get better. I did some filing and sorting during my sessions, but most of my time there was actually spent preparing for and carrying out a gallery talk about one of their exhibits. My classmate Destiny and I were expected to follow traditional Japanese workplace manners like using keigo and excusing ourselves when we entered a room and such. However, as time passed we got more comfortable with our mentor who supervised the gallery talk and she eventually started using short form with us in our final weeks, and I was really glad she felt comfortable enough to do that, like I had made a real connection.
If any incoming students like manga and would like to volunteer at the museum, I’d definitely recommend it. It will take some time for both parties to loosen up when it comes to formalities, but after you get to know the staff, there’s not so much pressure and you can enjoy yourself a lot more.
For my CIP activity, I joined a taiko circle at Fujinomori Shrine. Practices were held weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7-9PM. I went once every week on Tuesday. For the first hour, we practiced rhythm and hitting techniques, and then for the second hour, the main members of the taiko circle practiced songs for their upcoming performance, which we watched from the side. After spring break, we learned how to read sheet music for a song KCJS students are required to perform to mark the completion of their CIP.
I am so glad to have chosen taiko for my CIP activity! At Fujinomori Shrine, the sense of community is very strong, and everyone is welcoming and friendly. Taiko can be physically and mentally demanding, but it is motivating to see others pushing themselves to perform at their best and encouraging others to do the same. The section leaders and bosses can be quite strict, but they lead with good intentions in mind.
I highly recommend taiko to anyone, especially if you enjoy music and moving your body (it’s a great shoulder workout)! If I were to give any advice, I would suggest to make as much conversation with the regular members as you can, such as asking how long they’ve been doing it for, and how they got involved into it. However, many members are busy with helping move drums around or just simply catching their breath during breaks. I believe the best way to bond in this setting is to do the same, so don’t worry if you feel like you’re not making enough conversation. Additionally, the teaching style of some leaders can be quite strict and intimidating, but don’t take it personally.
This semester, I volunteered at the Kyoto International Manga Museum alongside Tamar under the guidance of Arisawa-san. We participated in a variety of tasks, such as labeling books and helping update the English section of the museum website, but our primary activity was conducting a gallery tour in Japanese. Through our activities and interactions with staff members, I was able to engage with and learn about manga as an art-form in ways I wouldn’t have been able to back home. There were times where I was pushed outside of my comfort zone in regards to speaking Japanese, but for future students I advise to approach these moments of discomfort and uncertainty knowing that they will ultimately help you grow. I recommend this CIP activity to anyone interested in manga, museum work, translation, or learning more about office culture in Japan!
My CIP activity involved a mix of group lessons and volunteering at Nagaoka Zen-Juku, a rinzai-sect zen training center in Nagaokakyo. Weekdays would be spent cleaning the temple in a practice known as samu (作務). Weekends would involve participating in 3-hour zen meditation sessions with a lecture from Hasegawa-san, the head monk of the center, on key topics in Buddhism. Because this was a center and not a traditional temple, I felt the rules were more relaxed and I was able to make more mistakes than when I had practiced Soto-zen in America.
In an age where we are constantly asked to be “always active” (whether it be school, career hunting, or social media), it can often feel like you’re lost in a sea of anxiety. For that reason, I was looking for a place where I would be able to increase my cultural understanding while also practicing to manage my anxiety in a new and unfamiliar country.
Overall, through the CIP I was able to have many great experiences not just with Hasegawa-san, but others who studied at the temple as well. This involved always saying “yes” to when Japanese people at your CIP invite you to things outside of the CIP! The lectures were especially intense, but it was the perfect CIP to increase my understanding of the language. I would recommend to come into your CIP with the understanding that you won’t get everything right away, but to not let that discourage you from taking a leap into something new!
I was given the opportunity to join an Ikebana class for my CIP. While focusing on learning the foundation of Moribana, the lessons did go into more modern styles of Ikebana. Within the lesson, while given diagrams on the composition of each piece, I was given creative freedom within those requirements. After the lesson finishes, the teacher will check the work and make suggestions and explain in which ways I could improve my work. If you chose this CIP, while it does incur a monthly cost, it was very beginner friendly. This is the case both in terms of the Japanese, as the professor could speak English, as well as the art form itself. No real background in flower arranging is necessary. Some of the lessons were taken in his house. When starting I felt unprepared to enter a house, but I think he was very forgiving and over time I became more comfortable with the etiquette.
This semester I volunteered at NPO Reframe, an alternative school offering children the opportunity to interact with each other and volunteers in an environment free from the pressure and expectations of a traditional school. Generally, I found it to be a relaxing place, and having the opportunity to speak to a number of different volunteers as well as the students themselves each week was a lot of fun. Developing these community bonds, as well as chatting with some of the kids about manga and art, was a highlight of my time at this CIP.
As NPO Reframe is a very low pressure environment, anyone looking to volunteer here should be prepared to spend time in silence with the kids, or watch them play games on their iPads. Some of the kids will not want to interact with you or other volunteers, and this isn’t something you have to fix or change. Roblox skills would probably be a plus.
For my CIP, I participated in the 藤森太鼓保存会 (Fujinomori Taiko Preservation Society) alongside another KCJS student. We attended weekly practices at Fujinomori Shrine, practicing taiko drumming for about an hour and a half with around 15 other members. Taiko practice is both physically demanding and mentally engaging, requiring coordination, rhythm, and group synchronization. The experience is very hands-on, with a strong community dynamic where you learn by observing and practicing, and it gave me a better understanding of how traditional arts are passed down. I’d highly recommend this CIP because it’s immersive and the members are very welcoming. One piece of advice is to not be afraid of making mistakes (even experienced members do!) just stay consistent and focus on improving over time.