Submitted by Erika Relyea on the 2016 summer session program in Kobe, Japan sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
On Wednesday, we visited the Naginata Club to see a Japanese martial art mainly practiced by women and we were given the opportunity to participate. A long bamboo sword, as a replacement for the metal blade, is used to strike the opponent to score various points, and armor similar to that of kendo is worn.
Most students elected to wear a yukata, a traditional summer kimono, to Himeji’s Yukata Matsuri on June 23rd. In addition to the festival, we also visited Himeji Castle, known for its nearly pure white exterior and we scaled the many steps to the top of the castle.
For the weekend, the study abroad group travelled to Hiroshima. The first place we visited in Hiroshima was the Atomic Bomb Peace Memorial Park and Museum; there stands the ruins of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome.
From there, we travelled to Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima, an island most famous for its “floating” torii gate which we were able to pass through on a cruise later that night. The next morning, before heading back to Hiroshima, I went with a few students to take the cable car up to Mount Misen.
Upon returning to Hiroshima, we met with our homestay families. I went with my homestay sister to Hiroshima’s Hondori, Main Street. For dinner, I experienced making Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki with the family. The next day, we went to the Hiroshima Art Museum and Hiroshima Castle.