Fall 2018 Registration is going on!

COD Japanese language classes are now waiting for students!

Japanese 1101  Mon/Wed  10am-12noon   19 students as of 7/30/2018
Japanese 1101  Tue/Thu    10am-12noon     6 students
Japanese 1101  Tue/Thu    12noon-2pm     11 students
Japanese 1101  Tue/Thu      7pm-9pm          2 students

Japanese 1102 Mon/Wed     5pm-7pm         3 students
Japanese 2201 Mon/Wed    2:30pm-4pm     1 student  (10 max)

Japanese 2251 (5th semester class)  Mon/Wed   1pm-2:15pm    9 students

This fall is unusual as students of 5th semester are more than 3rd semester!

Night students (1101 and 1102) are welcome!

Spring Break Sakura Japan Trip is also accepting students
The trip is from 3/22/2019 to 3/31/2019 and two class meetings will come before the trip!

Japanese 1100 is the trip class in Spring 2019!

Commencement and Farewell Party

Today was literally the last day at school, so we had the commencement where everyone got the certificate of the merit.

Each group performed its final project at the farewell party where all the host families were invited.

We all together eat some snacks and lunch while every student read his/her thank you letter to the host family.

The climax was the watermelon smashing that gave a piece of watermelon to eat!

We all must be ready to go back to the United States!

Nanzenji Main Gate Tower to the City Zoo!

Historically hot and humid day continued today but our excursion also continued to find some shade on top of the main gate (Sanmon).

Walking along the water canal to get to the city zoo where we were comforted by many animals which also are struggling with this heat!

Tomorrow will be the final day for commencement and farewell party!

Gion Festival Float and portable shrines marched!

Last few days of the program began with Gion Festival Main event in a very hot and humid (over 100F) day!

Giant floats were pulled and march in the middle of the city.  Students fatigue are getting to a peak so everyone must endure few more days!

No major sickness and injury so far.  But must be cautious until the end.

Our final afternoon destination is the city zoo so that everyone be comforted by cute animals!

The EIKANDO and its garden!

It is hot and humid as usual.  The temperature is going beyond our body temperature.    Every time I bring students here, toward the end of the trip, We visit EIKANDO temple, which is famous for its autumn color.

We come in Spring and Summer so no maple can be enjoyed but their main building structure and top of it Tower (TAHOTO) gave us great feeling of being in Kyoto.

Final long weekend is coming up and students will be ready to wrap up their trip!

Monkey Park!

As the end of the program is nearing, everyone got physically tired and now it is getting into the survival mode.

But we must visit the Monkey Park at Mt. Iwata in Arashiyama, where many monkeys welcomed us.

We were in the cage and monkeys observed us!

Han'nya Shingyo Buddhist Scripture Writing at Daikakuji

It was rather cloudy good day today.  After getting off the Randen train, we walked up to Daikaku-ji temple via Seiryoji temple.

At Daikakuji, everyone had a chance to perform Buddhist Scripture Calligraphy.  At the large garden with a huge pond, there was film shooting of Japanese Samurai Drama "MITOKOMON" and some famous actors and actresses were performing in the hot humid weather!

Nice day again.  Now many students are getting tired from daily excursion.

THe giant Buddha welcomed us in Nara!

The giant Buddha welcomed us in Nara with so many deer after rising the Kintetsu train for about 50 minutes from Kyoto.

We also stopped by the April hall and February Hall of Todaiji where we could see the entire Nara city!

Heat index of 39 degree Celsius now began attacking us!

1001 Buddha of Mercy greeted!

Though the weather recovered and Kyoto city function is normal, other parts of Western Japan were still suffering from the storm and it will take a bit longer time to recover.

Our afternoon trip was resumed and Keihan train took us to Sanjusangen-do temple where 1001 statues of Buddha greeted.

Two weeks are left in our program and everyone's energy is now going down to the end but....

Once in a lifetime heavy rain stoped us!

Japan has been attacked by historically heavy rain and it stopped train lines and all the highways and also even local road!

We left Kyoto on time heading to Hiroshima but before getting out from Kyoto prefecture, all the roads got closure and gave up going to Hiroshima.

Besides, it was very dangerous over in Hiroshima, so this was the first time in our study abroad history.

It was pitiful but students got "once in life time" experience, too.

Hopefully the weather recovers and we resume daily routine tomorrow on Monday!

Heian Jingu Shrine in the storm.

The western Japan has been attacked by the storm and many people evacuated but not too much effect on us except for a few student who could not come school due to no train service.
We visited Heian jingu shrine garden to enjoy the rainy garden.

Rain continues.

Nijo Castle and the traditional performances

With the storm passing, it had been heavily raining.  Foreign students in Kyoto can visit Nijo castle and the Manga museum free with special ID.

At night we went to Gion Corner to taste traditional Japanese performances, such as Bunraku, Noh, Gagaku, Tea, etc.

Creating the origial cup noodle!

A typhoon is passing nearby so the weather wasn't good but it did no negative impact to creating one's original cup noodle at the place where it was invented by Momofuku Ando.

It was a fun experience!

KIA--Saiin Station--(Hankyu train) --Ikeda--Cup Noodles Museum

Kyoto Suntory Brewery

The famous snack factory ad affected by the recent earthquake and so We altere the plan to visit Suntory Brewery.
Those who are under age got some soft drinks while others enjoy tasting Japanese real beer.

We will make our original cup noodle tomorrow.

KIA--Saiin Station--(Hankyu train)--Nishiyama Tennozan Station--Suntory Kyoto Brewery

The Phoenix Pavilion in the shower!

Under the heavily clouded sky, we managed to reach the Phoenix Pavilion.  We could see the beautiful Amidado, the pavilon just like our Ten yen coin.
Then strong shower attacked us and we had to stay in its museum for half an hour.

Yet, the mission completed.

KIA--Demachiyanagi Station--(Keihan train)--Uji--The Phoenix Pavilion--Ujigawa Park

Rain stopped for us to visit Kiyomizu temple

It was raining from the morning but it stopped when we actually began walking at Yasaka ShrIne.  We went through Maruyama Park and got to Kodaiji temple next to Ryozan Kannon which was huge in outside.
Sanneizaka and Ninenzaka took us finally to Kiyomizu temple.

KIA--Hyakumanben--Gion--Yasaka Shrine--Maruyama Park--Kodaiji temple--Ryozen Kannon--Ninen zaka--Sannei-zaka--Kiyomizu temple

Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine to Tofukuji

Breezy cloudy nice weather helped us to get to the top of Mt. Inari.  Keihan train took us to Fushimi Inari station.  From the bottom of Grand Shrine level, we walked up through thousands of Torii gates to the top.  We walked down to another side of the mountain to visit Tofukuji Temple.

Good hiking though some gave up.

KIA--Demachiyanagi Station--(Keihan train)--Fushimi Inari Station--Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine--Top of Mt. Inari--Shirataki no Yashiro--Tofukuji Temple

Nice breezy day at Osaka Castle area

It has been quite breezy and cloudy today.  It us the best afternoon excursion day to Osaka.  Keihan train took us from Demachiyanagi to Kyobashi Osaka business park.

Less crowded at the Castle so it was nice.

KIA--Demachiyanagi Station--(Keihan Train)-- Kyobashi--Osaka Business Park--Osaka Castle--Hokoku Shrine

The silver Pavilion and the philosopher's trail.

Not as hot and humid as yesterday though it was hot!  Breeze helped us a bit to walk up to the Silver Pavilion (Ginkakuji temple) from which Western part of the city was visible!

Though it has been in rainy season, we have been still lucky!

KIA--Ginkakuji michi--Philosopher's Trail--Ginkakuji Silver Pavilion

Bamboo Forest in heated Kyoto

35C or 97F weather hit Kyoto today.  It is the hottest day so far in this season.  We still managed to go to Arashiyama area where we stopped by Nonomiya Shrine (famous Shrine in Tale of Genji) and walked along Tenryu-ji temple to get to the top of the hill.

We could see very nice view from there and walked down to Oi River to walk across the famouse Togetsu Kyo Bridge and enter the Arashiyama Park.

We tried to go back to the center of the city by Hankyu Railways but we could end up going back to Arashiyama due to the train accident and detoured to Nishioji Shijo by Randen train.

It was a long hot day!

KIA--Kitano Hakubaicho-(Randen train)-Arashiyama--Tenryuji temple--Nonomiya Shrine--Bamboo Walk--Mountain Top Viewpont--Oi river--Arashiyama Park--Hankyu Arashiyama Station

The Golden Pavion in the steamy day!

The second day still began with some commuting problem (Some students got on the right bus but to the opposite direction!!!) yet moved fairly smoothly.

We had lunch at the different cafeteria at Ritsumeikan University from which we walked up to the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple)

After yesterday's excursion some went to Karaoke near the school and enjoyed very inexpensively!

Everyone must explore in the center of the city this first weekend!

KIA--Hirano Shrine--Ritaumeikan University Zonshinkan Cafeteria--Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion

First day at school! Of course getting lost!

Fairly good start with nice weather on the first day!

A few students got lost on the way to school but overall it was good start.

Some students got off at the wrong bus stop even though I told them many times about the right stop.

Well, learning by experience is probably right!

We ate lunch at the cafeteria in Ritsumeikan University and then went to Ryoan ji temple which is famous for its Rock Garden!

KIA---Hirano Shrine--Ritsumeikan University Ryoyukan Cafeteria--Ryoanji Rock Garden--Kitano Hakubaicho

2018 COD Summer Study Abroad has just begun.  The air cost was very expensive this summer so we decided to use Air Canada as it began new service from Vancouver to Kansai last fall.

Very smooth flight and we even got to Osaka 30 minutes before the scheduled time.  Bad news was that too many people were heading to Kyoto so we had to wait for the bus to get to Kyoto.

So far no one got sick, so I am hoping that everyone make it to school tomorrow morning from the host family.

Or we may have some interesting episodes tomorrow!!

Summer Study Abroad is ready

This is the 20th year of the Japan Summer Study Abroad Program.

Last few yeara have been joined by East Los Angeles College and Georgia Southern University.

This year, with students from Georgia, total 21 students are going to Kyoto, Japan from mid-June to mid-July.

Will be fun!

Giant Buddha said good-bye to us!

The final day of our trip was to go to Nara to see many deer and the Giant Buddha in Todaiji.  After smeeting with THE Buddha, we could go up to April Hall of Todaiji from which we can view the entire Nara city!

We had a little hike from Tamukeyama Hachimangu we walk through Wakakusa mountain, Kasuga Grand Shrine and Sarusawa Pond to Nara Station area for late lunch

Upon finishing lunch Kintetsu train took us back to the Kyoto Station!

We are leaving here for Chicago tomorrow!

From Keage Incline to the Silver Pavilion via Philosopher's Path

City bus #46 took us to right in front of the City Musium from where we walk to Keage Water Plant Incline along Kyoto canal.  Through the water plant with full bloom of cherry blossoms we went down to Nanzenji Temple.  Almost next to it was Eikando temple where we explored inside the main building in which monks in training are chanting.

After Eikando, we reached Nyakuoji Shrine which is the starting point of the Philosopher's Path continuing to the Silver Pavilion.  While enjoying the full bloom of cherry blossoms we walk to Silver Pavilion area where GTS was born 55 years ago!

From the mountain in the temple we could view the entire city from the east end.

Good day continues!

Arashiyama Day!

Over 30 minutes city bus ride took us to Daikakuji temple at the northwest corner of the city (Kimon: Damon Gate).  At the temple we did Shakyo (Copying the one of the Sutra, Han'nyashingyo) Calligraphy and walked around Osawa Pond garden where cherry blossoms were beautifully blooming)

After having a lunch in the Arashiyama Station area, we walked through Bamboo trail whiule over looking Nonomiya Shrine and Tenryuji temple.  From the top of the mountain, we could view the cherry blossoms in the mountain across the river.

Cherry blossoms in the Arashiyama Park in the Oi river bank were also in full bloom!

Two more days!

The Golden Pavilion with Rock Garden

Super shiny Golden Pavilion with Cherry blossom welcomed us before visiting tje Rock Garden where we could sit and empty the mind for a while.

After walking around the pond in Ryoanji temple, we went into Ritsumeikan Univetsity which GTS was graduated from some 30 years ago.

We had lunch at the campus cafeteria and wete heading to Hirano Shrine whete cherry blossom was in full bloom.

On the way back to the hotel, we enjoyed Kimono fashion show at Nishijin Textile Center.

Another great day!

Super Blooming Day again!

The third day began with sunshine and some of us just wore short sleeve shirt.  City bus took us to Kiyomizu-dera temple from where we walk down to Yasaka Shrine via Ninen-zaka, Sannei-zaka Ryozan Kannon (outside large mercy Buddha statue), Kodai-ji temple.

The main Sakura Cherry Blossom is in full bloom at Maruyama Park!  After being impressed, we had a lunch break and were heading to Heian Jingu Shrine which has the largest Shrine garden in Kyoto.

Everyone did enjoy shopping at Kyoto Handicraft Center before going back to the hotel!

Another amazing day! 

1001 Buddha and Poenix was greeting to us!

Super good weather assisted us all day long.
At the first place in Sanjusangendo, 1001 statues of Buddha of Mercy welcomed us and sent us to the Phoenix Pavillion in Uji.

We had a chance to eat lunch at the Conveyer Belt Sushi after visiting the Phoenix Pavilion.

We hurriedly paid our visit to Nijo castle from which we went back to the hotel via Shinsenen.

It was a nice day.

Spring Trip began with happenings!

Our united flight delayed with technical problems which caused misconnection in Narira where we stayed over night at a hotel.

Next moring flight took us to Osaka and our offcial trip began.

We visited Osaka castle and from the top the castletower sunny Osaka was beautifullyvisible.