Fall 2016 Classes are ready for you to register. All GTS classes will open.

Fall 2016 classes have been waiting for students to register.  As of the end of July, all 5 GTS classes have enough students to open and continue to wait to be filled for next 3 weeks.

Japanese 1101
Monday/Wednesday  10am-12noon 
Tuesday/Thursday     10am-12noon   AND 12noon-2pm

Japanese 1102
Monday/Wednesday    5-7pm

Japanese 2201
Monday/Wednesday   1-3pm

There still will be night Japanese 1101 class on Tues/Thurs night.

The final excursion to Shimogamo Shrine.

Today's afternoon excursion is the last one of the Summer Program 2016.  Students played in the river with barefoot with local kids and were headed to Shimogamo Shrine to make a prayer for their own zodiac deity.

Everyone had a final exam today and practiced the final project which will be performed tomorrow at the farewell party.

Now everyone began final shopping and preparing for the return trip to the US.

Gion Festival Parade and the Martial Arts!

While raining a bit, Gion Festival Parade began and smoothly carried out.  The rain stopped and the weather was actually perfect to watch the famous TSUJIMAWASHI (Turning without wheel) at every corner.

Late afternoon after the parade, we went to Shugakuin where GTS elementary school friend operates the Martial Arts Dojo, Kenbukai and everyone learned Tai Chi and other self defense methods!

GTS Time Slip to Kamigamo Shrine

Study Abroad Program 2016 is nearing the end.  Many students have been exhausted so their temper began worsening.  So it was a good idea to visit Kamigamo Shrine area where GTS spent his elementary school years.  There are many new buildings but still some have been exactly the same as before.

Students had some taste of GTS time of some 40 years ago.  We went to a couple of parks where we met many school kids and had fun with.

Indeed, everyone grew up but they all of sudden becomes kids when they saw see-saw, swing, slide, and jungle gym, etc.

It was a good time.  At least GTS was happy to have some time slip!

Buddhist Script Writing at Daikakuji Temple

Very nice but hot and humid weather returns to Kyoto and produced much sweat while we were walking to Daikakuji Temple from Randen Arashiyama Station for about 30 minutes.

At the Daikakuji Temple as usual, we did Shakyo, or Buddhist Scripture Writing at Godai-do.

Though everyone just tracing what was on the paper, s/he was quietly concentrating on doing it.  During the morning class at KIA, students experienced traditional Brush writing so this was quite practical use of what they learned.

The weather is cooperating with us and hope to visit Kamigamo Shrine tomorrow without rain.

Nishijin Textile and Japanese Exorcism

Slight rain continued today.  Some began preparing overnight trip to Tokyo (Fri-Sat).  Kyoto's humidity is getting higher and higher so everyone began getting tired as well.

Afternoon trip was to Seimei Shrine which is famous for Japanese exorcism. The famous exorcist during the Heian period 11th century was Abe no Seimei.  He is enshrined here.

After Seimei Shrine we visited Nishijin Textile center where you can enjoy Kimono Fashion Show. 

Very quick visit to NARA Park and the Giant Buddha!

It was very humid and raining a little today.  As soon as the class ended we jumped on the bus to get to the city subway station to quickly reach Kyoto Station for Kintetsu train ride.

about 50 minutes train ride took us to Nara where we walk to the Giant Buddha Hall in Todai-ji temple accompanied by many deer around.

Some were quickly climbing up the February Hall corridor to overlook the entire Nara city from the above.