Vice President of AATJ

In the recent election of executive officers of American Association of Teachers of Japanese
(AATJ), GTS was elected as a Vice President for 2 year-term beginning on 1/1/2020.

Golden Pavilion and Nishijin Textile Center

After Gion Festival, finally we had a chance to visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) after eating lunch at the cafeteria of Ritsumeikan University.

We had a plan to visit Fushimi Grand Shrine  on the following day but the rain prevented us from visiting there as it would be very slippery.  In stead we stopped by at the Nishijin Textile Center to enjoy shopping and kimono show.

Though we postponed Fushimi visit to Monday, the slight rain is continuously falling.  We will, however, visit Fushimi Grand Shrine to at least have a taste of 1000 torii gates that all the films and TV have been showing!

A few more days to conclude the program this summer, yet we will continue to maximise our experience.

Gion Festival

After long weekend, we went to Arashiyama area where famous Tenryu-ji temple and Nonomiya Shrine attract visitors.

Nonomiya Shrine is famous in the Tale of Genji and many youngsters visit there for realizing their love or keeping there relationship in tact or finding the prospects.

On the following day is the day of Gion Festival Float Parade while spectators like our students feel its dynamism.

The weather is so far so good!

Mt. Iwata Monkey Park in slight rain and Eikando in the eastern mountain

Thursday (7/10) had a slight rain but did not stop us climbing up the small mountain to meet wild monkeys jumping around on the top.

Monkeys are outside the "CAGE" where we could see them from inside.  Those monkeys walking just around our foot.

The following day, we went to the eastern mountain area where we could visit Eikando temple where you can enjoy inside the main hall and its garden and tower!

Giant Buddha Image and Buddhist scripture calligraphy

On Tuesday this week we have visited Nara where many deers walking freely in and around the Nara park.

On the way and back to the station from Todai-ji temple, some bought deer crackers and play with deers while being chased by them.

At the Todai-ji temple, everyone had a chance to observe huge statue of Buddha housed in Buddha Hall which is the world largest wooden building.

On the following day (Wednesday), we went to Arashiyama area by train and walked to Daikakuji temple where everyone had a chance to do SHAKYO (Buddhist scriputure writing).

Both days were breesy nice day for strolling and being away from excessively hot weather though humid as usual.

1001 Image of Mercy Buddha greeted students!

Following the Hiroshima trip, our excursion was to Sanjusangendo temple where you can feel dynamism of 1001 Mercy Buddha Statues and many King statues.

It was a fairly the light activity day as we have just returned from Hiroshima, we will begin walking tomorrow in Nara!

Enormous Buddha Statue is waiting for us!   No rain today!

Hiroshima Trip accomplished!

We had a great Hiroshima trip under the sun shine.  Our chartered bus left on time with students and many host family members and got to Miyajima via several service areas on highway.

Though it was a super short stay in Miyajima (for 2 hours), everyone had a good glimpse of Miyajima.
Walking through the Itsukushima Shrine and observing the floating Torii Gate (Otorii).

At night a few university students from Hiroshima Jogakuin University joined our seminar and took our students to the center of the city for dinner and other entertainments.

The second day begins with walking tour of the Hiroshima Peace Park then had a A-Bomb survivor's talk by which all the students learned what happened some 73 years ago.

Return trip was very smooth and got back to our home town on time!

Tanukidani Fudoin

Tanukidani Fudoin is not too popular for tourists as you have to walk quite a bit of uphill and climb 250 steps to reach the main hall.

GTS' parents urns stays in its storage building called YASURAGI-do, and I personally wanted everyone to visit there.

Everyone did great job to climb up and learned its history from the monk and stopped by at Hachidai Shrine on the way back, where famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi fought!

Cup Noodles Museum, Nijo Castle and Gion Corner!

Wednesday (7/3) was the day everyone created his or her own cupnoodle at the place where the instant ramen was invented by Ando Momofuku years ago.

It took 1.5 hours to get to the museum but it was worthwhile as unique MY CUPNOODLE was created.

Thursday (7/4)

Rain from last night stopped and now we are getting sunshine which is the ideal weather for visiting Nijo Castlle and its beautiful garden.

At early evening we are going to Gion to taste a bit of Japanese traditional cultural performance of Kyoto Dance, Tea, Flower, Kyogen and Bunraku!

Nice sunny day!

Meiji Snack Factory Visit!!

We could not visit this factory last summer due to the Osaka earthquake hit.   It took a few months for them to fix all the machines and storage system.

This year we could successfully visit there to observe the factory line!  Though we finished the school a bit earlier, we made it it just in time without having a good lunch.

Maybe the snack gift that we got from the factory eased a bit.   The cloudy weather was actually better for us to walk for a long time.

Goof experience will continue!

Heian Jingu Shrine on Sunny Friday and the Phoenix Pavilion on Monday

We changed our Friday schedule because of anticipated rain.  Instead of climbing up the Fushimi Grand Shrine, we visited Kyoto Handicraft Center and Heian Jingu Shrine.

However the rain temporarily went away and the largest shrine garden in Kyoto was under the sun.

Some shopped and some observed souvenirs at the Kyoto Handicraft Center.

On Monday this week (yesterday) it was raining in the morning but again luckily it stopped raining and had a chance to enjoy at the Phoenix Pavilion in Uji to which we used Keihan railways.

Though in rainy season, not too much problems so far.

We will visit Meiji Snack Factory today to see the making process of KINOKO NO YAMA.

Osaka Castle yesterday and Kiyomizu Temple today

Because of G 20 Summit, security is so tight so less people seemed to visit Osaka Castle, which was very good for us.  The train was not as crowded as usual.

The first typhoon of Reiwa era is approaching now so it started to rain in the afternoon.
We still walk from Yasaka Shrine, then Ninen Zaka, Sannen Zaka, Kiyomizu Zaka to get to Kiyomizu temple in light rain.

12 students from Georgia Southern University join us so now 30-student group is now led by Shingo.

Finally a bit settled.

Began with cancelation of the flight and immigration issue, we are now a bit settled.  Yesterday we visited the Silver Pavilion after a placement test.

The silver pavilion is the area where Shingo was born over half a century ago.

Today, after eating lunch, we have visited the Rock Garden and a monthly flea market at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. 

Summer Study Abroad began with many unexpected incidents

Our original flight was canceled due to the Labor Strike.  Students might have been in panic but I was rather calm to find am alternative ways.

As a group we were able to fly out with Korean Airlines via Seoul.  We enjoyed some Korean food on the way to Seoul.   We have successfully arrived at Osaka Kansai International Airport 12 hours later than I planned.

At the Kansai Airport, immigration issue was risen and took a while but everyone successfully got to Kyoto by midnight on Saturday!

2019 Spring Semester has ended!

Spring semester is now over.  There were 50 students total from the first semester class (1101) through 6th semester class (2252) and 41 students passed with A, B, C, or D.

Summer on campus class is only for the first semester (Japanese 1101) class and will be taught by my friend teacher.

For Fall semester 2019 is now open for registration.

Japanese 1101 (1st semester)  Mon/Wed. 10am-12noon or 7pm-9pm
                                                 Tue/Thu.   10am-12noon or 12noon-2pm

Japanese 1102 (2nd semester) Mon/Wed. 5pm-7pm

Japanese 2201 (3rd semester) Mon/Wed. 1pm-3pm

Japanese 2251 (5th semester) Mon/Wed. 7pm-8pm

Busy Fall is coming and I do hope every class will run!!

Bye bye Japan!

We left Osaka, Japan for Taipei, Taiwan first after finishing up the final shopping. We switched the plane for Chicago.

Accidental delay at Kansai International Airport fortunately reduced our lay over time.

Nice flight!

Deer and Great Buddha

Final full day was in Nara where many deer greeted us with bowing for food.

Some cherry blossoms were in bloom in front of the Great Buddha Hall.

In Todaiji temple complex, we stopped by the April hall, March Hall and February Hall from which we could have the nice view of Nara city.

Though Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine and Mt. Wakakusa-yama, we reached Kasuga Grand Shrine.

We were a bit rained and suffered from being hungry, we managed to finish Nara mini trip.

Silver Pavilion to Nanzenji Temple.

First we stopped by at the local government election campaign office of Shingo's comrade running for Kyoto city council.

After warm-hearted welcome by the candidate and seeing him off, we visited Silver Pavilion from which we walked along the Philosophers' Trail to Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine.

Nearby temple was Eikando Zenrinji Temple which is famous for its maple leaf garden. We could go up to the top of its Pagoda to have nice city view.

Our today's trip finished at Nanzenji temple and nearby Kyoto International Communiy House.

We took a bus in front of the largest Torii gate at Heian jingu shrine home.

Good day again!

Western part of the city

First we visited Daikakuji temples where we did Shakyo (Hannya shingyo scripture coping)  Then we were walking through Nonomiya Shrine.

Along with Tenryu ji, we climbed up to the top of mountain, the scenic area.

After coming down the mountain, we went the group dinner at Izakaya near the hotel.

Phoenix and Torii gates

Already middle of the program and today we visited sites around Keihan Train.

We first greeted 1001 statues of Buddha for mercy (Senju Kannon) and enjoyed Sakura on the garden, then went to Uji where we tasted some tea and paid our visit to the Phoenix Pavilion.

Our lunch was at the revolving sushi restaurant in front of the train station. With our stomach being filled, we stopped by at Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine to experience thousands of Torii Gates a bit.

It was another beautiful day.

Sunny Walk in the eastern Kyoto

City bus took us to Tea Bowl Street where we began walking upto Kiyomizu Temple and Jishu Shrine.

We walked down Kiyomizu road to Sannei zaka, Ninen zaka and reached Ryozen Kannon (Giant Buddha for Mercy) next to Kodaiji Temple.

From Kodaiji, our walking got to Yasaka Shrine via Maruyama Park.

In the afternoon, we visited the largest Shrine Garden of Heian Jingu Shrine.  Certainly we stopped by Kyoto Handicraft Center for quality shopping.

Traditional Theater experience at night!

Great day again!

Super fulfilling first day in Kyoto

Nice weather assisted us to go to the Golden Pavilion where shiny gold welcomed us.

From Kinkakuji, we walked to the Rock Garden (Ryoanji) where we could also walk around 360 degree pond.

Lunch was, as usual,  at the cafeteria of Ritsumeikan University where Shingo was commuting over 35 years ago.

After lunch, we visited Kitano Tenmangu Shrine through Hirano Shrine.  Everyone enjoyed monthly flea market from which we proceeded to Nishijin Textile Center.

After enjoying shopping and Kimono Fashion Show, we stopped by at Seimei Shrine which is famous for Medieval Exorcism.

It was a good start!

Safely arrived in Japan

We have safely arrived in Japan via Taipei, Taiwan.

For the first time, we used Eva Air to go to Kansai and had fairly nice flight though a bit longer.

Upon checking in hotel in Kyoto, we went to Nijo castle.

2019 SprIng Sakura Trip begins tonight!

We will leave Chicago around midnight for Osaka, Japan via Taipei, Taiwan!

Dozen us will chase Brooming Cherry blossoms around Kyoto while visiting somehistorical and cultural landmarks!

First time using Eva Air!

Spring 2019 has just begun!

Busy Spring 2019 semester began with horrible weather.

Japanese 1101  Tue/Thu
10am~12noon, 12noon~2pm, 7pm~9pm

Japanese 1102  Mon/Wed
10am~12noon

Japanese 2201  Mon/Wed
5pm~7pm

Japanese 2252  Mon/Wed
1pm~2:15pm

Spring trip to Kyoto, Japan is still accepting students.

Summer Japan Program is open!