KCP International will host a technical school fair in Tokyo on 7 September. Reps from various technical institutions will explain to KCP students their options in continuing study in Japan after they graduate from KCP.
After high school, Japanese students can choose to take senmon gakko, or vocational-technical courses. Hundreds of specialized classes are offered in various schools in Japan through evening programs or correspondence education. In some cases, high school seniors can take a specialized course along with their regular classes, such as hairdressing, mechanics, or architecture. Some are two-year programs that provide an Associates Degree. More on education in Japan.
The technical courses featured in KCP;’s fair include Fashion, Anime, Game, Hotel, Bridal, Jewelry, Graphic, Food, and Business. American students who take any of these courses can put into practice the skills that they have learned when they return home.
Japan is at the forefront of many fields like gaming technology, a multi-billion dollar business. Japanese developers have pioneered many legendary games like Super Mario and Pacman. Japanese companies such as Nintendo and Sony are leaders in this industry and manufacture all kinds of gadgets and consoles that are constant favorites of gamers everywhere.
To learn first-hand from Japanese teachers who are experts in their fields is a great opportunity that will reap valuable rewards.
This two-hour affair runs noon – 2 p.m. in the KCP school grounds. This is the perfect chance for you to open new doors to your future. Be sure to be there!
Tags: further studies, KCP events, KCP International, KCP technical school fair, vocational courses
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On August 16 in Kyoto–today–some enormous bonfires are burning.
Spectacular okuribi bonfires on five Kyoto mountains signal the end of summer.
Gozan no Okuribi (五山送り火), more commonly known as Daimonji (大文字), is one of the iconic festivals of Kyoto. Five giant bonfires are lit on mountains surrounding the city to signify the moment when the spirits of deceased family members are believed to be returning to the spirit world—thus the name Okuribi (送り火) (roughly, “send-off fire”).
Specific families have the hereditary duty of organizing all the logistics of the bonfires, and they spend many hours annually providing volunteer labor to maintain this tradition.
Here’s the play-by-play:
- Daimonji (大文字), “large” or “great” and the most famous: on Daimonji-Yama/Higashi-Yama, Nyoigatake at 8:00 pm
- Myō/Hō (妙・法), “wondrous dharma” (Buddhist teachings): on Matsugasaki, Nishi-Yama/Higashi-Yama at 8:10 pm
- Funagata (舟形), the shape of a boat: on Nishigamo, Funa-Yama at 8:15 pm
- Hidari Daimonji (左大文字), again, “large:” on Daihoku-San, Hidaridaimonji-San at 8:15 pm
- Toriigata (鳥居形), a torii gate: on Toriimoto, Mandara-San at 8:20 pm.
By 8:30, all the characters are lit. Each bonfire lasts for 30 minutes.
A montage of four of the fires. Which one is missing?
Tags: festivals, Japan lifestyle, Kyoto, news
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The Takoage-Gassen (凧揚げ合戦) , or Kite-Fighting Contest, is a spectacular festival of some 100 large kites (tako) flying in the sky over the Nakatajima Dunes, Hamamatsu, City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It happens May 3-4.. The Nakatajima Dunes are one of the three largest sand dunes in Japan, which overlooks the Enshunada Sea.
Here you can see many large kites measuring 3.5 meters by 3.5 meters (roughly 11 ft. x 11 ft.). Then to the sound of the trumpet, the fighting starts. Making the 5-mm thick hemp strings intertwine, the kite-fliers try to cut their opponents’ strings by friction, which is very exciting to watch.
The strings burn, giving off a scorched smell. You can try flying a kite yourself in the grounds adjoining the shuttle bus terminal.
This festival dates back to the 16th Century when large kites were flown in celebration of the birth of a baby son to the Lord of Hamamatsu Castle. Even today, kites are flown at Hamamatsu when a baby boy is born.
A festive day to pray for boys’ good health and a bright future, it is the custom in Japan to fly decorations called koinobori, which are carp-shaped streamers.
Carp are known to swim up waterfalls and this powerful image of the carp overlaps with the image of advancing in one’s career.
Tags: festivals, Japanese traditions, KCP, study abroad, Takoage-Gassen
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