Via lactea cultural Services Semester Exchange Program for usc and uminho students at Kanazawa and Aichi Prefectural Universities

Objective:

Kanazawa University (KU) and Aichi Prefectural University (APU) develop the curriculum for EU students with the common framework “Japanese Regional Culture.” The curriculum benefits from the two contrasting regional characteristics such as “History and Tradition” of Ishikawa prefecture and “Art and Technology” of Aichi prefecture. At KU, EU students will learn about Kanazawa’s traditional livelihood, historical streetscapes and conservation of them. At APU, EU students will learn about the modern industrialization and the city enables to support the industrialization. In addition to the common framework “Japanese Regional Culture”, KU and APU provide the curriculum relating to “Japanese Spirituality.” Unlike Catholic pilgrimage converge on Santiago de Compostela, Japanese pilgrimage connect with the numerous number of gods that inhabit in nature. EU students will learn how the Japanese pilgrimage is different from the European pilgrimages thoroughout the program.

It consists of 2 segments of 1 week orientation, 6-7 weeks class activity and 1-2 weeks internship and field trip at each university.

(1) KU: 1 week orientation, 7 weeks class activities, 1 week internship (total 9 weeks). Key concept: “History and Tradition”, “Japanese Spirituality”

(2) APU: 1 week moving from Kanazawa and orientation, 6 weeks class activities, 1 week internship, 1 week field trip to Ise Pilglimage and Kumano Pilglimage and over all reporting session (total 9 weeks) Key concept: “Art and Technology”, “Japanese Spirituality”

In the first segment of the curriculum, KU will provide lectures and trainings relating to “Histry and Tradition” and cultural resources studies in English. Additionally, KU provides the Japanese Language education which enhances basic Japanese skills needed for daily life. Students participating in this program are able to enroll in classes such as the following: Integrated Japanese Language Program Japanese B, Presentation, Anthropology in Japan, Japanese History, Seminar and Fieldwork in Cultural Resource Studies, and Internship in Cultural Resource Studies.

During the period of class activity in Kanazawa, KU will also provide workshop to introduce Komatsu City Archaeological Research Center. In this session, EU students will learn about prevention of cultural properties and archaeological remains, and works of archaeologists. Additionnally, KU will provide a workshop relating to the “Spiritual Road” of the Higashiyama Temple Area, which is one of the temple districts in Kanazawa, crowded with more than 50 temples and shrines.

During the last 1 week in Kanazawa, KU will provide the internship opportunities for EU students by the cooperation from Kanazawa University Library and Kanazawa University Museum, and Kanazawa City which has a framework agreement with KU. Students will do internship at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Folklore Museum, Kanazawa Noh Museum, etc. By directly learning traditional crafts from the past and traditional heritage during the internship period, students will deepen their understanding of the traditional culture.

In the second segment of the curriculum, APU provides the course related to “Art and Technology” that can learn the trace of industrial development in Aichi which is called “monodzukuri Aichi”, the center of manufacturing industry in Japan. Additionally, APU provides the Japanese Language education which raise the level of basic Japanese skills. Students participating in this program are able to enroll in classes such as the following: Comprehensive Japanese, Comparative Linguistics by Spanish Native Lecturer, Trace of Art and Technology(lecture+ Field trip), Seminar by Faculty of Japanese Studies, Seminar by Faculty of Foreign Studies, Discover Japan (English) / Seen from Japan (English), Japan's Interactions with Other Cultures /Music Culture of the World, Comparative Culture in multilingual learning center, Cultural Field Work (followed by field trips).

During the period of class activity in Aichi, APU will also provide the cultural activities related to learn the trace of Japanese industry by visiting some cultural and industrial sites such as TOYOTA Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology and Ichinomiya Fashion Design Center. In this session, EU students will learn how Japanese industry has developed over centuries and see the relationship of development and tradition/culture/custom of its society.

During the last 2 weeks in Aichi, APU will provide the internship and field trip opportunities for EU students. For the internship, students will do internship at Aichi International Association, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, and Aichi Arts Foundation. For the field trip, student will visit Ise pilgrimage and Kumano pilglimage to feel and learn about Japanese spirituarity.

In the final week of the curriculum for EU students,there will be the overall reporting session at APU. The EU students will set the individual theme related to Japanese regional culture, and make a presentation. Based on this session, KU and APU will make the comprehensive evaluation of the entire program．