HNIN WATHONE

On the first day, the students visited Hasami Town in Nagasaki Prefecture and participated in a training session together with international students from Nagasaki International University and Nagasaki Junior College as part of a study trip to learn about Japanese culture.

During the Hasami Town pottery experience, participants primarily learned about the production process of Hasami ware. They also received lectures on the region's 300-year-old ceramics and traditional decorative techniques. It was a valuable experience learning about the appeal and characteristics of Hasami ware, which is highly acclaimed not only in Japan but also overseas.

On the first day, participants learned step-by-step about the production process of Hasami ware. The factory uses state-of-the-art equipment, allowing them to observe up close the processes of forming, molding, decorating, and coloring the ceramic pieces. The initial firing takes place at 900-1000°C, resulting in a clean, polished finish. The pieces are then decorated and glazed, and the final fired piece undergoes quality checks and cleaning before being completed.

Through this process, participants learned the importance of precise temperature and time control, and experienced firsthand the delicacy and beauty of Hasami ware, as well as the profound craftsmanship of the artisans.

Afterwards, the children chose plates and cups to suit their tastes and had the opportunity to paint them.

　During the ice cream parfait-making experience, the students learned the process by actually seeing and touching the ingredients.

They were taught the detailed steps for making a delicious parfait, such as how to add the jelly and fruit and how to arrange the ingredients, and then tried making one themselves.

The finished parfait looked and tasted fantastic, making it a really fun experience.

Day 1: Pottery experience at Hasami During the pottery class at Hasami, the students were able to learn the pottery-making process step by step, gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience firsthand. By touching the work with their own hands, they were able to understand the detailed steps and tricks of the process, making it a very fulfilling learning experience.

Day 2: Cooking experience at Hasami On the second day, as part of their Japanese cultural experience, the students tried making pizza for the first time. They were carefully instructed on everything from making the dough to arranging the toppings and adjusting the baking time, allowing them to learn thoroughly about each step. They created their own unique pizzas using a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, meat, cheese, and mushrooms. When they tasted the finished pizzas, they were delicious, making it a fun and enjoyable experience.

　During lunch, the children had the opportunity to experience making pottery. As a first step, they shaped the pottery with their own hands and created their favorite designs. Through this process, they were able to learn the joy of making things by hand and the detailed techniques of making pottery, and they had a very fulfilling time. When they saw their finished pieces, they felt a sense of accomplishment in having created their own shapes and patterns.

　In the pottery-making process, the children not only shaped the pieces, but also experienced the work of adding patterns and colors. By creating shapes with their own hands and applying their favorite designs and colors, they experienced the joy of giving the finished piece its own individuality. They were able to do the entire process themselves, from kneading the clay to painting, and had a very fulfilling time.

　Day 2On the second day, the students participated in an educational program in Hasami Town. While strolling through the beautiful townscape, they learned the joy of making things through experiences such as making pizza and creating pottery shapes and designs.

Day 3On the third day, the students visited the Hasami Museum of History and Culture in Hasami Town. The museum introduces the history of pottery making, local culture, and traditional techniques, and the exhibits are designed to educate visitors. Not only did they gain an understanding of the historical background and culture, but the environment was also well-equipped to allow them to actually try their hand at making pottery, making it a very meaningful experience for the students.

The museum is an important learning center for scholars and tourists alike, and plays an important role in passing on and preserving Hasami Town's traditional culture to future generations. In addition to the museum's exhibits, the museum also displays many interesting specimens of flora and fauna, as well as historical documents, making it a very educational place for visitors.

We had lunch there the day we visited the museum.

　After lunch, we took part in a potter's wheel experience. This experience involved using a potter's wheel, a tool used in pottery to shape ceramics, to create a work of art by hand. I chose the shape of a plate I liked and made it.

At first, I struggled to control my hands and strength to create the shape, but with careful guidance, the process of gradually taking shape was fascinating and a fulfilling experience. I was able to experience the joy of seeing a piece I had made with my own hands gradually take shape, and appreciate the depth and joy of pottery.

　I tried my hand at making food samples, one of Japan's famous traditional crafts. The purpose of food samples is to give diners an easy-to-understand idea of ​​the appearance and quantity of food, and although they are different from actual edible food, they allow them to appreciate its realism and beauty.

This time, I tried making a parfait sample. The process of making something by hand was extremely fascinating, and I got to experience the joy of carefully finishing every last detail. The finished parfait sample looked so lifelike that it made me want to eat it, making it a very exciting experience.

　The three-day Japanese culture study program from Nagasaki to Hasami Town was a very fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

During our stay in Hasami, we students were able to gain new knowledge and deepen our understanding through a variety of activities and experiences, together with the teachers who guided us throughout our stay. We gained a lot of insight by asking the teachers about things we didn't understand or had questions about, making it a very meaningful experience.

At the end of the three-day study program, I expressed my heartfelt gratitude to the teachers who supported us and left Hasami Town.

This program, which I participated in with Nagasaki International University and Nagasaki Junior College, provided me with new experiences, valuable learning experiences, and unforgettable memories.