AN HYUNJIN

March 17, 2026

Students from three universities, Nagasaki International University, Nagasaki Junior College, and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, took part in this Okawa City tour. The participants came from various countries.

The first place we visited on the Okawa City tour was Nitahara Joinery Workshop. This is a workshop involved in making fittings and furniture, and we observed how the work is done there. When we entered, the first thing we saw was wood piled up as it was, and I was very surprised by its powerful appearance.

It was a valuable opportunity to learn how furniture is made. We observed various machines in operation and received detailed explanations about how each process is carried out.

What surprised me most in the explanation was that removing moisture from wood requires a long time and a great deal of effort. Even after wood is naturally dried for about three to six months, around 20% moisture still remains. After that, vacuum drying is used to reduce the moisture content to below 10%.

I learned that this process is important because if enough moisture is not removed, the furniture may warp or become deformed. During the tour, as I listened to the sound of the busy machines and watched the people working hard among them, I felt as if I received a positive energy from the scene.

Kumiko works were also on display, and when I saw them in person, they were even more delicate and beautiful than I had imagined.

I wondered how such small and detailed works could be made from wood.

After the factory tour, we moved to a place where we could experience woodworking. For lunch, we had karaage and onigiri.

I heard that Okawa City is famous for karaage and seafood. While eating with local people from Okawa City, we talked about many things, and I was also able to learn why karaage is famous in Okawa.

It was a very meaningful time because we were able to hear stories directly from people who actually live in the area.

After lunch, we experienced making a chair. The work itself was simpler than I had expected, but I enjoyed being able to make something with my own hands.

At the same time, I thought about the effort of the craftspeople who do much more precise and difficult work every day, and I felt a renewed sense of respect for them.

After the woodworking experience, we headed to the Chikugo River Lift Bridge, which is an essential part of any story about Okawa City.

We were originally planning to cross the bridge, but on that day, we were unable to do so for safety reasons, which was a little disappointing. However, the view of the sunset was truly beautiful, and it was a peaceful moment that seemed to heal my heart.

I heard that one of the reasons Okawa City became famous as a town of furniture is related to the Chikugo River. In the past, the river was used to transport furniture and sell it to other regions.

March 18, 2026

On the second day, we had time to walk around Okawa City with local people and listen to detailed explanations about the area.

First, we visited the Former Yoshiwara Residence. There, we were able to learn what kinds of techniques were used to build houses in Japan during the Edo period.

I wondered how people at that time were able to use such long pieces of wood to build a house like this. I was also very surprised that such advanced techniques were already being used during the Edo period.

At the Former Yoshiwara Residence, we also experienced a tea ceremony. In addition, we toured the inside of the house with a guide and were able to learn about the building in detail.

After that, we visited Shobunsu, a vinegar brewery. There were many large wooden barrels filled with vinegar lined up inside. I heard that this brewery makes vinegar slowly over a long period of time using a traditional fermentation method. I was told that vinegar made in this way has a milder and deeper flavor.

It was a very interesting experience because it was the first time I had properly learned how vinegar is made.

One of the things we learned while walking around the town with local people was that this area was once located on the border between two different domains. For this reason, Okawa City is also called a “former clan border town.”

After that, we had free time in our groups. We were also able to talk about many different things while having lunch together. It was a little disappointing that it was raining, but it also made me want to visit Okawa City again someday.

Finally, everyone gathered together, and each group had time to talk more deeply with local people. We were able to have honest conversations while asking questions about Okawa City and sharing our impressions of the trip.

Through this time, I understood that the Chikugo River and the history of furniture making are a great source of pride and very important to the people of Okawa City. I felt that it was natural for people to feel this way about a town with such a special history.

In this way, our two-day, one-night trip came to an end. This experience, in which students from three universities interacted with one another, learned about a new region, and took part in various activities, became an important memory that will stay with me for a long time.