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Today our tour group to Japan, accompanied by students from our host school, Chuo Daigaku Yokohama Junior High, visited Kamakura, a seaside Japanese city just south of Tokyo.

The production cast of ‘Grease’ has been together since the beginning of this year and has formed a tightly knit group. During the first week of the holidays, the cast had rehearsals which improved their technique and choreography for most of the dances and scenes.

Our students discovered what life is like in a Japanese classroom. They experienced a range of subjects from Japanese literature, to history and statistics.

The day began with a late start where students were able to get some rest time to catch up on their Study Tour tasks and to put in the final practice of their Haka and Poi Dance performances. The mixed emotions of excitement, anxiety and curiosity were at the back of everyone’s mind as they looked forward to their school homestay and school exchange.

Visiting Tsukuba City, Andrew Huynh is using his mind to direct the movement of the arm of a robotic suit. It utilises the brain’s electron pulses to send messages to the sensors on the robotic suit that he is wearing on his arm. It has amazing health applications.

An evening stroll around Asakusa Sensoji Temple and a hearty walk by the Sumida River to the Sky Tree, the world’s second tallest building, was a great start to our stay in Tokyo. The group enjoyed the cool breezy air and the quietness of the streets as the locals were settling in for the night.

This year Sancta Maria College’s environment team has entered the Auckland Council competition to help eradicate moth plants. Moth plants are a vine that grows up to 6m. The flowers grow in creamy white to pink clusters then are followed by large, light green oval pods.

The students visited Kyomizu Temple, Kyoto’s oldest temple which overlooks the city. Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto and was built at the end of the 8th century. The main hall was constructed in the 17th century, and is famous for its location overhanging a cliff. The platform of the main hall, which is supported by 139 giant pillars, affords a spectacular view of the town of Kyoto.

As part of the Year 8 Social Studies programme the students have been looking at the traditions of Aotearoa. Nathan Hunt, Luka Ropers, Alanna Santoso, Johann Ang, Jaime Currie and Erin Wahl show the modern Wharenui they made for their assessment.

The tour party caught a Shinkansen ‘bullet’ train bound for Kyoto and two and a bit hours later they arrived at Kyoto Station. As Mrs Havell put it, “It was totally unexpected. Architecturally, it is very grand.” And indeed, it is – modern and ‘grand’ in every sense of the word.