So we went to the Huis ten Bosch.
Read moreDaily University Life In Japan
Universities in Japan operate a bit differently on the technical side of things than universities in America.
Read moreSettling In
It’s been a month since we arrived in Japan, and although I will admit that arrival may have been tiring, it’s been nothing less than exciting since we arrived.
Read moreNew Student Orientation - Freshman Seminar
This past weekend, NIU held its annual Freshman Seminar for new students. It is an opportunity for new students to see some of the best places in Sasebo while getting to know each other. This year's itinerary showcased some of Sasebo's natural beauty.
- Visit to the observation deck atop Mt. Yumihari, overlooking Sasebo and the Saikai National Marine Park (aka the 99 Islands)
- Lunch at the 99 Islands Hotel
- Visit to the Pear Sea 99 Islands Resort and aquarium
- Ocean cruise around the 99 Islands
Fireworks
That was our first hang out with Japanese students.
Read moreOur First Trip (Technically)
On the weekend we wanted to become a bit more independent.
Read moreCatching Up - Part 1
We landed in Fukuoka at 14:30. I slept in the plane, being my first moment of rest in 15 hours.
Read more2017 Museum Studies Short-Program for Shanghai University
For the 2nd year in a row, NIU was happy to welcome students and faculty of Shanghai University for a 2 week short-program on museum studies.
NIU was pleased to host over 20 students and faculty members for a program that included both practical and lecture-based classes on museum studies, as well as classes on Japanese language and culture. Students also made excursions to museums and other cultural spots around Nagasaki Prefecture, including:
- World Heritage site Gunkanjima (aka Battleship Island)
- Kyushu National Museum
- Nagasaki Prefectural Museum of Art
- Hasami pottery town
- Saikai National Marine Park and 99 Islands
We look forward to welcoming Shanghai University again next year!
Go Glocal at NIU
The Glocal program organizes fun activities for international and Japanese students to get together and develop the skills to thrive in a global society. Students get together to volunteer in the community, visit locations around Nagasaki Prefecture, learn about Nagasaki’s culture and history, and improve their foreign language skills. It is a fun, active way for international and Japanese students to interact, learn together, and learn from each other.
New members are always welcome, especially students on short-term exchange. For more information, visit the NIU International Center.
New Learning Commons Opens
This semester, NIU opened three new learning commons locations on campus. These spaces are designed for students to study, relax, and do group work. The learning commons are equipped with comfy seating, standard and digital whiteboards, and arrangeable furniture. The locations have big windows that let in natural light and provide great views of the NIU campus.
Welcome, International Students!
NIU 2017
International student welcome party
Nagasaki International University is very happy to welcome our new crop of international students. Many of the approximately 100 students on degree, transfer, and exchange programs came to our 2017 Welcome Party last week. Students were able to mingle while while enjoying some good food and live entertainment. All the best for the new school year!
9th Annual Girl's Day Tea Ceremony with Local American Children
Students from the Department of International Tourism celebrated our annual Girl's Day festival by leading a hands-on workshop of Japanese tea ceremony with a group of local American children.
For the first time, the event was held at the NIU campus tea ceremony house, the Jimyoudo. The children were able to enjoy making matcha using traditional bamboo equipment and ceramic bowls and eat traditional Girl's Day sweets such as Hina Ara-re (rice cake snacks) and Peach Castella cakes. Following this, everyone made origami and played traditional Japanese games. Happy Girl's Day!
5Th Yokoso Japan Foreign Language Contest
The Department of International Tourism held its 5th annual Yokoso Japan Foreign Language Contest on December 16th, and the winners were announced at a ceremony on January 12th.
This year, for the first time, students competed in groups of three instead of pairs. Each group demonstrated their acting skills, friendly hospitality and mental agility in memorizing and performing the same tourism-related role-play in three different languages. Students chose from English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese.
Congratulations to all the participants on a job well done! We hope to see you again next year!
Museum Studies Short-program for Shanghai University
Our greatest thanks to the students and faculty of Shanghai University who visited us for a 2 week short-program on museum studies.
NIU was pleased to host 16 students and 3 faculty for a program that included both practical and lecture-based classes on museum studies, as well as classes on Japanese language and culture. Students also made excursions to museums and other cultural spots around Nagasaki Prefecture, including:
- Nagasaki Prefectural Museum of Art
- Mt. Unzen volcano, hot springs, and museum
- Huis Ten Bosch Museum
- Hasami pottery town
- Saikai National Marine Park and 99 Islands
We look forward to welcoming Shanghai University again next year!
Tourism Students Organize Boat Tour of Nagasaki
In honour of the July 18 national holiday Umi no Hi (Sea Day), students from the Department of International Tourism organized a boat tour of northern Nagasaki. Both international and Japanese students cooperated to research, plan and coordinate the tour under the guidance of Associate Professor Tetsuhiro Hara. The event sought to help people reconnect with and reimagine our region from the point of view of sea transport, one of the oldest but nowadays underused means of transport.
The event was a huge success and was blessed with near-perfect weather conditions. The tour included a lunch break on Tashima Island, an uninhabited historical island which now offers direct boat transport from Nagasaki airport. Other places on the tour included:
- Sasebo city inner harbour
- Saikai Bridge
- Port Hoorn and Huis Ten Bosch theme parks
- Hario Signal Towers
- Ozaki Peninsula war remains
- Omura Bay
This is the 6th year that the event was held.
Click to enlarge photos
Summer Study Abroad Orientation
Over the course of the semester, NIU has been conducting a series of orientation sessions for students who will participate in our one month summer English study abroad program at Troy University. The most recent one was held yesterday. Topics covered included:
- Avoiding and coping with signs of culture shock
- Making the most of one's experience
- Safety and general precautions while abroad
- Filling out the ESTA
With only a few weeks left until their departure, students are eager to pack their bags and go.
NIU Hosts Kyushu Toastmasters Competition
NIU hosted the Kyushu regional Toastmasters competition on March 13. For the second year in a row, members gathered at the NIU campus to select Kyushu's best speaker who will go on to compete at the national Toastmasters competition. This year's participants came from clubs in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Dazaifu and Kurume.
"All candidates, including observers, were proactive and energetic," said attendee Yuma Sugiyama. A 3rd year student at NIU, he first became involved with the Toastmasters while studying abroad in the UK by joining the Guildford Speakers Club adding, "I would like to join the competition representing the NIU Speakers Club, which is going to be set up this year."
Graduation Day at NIU
NIU held its graduation ceremony today. In total, 341 undergraduate and graduate students from the departments of International Tourism, Social Work, Health and Nutrition, and Pharmacy received their diplomas.
The graduating class includes 2016 Rio Olympic archer Saori Nagamine (International Tourism) and 2015 Miss Universe Japan Keiko Tsuji (Health and Nutrition). Congratulations to everyone who graduated and best of luck with the next step.
Girl's Day Tea Ceremony with Local American Children
Students from the Departments of International Tourism and Health and Nutrition celebrated the annual Girl's Day festival by leading a hands-on workshop of Japanese tea ceremony with a group of local American children. The children were able to enjoy making matcha using traditional bamboo equipment and ceramic bowls. Following this, everyone ate Peach Castella Cakes and made Girl's Day origami dolls. Happy Girl's Day!
NIU Pharmacy Professors Receive Award for New Skin Cream Invention, Appear on National TV
Professors Yuichi Nodake and Ryuzo Sakakibara were recently awarded the 63rd Nagasaki Prefectural Best Invention Award for developing a new type of skin care cream. The cream is specially made to order on an individual basis by making use of naturally occurring bacteria unique to each person's skin.
The invention has even received national attention with Prof. Nodake appearing on a recent broadcast hosted by Masahiro Nakai, a well-known talk show host and member of the popular group SMAP and another broadcast with acclaimed newscaster Akira Ikegami
