This week, NIU welcomed 32 new international students from countries including England, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China.
Read more5Th 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
Prof. Katsunori Antoku Gives Final Lecture Before Retirement
Prof. Katsunori Antoku recently delivered his final lecture on hotel management before retirement.
Over the past eleven years, Prof. Antoku has taught hospitality management classes in both English and Japanese.
Before joining NIU, Prof. Antoku had a distinguished career in the hotel industry for over 30 years in Japan and overseas.
Wishing all the best for an active and happy retirement!
Dr. Kanji Tawara Receives 13th Japan Society for Southeast Asian Studies Award
Dr. Kanji Tawara, Associate Professor in the Dept. of International Tourism, has been awarded the the 13th Japan Society for Southeast Asian Studies Award (JSSEAS Award, 2015) for his research on Postcolonial Archaeology of Vietnam: Beyond the "Chinese Model" and the "Vietnamese Model."
The award follows his recognition on this topic as the recipient of the 1st Masaharu Matsushita Memorial Academic Award (2013).
Dr. Tawara teaches both History A and History B in English among other classes at NIU.
Dr. Tawara receiving his award
Dr. Tawara and students on a fieldwork excursion
Dr. Tawara doing fieldwork
Virtual Exchange Across Four Continents
Students in the Dept. of International Tourism's Global Tourism Course successfully participated in three virtual exchange projects during the 2015-16 academic year, connecting students across four continents.
Students at Coventry University (UK), Princeton University (USA) and SENA (Columbia) collaborated with NIU students over the course of the fall semester on three separate virtual exchange projects.
In the projects with Princeton and Coventry, students used both English and Japanese to communicate about a variety of cultural and academic topics. The project with SENA was conducted entirely in English. Students made use of three different modes of communication during the exchange: text, audio and video.
We are looking forward to continuing these projects in the next academic year.
4th Yokoso Japan Foreign Language Contest
The Department of International Tourism held its 4th annual Yokoso Japan Foreign Language Contest on December 12th and the winners were announced at a ceremony on January 8th.
Each pair of students 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 and, this year for the first time, Vietnamese.
Congratulations to all the participants on a job well done! We hope to see you again next year!
NIU Announces Summer Japanese Language Program
Nagasaki International University is proud to announce its Summer Japanese Language Program. Aimed at beginner- to intermediate-level students, the program combines language learning with excursions and hands-on cultural experiences. There will also be plenty of chances to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine. Join us this summer for the experience of a lifetime.
Fall | Recent Visit to Partner Schools in USA
NIU students studying abroad
Many thanks to our partner schools who hosted NIU staff during a recent visit to the USA. Members of the Dept. of International Tourism and International Center visited Butte College, Arkansas Tech University and Troy University to discuss further collaboration and study abroad options at NIU for American students.
Introducing NIU at Arkansas Tech
The visit also provided a great opportunity to check-in with NIU students who are studying abroad. As could be expected, NIU students are having the time of their lives and will come back with much improved English and a range of new skills. The students recently took part in international culture festivities, organizing a Japan Night event which included Japanese food and opportunities to experience Japanese culture first-hand.
November | Fall Campus Clean Up
Hundreds of students and staff gathered during the lunch hour today to help clean up the NIU campus and surrounding area. Held once per semester, the event helps make our beautiful campus even nicer. Thanks to everyone who volunteered!
November 2015 | Celebrating 70 Years of Kyushu Bunka Gakuen
Nagasaki International University's parent company, Kyushu Bunka Gakuen, celebrated its 70th anniversary this past week. The event was commemorated at Arkas, the main concert hall in Sasebo.
We were joined by dignitaries including the mayors of Sasebo and local townships, the governor of Nagasaki as well as members of the national assembly and the Ministry of Education, Technology and Sport. A special guest lecture was given by Satoshi Kusano, a Nagaski native who has had a decorated career as a national newscaster and television personality.
Founded in 1945 by Yoshio Abe, Kyushu Bunka Gakuen began as a women's vocational college. Since then, it has grown to encompass Nagasaki International University, Nagasaki Junior College, and Kyushu Bunka Gakuen High School among several other schools and institutions.
November 2015 | NIU 6th Annual Foreign Language Recitation Contest
Nagasaki International University held its 6th annual Foreign Language Recitation Contest for senior high school students on November 1, 2015. A total of 31 students competed in categories for English, Chinese and Korean.
Congratulations to the students who worked so hard to compete, as well as to the many teachers and parents who supported them. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again next year.
Fall 2015 | NIU and Princeton Begin Virtual Exchange Project
Students in the Global Tourism course at Nagasaki International University will begin a virtual exchange project with students studying Japanese at Princeton University during the fall semester.
Students from both universities will be put in groups and share their ideas in both English and Japanese via online forums and videos. Much of the focus will be on learning from each other, sharing ideas, and critical thinking.
September 2015 | Welcome Home English Summer Students
Welcome home GT students from your 1 month summer English program at St. Dominic College of Asia in the Philippines!
NIU GT students were accompanied on their return trip by the President and Vice-president of St. Dominic College. NIU was proud to welcome these esteemed guests to our campus on the following day during which time they met with President Naoki Abe and the Head of the International Center Dr. Katsuhiko Kimura.