Spotlights

Harvard Summer School in Kyoto 2025

Harvard Summer School in Kyoto 2025 – Imadegawa Campus

Harvard Summer School (hereinafter referred to as HSS) in Kyoto successfully took place at Imadegawa Campus, Doshisha University. It was about 8 weeks program started from May 31 to July 25.

This year, twelve Harvard students participated in this summer program, and attended two academic courses: “Medicine and the Body In East Asia and In Europe” by Professor Shigehisa Kuriyama and“Japanese Architecture” by Professor Yukio Lippit. In addition to classroom lectures, students went on various field trips related to the lecture content. In addition to field trips to Nara, Byodoin, and Tairyu Sanso, students deepened their understanding of Japanese history and culture by experiencing incense listening, and Kintsugi activity.

In this program, Doshisha students participated in lectures as study partners. The study partners contributed to the program not only by sharing their perspectives and insights as local students in class, but also helping them learn about Japanese culture and day to day life. The study partners were very stimulated by the HSS professors and students and learned a lot from them. Outside of classes and field trips, they actively deepened exchanges. HSS students and Doshisha study partners built strong bonds and friendships by spending fulfilling 8 weeks together.

On the last day of the program, the farewell party was held in French restaurant “will” in the Kambaikan building. HSS professors, HSS students, Doshisha study partners, and host families who have welcomed HSS students attended the party. All the participants shared their memories, laughed a lot untill the last moment, and the program was closed with lots of smiles in a cheerful atmosphere.