Spotlights

Hello from SIED! 

On April 16, we held our “Lawn Picnic” event on the grass in front of the Larned Memorial Library at Kyotanabe Campus! 

Many international and local students joined us, and we were especially happy to see so many walk-in participants, which made the event lively and full of energy. Everyone was able to relax on the lawn, enjoy nature, and connect with each other in an open and friendly atmosphere where conversations flowed naturally. 

At the beginning of the event, everyone made their own name tags using tape, and we started with self-introductions as an icebreaker. It was impressive to see participants naturally communicating with each other without the staff needing to step in too much. After that, people freely formed groups and talked based on each other’s Japanese level, sharing topics such as hobbies, campus life, and cultural differences between Japan and other countries. 

We also saw many students exchanging Instagram accounts and taking group photos together, and it was clear that many new friendships were created through the event. Since face-to-face classes had just started, the whole campus was full of energy, which helped create an easy and welcoming environment for participation. Our same-day signboards made from cardboard also seemed to contribute a lot by encouraging students to join spontaneously. 

In addition, the event led to later participation in the SIED information session and Speak Up, making it a very successful welcome event for new students. The weather was perfect as well—sunny, comfortable, and not too hot—truly the best season for an outdoor picnic. 

Thank you very much to everyone who joined us! 

SIED will continue planning international exchange events that create opportunities for diverse connections and learning experiences among Doshisha University students.
We hope to see you again at our next event!