２年生 Culture and Language Academy of Yamanashi faces Takeda Street, and about a 15-minute walk north along that street is Takeda Shrine. It is also a tourist attraction in Yamanashi prefecture, attracting about 300,000 visitors on the first day of the new year. All the students from the school went to Takeda Shrine to pass through the chinowa ring installed during this season. All the students passed through the ring of thatch, cleansed of impurity, and prayed for good health

We went to Tokyo again this year. Culture and Language Academy of Yamanashi is conducting a Tokyo study trip for second-year students. Wearing traditional Japanese yukata, they visited the popular sightseeing spots of Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple. In the afternoon, we took a water bus to Odaiba Seaside Park, which connects to the sea. Allowing us to see Tokyo from various perspectives. This study trip not only helped they understand Japan, but also made for enjoyable memories

The entrance ceremony for the April 2026 students of Culture and Language Academy of Yamanshi was held on April 20 at the Yamanashi Eiwa Missionary Memorial Hall in Miyamae, Kofu City. At the ceremony, Principal Wakao gave a greeting, and as a guest address, we received words of encouragement from our college's special advisor, Professor Masaharu Nakagawa. When every new student called their name, each person answered 'yes' firmly, showing a strong motivation for studying at

On March 13, 2026, the Graduation Ceremony for students of the 2-year and 1.5-year Advanced Japanese Language Course took place. This was the second graduation ceremony in the history of our young school, and we proudly congratulate all of our graduates. We were honored to welcome many distinguished guests to the ceremony, as well as, of course, our dedicated teachers. A total of 31 students received diplomas confirming the successful completion of their studies and graduatio

Today, we had our last Japanese Culture experience prepared for our second year students - practical lesson in Japanese calligraphy called shodō. 書道　（しょどう、shodō）ー Japanese calligraphy In Japanese elementary schools, calligraphy classes are a common part of the curriculum. Today, we got to experience what it’s like to be a Japanese elementary school student. This year our second year students got to try out their calligraphy skills learned during these years of Japanese Langua

We already have a tradition of sharing stories about unusual and inspiring students of our Culture and Language Academy of Yamanashi (we call it CLAY). Chen Haixia san for the CLAY Interview, January 2026 Most of our students arrive at the age of 19–25. However, in October 2024, a much more mature student joined us. She is someone who graduated from school long ago, once studied to become a nurse, and has a family as well as rich life experience. Usually, our introduction blo

This was our third trip to Yamanakako with our first-year students. Every year, on the last school day before the holidays, our Academy travels to see Mt. Fuji together with first-year students. This year, we once again set off on this special journey. This time, we visited: ① Arakurayama Sengen Park 新倉山浅間公園（あらくらやま せんげんこうえん） A famous sightseeing spot known for its panoramic view of Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side this time, and Mt. Fuji was only parti

Today, students from Yamanashi Prefectural University joined our first-year class. They were divided into two groups and participated in a Japanese lesson together with our students. This was a great opportunity for our students to communicate in Japanese with peers of the same age and make new friends. To help everyone start the conversation more easily, the teacher prepared several activities. Through these tasks, students not only introduced themselves but also practiced t

What a packed day — after which everyone’s muscles definitely hurt! Our very first スポーツ大会（スポーツ たいかい） , CLAY Sports Day, was a huge success! At our school, we have 4 classes — two for second-year students and two for first-year students — so 4 teams took part in CLAY Sports Day. But today didn’t start with fun and games; it started with First Aid Training - life-saving training. Each class had a 45-minute masterclass where they could practice on a mannequin how to save a pers