Learning went beyond the classroom with Japanese cultural exchange in Pasco
Tri-City residents packed the Chiawana High School gymnasium Thursday night to welcome Japanese exchange students and celebrate their culture through activities and dance.
The district has a long-standing partnership that spans four decades with the Yamate Exchange Program. The students were from Yamate Gakuin Junior Senior High School in Yokohama, one of the Asian nation’s largest cities.
About 50 students were visiting from Japan, said Asaka Erdmann, Chiawana High School’s Japanese teacher.
“While traveling to Japan with the Yamate exchange trip is not financially possible for many of our students, this inbound exchange is a valuable opportunity for them to showcase the rich and diverse cultures that make up our school community,” she said.
The International Night event was open to the public, and its activities included Japanese calligraphy, origami paper folding, fukuwari matching game, chambara dueling and a badminton-type game called hanetsuki.
Attendees then watched as students from Yamate and the Tri-Cities engaged in live performances, dances and demonstrations.
Tess Pulido, president of the Filipino-American Association of Tri-Cities, said their organization came out to support more events like these.
Their culture is separate from Japenese, but they share a common interest to highlight the region’s multiculturalism and strengthen their communities.
“It’s like the Asian community coming together,” she said.
Superintendent Michelle Whitney said the Yamate exchange and the district’s Japanese language classes are just two programs that set Pasco apart from other districts.
These opportunities give students the tools to engage across cultures, she said, and serve as “powerful reminders” of the value of diversity and that learning goes beyond the classroom
“Programs like this one help students grow into passionate, curious and confident global citizens,” Whitney said.
