We conducted an international student field trip on May 25 to broaden international students' knowledge of Japanese culture and history and deepen their exchanges.

Forty-two international students first participated in a hands-on experience of making "Oni-gawara"at Nara Kasugano International Forum. These tiles, which have been used since ancient times as guardians of homes and to ward off misfortune, are still found in many temples and shrines in Nara. They carved their future dreams and wishes into the back of the mold used to shape the clay, experiencing Japanese history through craftsmanship. Despite the limited time, they also explored Nara Park and Kasuga Taisha Shrine in the same area and enjoyed interacting with the deer that inhabit the surrounding area.

Next, We visited Horyu-ji Temple. This temple, established in the 7th century and still retaining some of its original structure, taught us about the transformation of Japanese culture from the introduction of Buddhism to the formation of national culture through the exhibition of numerous Buddhist statues and decorative items in the treasure hall "Houzouin".

Despite the rainy and slightly chilly weather on the day, the participating international students highly praised the trip, with comments such as, "This was a valuable opportunity to deeply learn about Japanese history," and "Horyuji Temple is far from my university, so it was difficult to visit on my own, but I was delighted to be able to visit during this trip." Additionally, active exchanges among the international students made the trip highly meaningful.