HANDSWORTH JAPAN EXCHANGE
In 1970, the City of North
Vancouver established a sister-city relationship with Chiba City, Japan. In 1989 the first Handsworth trip to Japan
occurred, and it was in 1992 that the regular student exchange was established
with Inage High School, in Chiba.
The Handsworth Japan
Exchange has been offered annually to grade 9 students for over 20 years
now.
The first component of the
exchange is the hosting of a student from Inage High school in early
October. Japanese students must be
provided their own room in your home for the duration of their visit. Your student will not only stay with your
family, but also join you for in-class visits, group activities and a farewell
party at the end of their stay.
From January to April there
are regular meetings in preparation for the trip. The two-week itinerary typically includes
Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Takayama, Chiba, Tokyo and either Himeji or
Miyajima. Our first week is spent
touring Japan, while our second week is spent being hosted by Inage High School
students. While in Chiba we serve as
representatives of North Vancouver, and as such, engage in official functions
such as formal visits to the mayor’s office and other ceremonies.
JAPAN EXCHANGE 2024
JAPAN EXCHANGE 2024Japan Exchange April 9 to 23, 2024
Handsworth Grade 9 students are returning to Japan in April 2024!
The Grade 9 Japan Exchange is one of the longest running cultural programs at Handsworth beginning in 1989! The current model of the exchange with Inage High School, our sister school, in Chiba began in 1992 and has run almost every year since (with two travel exceptions before a COVID break). The exchange aims to immerse students in not only the history but also the culture of Japan, and to give them the opportunity and responsibility to act as ambassadors for not only Handsworth but also North Vancouver within Japan as a whole and specifically with Chiba, North Vancouver’s sister city.
Student’s exposure to the Japanese experience begins throughout the fall and winter as students undertake seminars in language, customs and culture to gain an understanding of what they will experience during their visit Japan in the spring.
In April, participants travel to Japan for two weeks. The first week is spent exploring and experiencing different regions and centres on Honshu including historic and cultural capitals of Japan, immersing themselves in both urban and rural Japan, and acting as youth peace ambassadors at the Peace Memorial in
Hiroshima. Throughout the week, students are given the opportunity to expand their sense-of-self, responsibility, and cultural awareness as they navigate the sites in small groups, taking in the language, culture and food of the different regions and the country as a whole.
The second week of the exchange brings with it one of the most important aspects of the experience, and that which sets it apart from it just being a trip to Japan, and unique amongst other cultural experiences in the North Vancouver School District. Students (in pairs) billet in Japanese homes, experiencing the day-today lives of their host families and how the lives of Japanese high school students differ and most importantly are similar to their own here at Handsworth, taking part in classes and popular recreation activities. As part of our role as ambassadors, students take part in formal activities such as a visit to the Mayor’s office in Chiba, on behalf of the Mayor of North Vancouver, helping to foster the relationship between the cities.
Almost all of the students who have taken part in the exchange look back with fondness on the experience, in many cases referring to it as life changing, even decades after they return.
Japan Exchange Sponsor Mr. M. Forsyth, mforsyth@sd44.ca
JAPAN EXCHANGE 2023
Welcome to the blog for the grade 9 Handsworth trip to Japan for 2023!
Before we leave you may want to brush up on your Japanese, or learn a little bit more about the places we are going and things we’ll be seeing.
On April 11th we will meet at the JAL counter of the international departures area of YVR airport. We will NOT be meeting at the school that morning.
In the meantime, here’s a few sites for you check out:
Japanese Experiences and Cultural Elements (Curated)
Click on the links below to see information about language and some of the locations we’re going to from Japan Airlines and All Nippon Air.
JAL: http://www.world.jal.co.jp/world/en/guidetojapan/
ANA: https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/
For more information please contact Mr. M. Forsyth, Japan Exchange Sponsor at mforsyth@sd44.ca.
To see highlights from past
trips, please visit the following links:
2019 Japan Weblog: https://handsworthjapan2019.wordpress.com/
2018 Japan Weblog: https://handsworthjapan2018.wordpress.com/
2017 Japan Weblog: https://handsworthjapan2017.wordpress.com/
2016 Japan Weblog: https://handsworthjapan2016.wordpress.com/
link to pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/104843648@N06/albums/72157665153301463
2013 Japan Weblog:
http://handsworthjapan2013.wordpress.com/
