Japanese Students’ Presentation and Performance

On Friday, 22 August, the Japanese exchange students from our sister school gave a moving presentation and a traditional performance at the Year 8 assembly.

Three of the students who are currently on the homestay program visiting SAC for 7 weeks presented on the theme of “World Peace”. This was particularly meaningful as Japan recently marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Nagasaki, where our sister school is located, was one of the two cities devastated by the atomic bomb in the world. The students spoke about how a single atomic bomb destroyed Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, the impact it had on people’s lives, and the lasting importance of peace. Their heartfelt words encouraged us all to reflect on how we, too, can promote peace in our world today.

Following the presentation, the 17 female students performed a traditional dance called “Nonnoko Bushi.” In the Isahaya dialect, nonnoko means “cute” or “pretty,” while bushi means “song.” This dance, performed only by women, has a history of about 400 years. Dressed in pink happi coats, the students each held two small plates in their hands, clicking them together rhythmically as they danced. The performance was both elegant and lively, and everyone—students and staff alike—was captivated by it. We were even encouraged to join in the spirited call of “Korya saisai!”

The presentation and performance were a wonderful cultural exchange, and we are grateful to our sister school students for sharing their history and traditions with us.

Mrs Mariko Suzuki

Leader of Learning - Languages