Learning Japanese Culture on Shikanoshima ― Fieldwork with Zazen Meditation Experience Dec.23,2025
On Friday, December 12, 2025, the fifth Japanese cultural fieldwork organized by ISI took place in Shikanoshima Island (Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City).This fieldwork aimed to provide international students with hands-on experiences of uniquely Japanese culture while fostering deeper learning through collaboration between international and Japanese students.
This time, the fieldwork was led by Professor Keiji Iramina, a total of 33 participants took part in the program, including 9 international students, 18 Japanese students, 4 student staff members from the ISI Student Internationalization Promotion Team (IsiCON), and 1 administrative staff.
During the bus journey to the island, IsiCON students—who had prepared through advance study—gave lectures on Japanese culture to the international students while enjoying views of the city of Fukuoka and the coastline. The travel time itself became a meaningful learning opportunity.
The first destination was Shogonji Temple, a Zen temple with roots dating back to the Kamakura period. There, participants engaged in a variety of traditional Japanese cultural activities, including zazen (seated Zen meditation), a Dharma talk, sutra copying, Japanese calligraphy, and the tea ceremony. Students shared reflections such as, “Through zazen, I was able to feel the difference from meditation and quietly reflect on myself,” and “The Dharma talk on bonnō (worldly desires) encouraged me to reconsider my daily life.” During the sutra copying session, students carefully transcribed the Heart Sutra, while international students experienced Japanese calligraphy for the first time, enjoying the challenge of using a brush. In the tea ceremony, participants savored matcha and traditional sweets, experiencing the warmth and hospitality embodied in Japanese traditional culture.
Following the activities at Shogonji Temple, we moved to Shikanoshima Kyukamura, where they learned about the island’s history—including the Gold Seal of the King of Na—while engaging with local ingredients and crafts.
Through direct experiences of Japanese culture, participants deepened their understanding while also strengthening interaction among students, making the day both meaningful and fulfilling.
The next fieldwork is scheduled for spring semester 2026.
Shogonji Temple
Zazen meditation
Japanese calligraphy
Sutra copying
Matcha
Sea of Shikanoshima Island