The 2026 Summer Short-Term Japanese Language Training Program was held.

From Tuesday, July 21 to Tuesday, July 28, our university held the "2026 Summer Japanese Short-term Training."

This training is held annually to provide Japanese learning opportunities for those interested in domestic and international Japanese and Japanese culture. This time, 51 participants from 12 countries and regions worldwide, ranging from their teens to their 70s, participated.
The program combines Japanese learning with cultural experiences, emphasizing the acquisition of communication skills through experiential learning.

Participants learned the basics of Japanese through Japanese buzzwords, dramas, and music, deepening their understanding of traditional culture. There were also opportunities for interaction with Japanese and international students at our university, where participants practiced practical Japanese conversation. Furthermore, they visited places centered around Yamanashi Prefecture where visitors could learn about history, culture, and Japanese affairs, and conducted day tours where participants could directly experience Japanese culture and nature behind the Japanese language.

On Wednesday, July 29, a graduation ceremony was held, and International Affairs Office Director Taeko Yasutake presented a certificate of attendance.
On the afternoon of the same day, a networking event was held at the Russian Center in Building C of the humanities campus, where seven students from Russia who participated in this training and the first cohort of students from our university's Russian Intensive Course held an exchange meeting. They deepened their interaction by holding recreation and quiz competitions about Japan. Participants shared comments such as, "The two hours flew by in the blink of an eye during the fun networking event," and "The time was so much more enjoyable that we didn't have enough time."

The following comments were received from the training participants:
The exchange event with the students of Soka University was the most memorable. We deepened our connections through games and learned about the thoughts of Japanese students of the same age. Despite the language barrier, we were able to have enjoyable conversations, and it was a very valuable experience. (From China/Teenager)
I was grateful for the way the instructors made efforts to bring out our Japanese language skills during lessons. Furthermore, I greatly appreciated that they didn't just follow the textbook, but skillfully connected the lesson content to activities within the program and topics from our personal travels, allowing us to immediately use the vocabulary we learned in practice. (From the United States / Teenager)
I was nervous when the teacher instructed us to do pair work during class, but it was a very enriching lesson that I learned a great deal from. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers who kindly guided us. (From Malaysia / 50s)