Bunkyo students visit

For decades, CSB+SJU have fostered a strong academic and cultural relationship with Bunkyo University in Tokyo. This collaboration has provided students and faculty from both institutions with opportunities for cultural exchange, study abroad programs and academic partnerships that strengthen global education.

Students from Bunkyo University visited CSB+SJU from Feb. 2 to Feb. 22 to work on their English language skills through a program called Bunkyo Spring Intensive Study Program.

Since 1989, Bunkyo University and CSB+SJU have had a unique partnership.

“Bunkyo has been sending students here for years. When the students visit our campuses, they form lasting friendships with students from CSB+SJU. Then when our students go abroad to Tokyo, these are the students who are showing our students around Tokyo and taking them on tours. It’s a true exchange experience,” Associate Professor of Japanese Jeff DuBois said.

President Brian Bruess, Carol Bruess, Provost Richard Ice and others went to Bunkyo last October to celebrate Bunkyo University’s 100th anniversary of their establishment and demonstrate the strength and importance of this exchange program.

CSB+SJU are Bunkyo University’s longest international partners, and President Bruess gave a speech at the celebration to commemorate this.

While here, the students, led by Bunkyo University professor Sandra Tanahashi, took classes from CSB+SJU professors, explored the Twin Cities and had countless opportunities to expand their English language skills and learn about American culture.

On Thursday, the students gathered to present on the experiences they had in the United States over their three-week stay.

“These presentations show an attempt to start comparing the United States and Japan, especially in college life, as well as practice their public speaking and English skills,” DuBois said.

Many of the students focused on culinary differences between the United States and Japan.

“In Japan, our portion sizes are very small; sometimes you are still hungry after you finish a meal. In America, the meals are much larger. I think a sandwich from SJU (Sexton) is twice the size of the ones we have in Japan,” Bunkyo student Shin Tan said.

In addition to size, the Bunkyo students also noticed stark differences between flavoring in American food and Japanese food.

“Most Japanese dishes are lightly seasoned,” Bunkyo student Yui Yamauchi said. “In comparison, American food is very flavorful. It is sweet, spicy and especially very salty.”

There are also noticeable contrasts between class styles at Bunkyo University and CSB+SJU.

While students at CSB+SJU regularly take part in smaller classes with lots of open discussion between professors and students, the students from Bunkyo University were surprised to see this class style.

“In Japan, we take classes in large classrooms and there are no discussions. But in America, most of the classrooms are smaller, the students are more actively engaged and the teachers seem to be having more fun in class. In Japan most students don’t speak in class, the teacher keeps talking forever and the students just take notes. If you speak during class, you often get scolded by the teacher,” Bunkyo student Anju Tomizakwa said.

The students expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit CSB+SJU.

“The three weeks we spent here were so nice,” Bunkyo student Ryunisuke Tanabe said. “Thank you for hosting us.”