Finally, It Begins! Atami Summit – Day 1

The International Summit Has Finally Begun!

The day we had been waiting for finally arrived. After communicating with our international members online, we finally had the chance to meet them in person in Atami. The “Hello!” that we had only heard through a screen could now be heard right in front of us. Experiencing this connection in person, something we could not feel through a screen, made us even more excited for the summit ahead.

On August 31, Day 1 of the Atami Summit officially began.

Opening Ceremony — The Summit Begins!

First, the opening ceremony of the Atami Summit was held.

The ceremony took place at Kiunkaku, a historic building in Atami.

During the ceremony, we received warm welcome messages and speeches from Principal Kudo, the Deputy Mayor of Atami, and many other people involved in the summit.

Principal Kudo welcomed the international students and shared his hopes and expectations for this year's summit. The Deputy Mayor of Atami also gave a warm welcome to all the participants visiting Atami.

Saito, a third-year high-school student at our school, also shared an important message: “Atami is a wonderful place, but there are still many things about it that we have yet to discover.” Hearing these words made us even more eager to explore Atami with our own eyes and discover its hidden charms during the fieldwork ahead.

We also heard a message from Mr. Muhammad Isa Ahmad, a former Olympic athlete from Brunei. His words reminded us that students from different countries had come together in the same place and would be working together throughout the summit.

Hearing all of these messages made us realize that the summit actually began.

Group Work

After the opening ceremony, we split into groups and began our activities.

We started by introducing ourselves, getting to know one another, and gradually becoming more comfortable with each other. Meeting and talking face to face with members we had previously communicated online made us feel much closer to one another.

After getting to know each other, we began preparing for the fieldwork the following day. Each group discussed the issues facing Atami and researched and decided which places to visit on Day 2 in order to explore and investigate those issues firsthand.

We also discussed who we would interview and what questions we would ask. Sharing ideas with our international members allowed us to discover perspectives different from our own, making us even more excited about the activities planned for the next day.

What discoveries await us? Who will we meet along the way?

We are fully prepared. We can't wait to begin tomorrow's fieldwork!

Welcome Party

Experiencing Different Cultures at the Welcome Party!

After finishing our group work, we headed to Atami New Fujiya Hotel for the welcome party.

First, Principal Kudo presented commemorative plaques to each of the schools participating in the International Summit. It was a special moment that reminded us once again of the connections we are building with schools from different countries.

Then, dinner began with the traditional Japanese phrase, “Itadakimasu!” While enjoying our meal, we watched performances prepared by the participating schools from each country.

On stage, each school presented a variety of performances, including dances, songs, and quizzes, showcasing the unique cultures and personalities of their countries and schools. The venue was filled with excitement as we experienced cultures from other countries that we do not often have the opportunity to see.

Finally, Yoshio Takahashi, a graduate of our school's 47th graduating class, gave a beautiful classical ballet performance. Everyone was captivated by the graceful performance, making it a wonderful way to end our first day of the summit.

Through the food and performances, the welcome party gave us a chance to learn more about each other's cultures. We realized that one of the most interesting parts of international exchange is being able to connect not only through words, but also through forms of such expression as music and dance.

Day 1 of the International Summit was filled with many new encounters and opportunities to connect with one another.

And tomorrow, the fieldwork finally begins! Based on the plans we made today, we will head out into the streets of Atami with our international friends.

What will we discover in Atami? Stay tuned for tomorrow's activities!