Exchange programme with Assumption Kokusai

By Tristan Wilson, Head of Faculty: Languages

Last week, we welcomed a delegation from our partner school, Assumption Kokusai in Osaka, Japan, for a reciprocal visit. Although we have now visited Assumption on three occasions, this was the first time we had the pleasure of hosting them at Bedales. Our visitors comprised six girls, four boys, a teacher and Naomi Tanzawa, the Headteacher.

While the students had the opportunity to sit in on a handful of lessons, the majority of their programme consisted of bespoke activities organised by our own students and departments. They thoroughly enjoyed taking part in several Outdoor Work sessions, making apple turnovers, trying their hand at blacksmithing and helping to feed the animals. They also learned about the British tradition of Bonfire Night, enjoyed a tour of Steep's All Saints Church, tried their hand at screen printing and took part in plenty of sport.

The highlight of the visit was undoubtedly Wednesday's Jaw, when our Japanese guests dressed in traditional jinbei (for the boys) and yukata (for the girls) and performed the Soran Bushi. This energetic traditional dance, rooted in the movements of fishermen hauling in their nets, is a familiar sight at Japanese high school cultural festivals and was a wonderful opportunity to share an important part of their culture with the Bedales community.

The visitors also had the opportunity to participate in Japanese lessons and experience something of what life is like in a boarding school, living on the Flat.

It was a genuine pleasure to host our friends from Osaka, and there were certainly some very sad faces when departure day arrived. After several years of hard work building relationships and friendships between our two schools, it has been particularly rewarding to witness the genuine mutual curiosity and enthusiasm for one another's cultures. Preparations for next year's visit are already underway, and I very much hope that this special relationship will continue to flourish for many years to come.