On August 6, 2025, the Faculty of Agriculture hosted the fourth annual high school-university international exchange event, "Cultural Connections through Art," welcoming high school students from across Nagano Prefecture to interact with Japanese and international students. Launched originally with Inakita High School, the program has steadily grown. This year, 32 participants joined: 19 high school students (12 from Inakita High School, 2 from Shimosuwa Koyo High School, and 5 from Takato High School) together with 5 international students and 8 Japanese students from the Faculty of Agriculture.

This year's theme, "Connecting Through Art," aimed to deepen cultural understanding between local high school students and university students through creative, hands-on art experiences. The day opened with a game-style icebreaker led by Inakita High School students, easing first-meeting nerves and sparking friendly conversation. This was followed by short presentations on art from the Faculty of Agriculture's students (including international students), which drew focused attention from the high school participants. Interwoven throughout the morning were performances (singing, dance, and instrumental pieces) that showcased individual talents and personalities. At lunch, international students shared dishes from Bangladesh, Thailand, and Benin, turning the meal into a cultural tasting and lively conversation.

In the afternoon, participants formed mixed workshop groups to experience art together. Students from Takato High School's art course introduced origami crane art and bath bomb making; guided in simple English, each group collaborated to complete a collective piece. The session was followed by a lively quiz on global art, which energized the room and reinforced learning through friendly competition.
Feedback from high school students included: "I was nervous about speaking English, but everyone was so kind that I could speak at my own pace and really enjoyed it," and "It was my first time joining, and I had a lot of fun. I learned about other cultures, and since I don't often have chances to speak English, it was a very meaningful experience."

Through this event, all participants had a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and share cultures and values, affirming art's power to connect people across cultures.

Icebreaker session

Presentations by International Students

Art Performance

Group Quiz Competition

Group photo