Hobsons Bay children experienced a taste of Japanese culture last week when students from Nagoya Women’s University visited local primary schools and kindergartens.
Sixty-two women studying to become teachers or early childhood educators in Japan were hosted by local families for a fortnight.
Altona and Newport Gardens primary schools were among host schools to hold Japanese culture days, with activities such as costume parades, calligraphy, origami, a sushi lunch and kendo demonstrations.
Altona Primary School Japanese teacher, Kellie Larter, said her school hosted 10 exchange students, who lived with 10 different families.
“It’s just a fabulous opportunity for our students to be exposed to a totally different culture and for the Japanese students to experience what it’s like to be in an Australian family for a couple of weeks,” Ms Larter said.
Yoshie Weaver, co-ordinator with school tour organiser Japan Link, said the university had been sending students to stay in and experience Hobsons Bay for the past 13 years.
