Location	37 Naemachi Yamanouchi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
TEL.	(+81)75-321-0712
Website	http://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/
Membership	2013

2024 Annual Report

Environment

[UNESCO School] A work by third-year students of the International Culture Course was entered into an international competition as Japan’s representative

As part of the “Litter Less Campaign”, three third year International Culture students have had their work selected to enter the annual “Young Reporters on the Environment” (YRE) international competition. Every year the most inspiring and creative entries are evaluated by an international jury, providing an opportunity for recognition on a global scale. The three works from our school will represent Japan in the Single Photo Campaign category of this year’s competition. The two works from our school were shortlisted and represented Japan in the Single Photo Campaign and Single Photo Reportage categories in this year’s competition.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_386.html

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/3_21.html

[UNESCO School] Our school’s “Litterless Campaign” is featured in the UNESCO World Student Forum

Starting in 2022, our school, as a UNESCO School, participated in the Litter Less Campaign organized by UNESCO Headquarters (Paris, France) as a representative of Japan for three years. Our school’s efforts were introduced in the information given by UNESCO GLOBAL STUDENT FORUM – Young Reporters for the Environment Litter Less Campaign, organized by the Paris Headquarters, held from February 13 to 15, 2024.

Summary of the introduction of the UNESCO World Student Forum

Every year, the world generates more than 2 billion tons of waste. Litter and waste clog our oceans and fill us. They make our streets and clutter vast areas of the planet. They cause great damage to our natural environment, wildlife, and the health and well-being of people. Since 2022, with the cooperation of teachers, we have been investigating and researching solutions to litter and waste in your school, as well as in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. We ran awareness campaigns in schools, homes, communities and the country.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_371.html

[UNESCO Schools] International Culture Course’s Initiative for the Litter Less Campaign Introduced in International Educational Research Program for Teachers

The International Culture Course’s efforts in the Litter Less Campaign were introduced in a cross-state survey, compare & report, and discussion session in Teachers For the Planet, an international educational program for teachers run by the non-profit organization Aga Khan Foundation (United Kingdom). The foreign teachers dedicated to the International Culture Course are always committed to the world, researching the latest educational methods and trying to give back to the International Culture Course’s educational program.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_397.html

The 34th Kansai High School Model United Nations Conference

The 34th Kansai High School Model United Nations Conference was held from June 19 to June 21, 2024, with approximately 200 students from 10 schools participating and discussing the topic of “Pollution and Waste Crisis”. Under the leadership of the host school, Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School, the students participated in the block conferences, poster presentations, and three plenary sessions representing UN member states. At the opening ceremony, the students heard a greeting from Mr. Yoshitaka Choja, Executive Committee Chair of the Kansai High School Model United Nations Conference and Principal of Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School, followed by a keynote speech by Dr. Misuzu Asari, Professor of the Department of Fundamental Research, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature.

At the closing ceremony, Mr. Akash Suri, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe, also spoke.

On the first day, participants discussed in the block conferences how to simplify the approximately 34 articles into 15 for the final draft resolution. This involved a lot of negotiation and compromise, but it also provided an opportunity for the students to build new friendships. On the morning of the second day, participants made poster presentations about their own countries, focusing on the problems and solutions related to pollution and waste. The quality of the presentations in English and the Q&A sessions were impressive, and the presentations from each country were very persuasive, as participants tried to freely express and explain in detail the ideas contained in the resolution in English.

In the General Assembly A and B, three topics were discussed: “Plastic waste”, “E-waste”, and “Fast fashion waste”. Participants not only learned about different countries, but also critically considered the serious waste-related problems faced by many people around the world, improved their communication skills, and seemed to become more confident in their research and presentations day by day.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/MUN/2024/

[International Culture Course] Community Environmental Service (community volunteer activities) was carried out

First-year students in the International Culture Course have been researching the garbage problem in their study abroad destinations as part of their community environmental service during the summer vacation, and on this day, with the cooperation of the Kyoto City Western Town Cleaning Office, they picked up garbage around the school. This activity is also connected to our school’s UNESCO School activities.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_409.html

[UNESCO Club] Participated in the Gion Festival Zero Waste Project

The UNESCO Club, which leads our school’s UNESCO School activities, participates as volunteer staff in the “Gion Festival Zero Waste Operation” every year. This year, they were involved in setting up eco-stations and sorting waste.

At the school culture festival, the UNESCO Club has also played a central role in introducing reusable tableware to the stalls.

This year, they are working with the student council to make preparations again.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_398.html

World heritage/intangible cultural heritage/regional cultural properties

[International Culture Course] The students demonstrated their tea ceremony to their class teacher in the final lesson of the tea ceremony class.

The International Culture Course offers tea ceremony classes with the aim of learning about traditional Japanese culture, understanding its spirit, and being able to introduce it to people from overseas.

As a culmination of two years of classes, the students demonstrated the tea ceremony to their homeroom teacher and enjoyed tea and sweets as the final lesson. The homeroom teacher was also very impressed to see how much the students have grown.

All students will be awarded a certificate of completion and a license from Omotesenke for completing the Omotesenke School Tea Ceremony credits.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_374.html

[International Culture Course] Third-year students held a school tea ceremony completion ceremony

The 31st Certificate and Diploma Award Ceremony (introductory and training) was held at the Omotesenke Kitayama Kaikan for the third-year students of the International Culture Course who have completed the Omotesenke School Tea Ceremony unit. In addition, prior to the award ceremony, the students had the opportunity to visit the Omotesenke Iemoto. Through two years of lessons, students of the International Culture Course are also playing a role in conveying Japan’s traditional culture overseas, such as by demonstrating tea ceremony at their study abroad destinations.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/3_20.html

[International Culture Course] First-year students from both classes A and B participated in a Zen meditation experience as part of their school tea ceremony.

First-year students in the International Culture Course visited Daitokuji Temple as part of their Omotesenke School Tea Ceremony class. The students learned about the relationship between Sen no Rikyu’s seppuku and Kinmokaku, the history of the Sen family at Jukoin Temple, and paid respects at Sen no Rikyu’s grave.

After listening to a lecture by the head priest at Zuihoin Temple’s main hall, they practiced zazen and viewed a replica of the national treasure “Machi-an” at Myoki-an Temple. Making use of their daily lessons, the students themselves performed tea-serving to guests.

The students will study for two years and aim to obtain licenses and permits so that they can properly introduce Japanese traditional culture when they study abroad or elsewhere.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/1ab.html

[Tea Ceremony Club] We participated in the Tea Ceremony Festival at the National High School Students Traditional Culture Festival in 2024.

The club participated in the 2024 National High School Students Traditional Culture Festival, Tea Ceremony Festival, on Saturday, December 14th and Sunday, December 15th.

On the first day, students participated in experiences and training related to tea ceremony, grinding matcha at the Uji Tea Studio Fukujuen and visiting Higashi Honganji Temple, gaining valuable experience as tea masters.

On the second day, a welcome tea ceremony was held in the foyer of the Kyoto Concert Hall, where the club president demonstrated tea ceremony for the guests, and the vice president acted as the half-president. First-year students also held a poster session, giving presentations to visitors from all over the country explaining the activities of the tea ceremony club and the characteristics of our school.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/6_6.html

International Understanding

[International Culture Course] Second-year students conducted research at the National Museum of Ethnology as preparatory study for Model United Nations.

The second-year students are already studying for the 34th Kansai High School Model United Nations Conference, scheduled to be held in June 2024. As part of their preparatory studies, they conducted research on their assigned countries and related regions at the National Museum of Ethnology and created worksheets in English.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/2_41.html

[International Culture Course] Second-year students listened to a lecture by a former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JICA) as part of their Model United Nations study.

As a preparatory study for the Model United Nations to be held next year, second-year students in the International Culture Course listened to lectures by former members of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JICA). This year, they shared their valuable experiences in Laos, Ethiopia, and Micronesia, and were able to deepen their understanding of international cooperation.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/2jica.html

[International Exchange] We welcomed students from Brookline High School, an exchange school in Boston, USA, on a study trip to Japan

After overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, a study trip to Japan was held for the first time in five years for Brookline High School, an exchange school in Boston, USA. In response to this, our school accepted 16 students. The Boston students stayed with our students’ families (one family per student), participated in classes and extracurricular activities, and deepened their understanding of Japanese culture through daily excursions. This was a great inspiration for both our students and their host families, and it was a wonderful experience for both of us. Taking advantage of this revival of the exchange, our school will also be holding the third Boston study trip in March 2025.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_387.html

[International Culture Course] High school-university collaboration class with Kyoto University of Foreign Studies

Professor Sachiko Kawakami of the Department of Global Tourism, Faculty of International Contribution, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, who specializes in the issue of immigration to Canada, brought students from her own class at the University of Foreign Studies, as well as teachers and students from North Island College in Vancouver, with whom she has ties, to our school to interact with second-year students in the International Culture Course A class who are planning a short-term study abroad program in Vancouver this fall.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_390.html

[ESS Club] We interacted with students from Fukai Kankei Taiken (FKTI), a non-profit organization based in Boston, USA.

Eight students from Fukai Kankei Taiken (FKTI), a non-profit organization based in Boston, USA, visited Japan. In the morning, they participated in classes on the International Culture Course and deepened their friendship, and in the afternoon, they went for a stroll in Arashiyama with ESS members and volunteer students. It was a wonderful and valuable experience for both sides, while deepening the friendship between Japan and the US.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/essfukai_kankei_taiken_fkti.html

[Student Council] New project “IMAGINE Project” launched

We have recently launched a new Student Council initiative (the “IMAGINE Project”) in collaboration with Kyoto University of Foreign Studies to support children in developing countries.

This activity was originally started by Tachibana Keisuke, a graduate of Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School who currently works as an interpreter for the Miesses players of the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team.

While living in Colombia for two years and working with children, Tachibana witnessed the reality that there are very few children who are able to play sports in an environment as favorable as Japan’s. After returning to Japan, he began purchasing Colombian coffee beans, roasting and selling them, and sending the proceeds to support children in developing countries.

However, his current job has made it difficult for him to continue the support activities he would have liked, so students from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and the Student Council of Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School have decided to carry on his legacy.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/imagine.html

Peace

[International Culture Course] Develop skills by participating in various Model United Nations

Second-year students in the International Culture Course participated in the Model United Nations at Konko Osaka Junior and Senior High School.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_373.html

[UNESCO School Activities] The UNESCO Club participated in the Kyoto UNESCO School High School Training and Exchange Meeting held at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.

Kyoto University of Foreign Studies is a member of the inter-university network (ASPUnivNet) that supports more than 960 UNESCO Associated Schools in Japan. This time, representative students from the UNESCO Club participated in the Kyoto UNESCO Associated Schools High School Training Exchange Meeting held at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. The keynote speeches were given by Professor Akira Hayase, Emeritus Professor of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, and Mr. Takahiro Abiru, a Kyoto University of Foreign Studies graduate who serves as Secretary General of the NPO NET-GTAS (Globalization of Atomic Bomb Survivors’ Testimonies). The theme was how to utilize the experiences and memories of atomic bomb survivors as a means for peace, and after the keynote speech, the students exchanged opinions with Mr. Abiru and received feedback. Although it was a heavy topic, the students from the UNESCO Club participated actively and were able to deepen their understanding of global efforts toward peace.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_416.html

Human Rights

[School Event] We watched the movie “Hakai” as part of our human rights studies.

On Monday, January 22nd, from 5th to 7th period, 1st and 2nd graders watched the movie “Hakai” at Morita Memorial Auditorium as part of their human rights studies. The original work is by Shimazaki Toson, and the novel of the same name is a timeless masterpiece. This work was made into a movie for the first time in 60 years, and in 2022 it became a long-running hit in theaters. The students watched the movie enthusiastically from start to finish, and it was a good opportunity to think about the importance of protecting and respecting human rights, and social issues such as war and discrimination.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_363.html

[Human rights education] Lecture on “Sex and human rights” held for first-year students

On Monday, June 17th, during the fifth and sixth periods, a lecture on “Sex and Human Rights” was held for first-year students. The lecturer was Mr. Akira Okubo, representative of the Akatsuki Project and special lecturer at the Japan LGBT Support Association, a general incorporated association, who is transgender himself, and he gave a lecture titled “Understanding Sexual Diversity.”

Mr. Okubo is a former high school health and physical education teacher, and currently gives lectures in a wide range of educational settings, from elementary school to university. In this lecture, he talked about a wide range of sexual diversity, from basic knowledge about LBGTQ and SOGI, to the heart of ALLY who accepts others, to his own experiences. During the Q&A session at the end, the students listened to the lecture with great interest, asking many questions.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/1_32.html

[Human rights education] A lecture on “Sex and human rights” was held for second-year students.

A lecture on “Sex and Human Rights” was held for second-year students during the fifth and sixth periods on Friday, June 21st. The lecturer was Ms. Aiko Watanabe, CEO of PLATICA Co., Ltd. and a midwife, who gave a lecture titled “Sexuality Talk by a Midwife”. Ms. Watanabe currently works at a midwife’s clinic in Kyoto City, providing support for childbirth and individual consultations for women. Her life’s work is sex education, and she gives about 100 lectures a year to people from preschool to university students, parents, teachers, and other professionals. The purpose of this lecture was to gain knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth based on medical knowledge, and to understand how “sex and human rights” are related by thinking about dating violence. The students listened attentively until the end. The lecture was an opportunity to value oneself and to act with consideration in relationships with others.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_395.html

Welfare

[UNESCO Club] We participated in volunteer activities at the Kyoto UNESCO Children’s Cafeteria.

The Kyoto UNESCO Association (KUA) holds a “Children’s Cafeteria” near Nijo Teramachi on the third Saturday of every month, with about 10 to 20 local elementary school children participating. KUA volunteers prepare simple meals (udon, curry, rice bowls, etc.) and offer various activities (nature experiences, art, homework help, etc.). They are also hoping for high school and university students to participate in the Saturday event.

It was a very valuable experience for the students of our school’s UNESCO club. This time, we learned how to make various types of tea from various plants. We also realized that it is meaningful to communicate with children through various activities. We were also able to interact with other volunteers from overseas, and it was refreshing to be able to meet new people with the same goal.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_406.html

[Physical Education Course] Community Exchange Project

On January 18th and 25th, we held a sports exchange with first-year students at Katsuragawa Junior High School. First and second-year students from our school’s physical education course taught volleyball, table tennis, and futsal to the junior high school students, and enjoyed sports together. The high school students learned new things from the experience of teaching, communicating, and supporting each other, and were able to grow to another level.

https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/post_364.html

Annual Work Plan

1. In recent years, we have been unable to visit welfare facilities for experiential learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we plan to resume such activities from the next academic year.
2. We plan to participate in the “Young Reporters for the Environment” photo contest and initiate awareness of International Days recognized by UNESCO with support from UNESCO Club and Student Council members.
3. We plan to host and participate in the 35th Kansai High School Model United Nations Conference, addressing topics related to The Global Refugee Crisis.
4. In 2025, we will continue to encourage and support education in international awareness, environment, intangible cultural heritage, welfare, and human rights through activities conducted in 2024.

No related reports available in English.