Kiyosato
About 2 weeks after classes began, we
went on a Kokusaibu trip to Kiyosato, which is in the Japanese Alps near Nagano.
In this picture, Dr Aso and Kazaoka San (seated facing away) were treating us to
some Kirin beer. Later that day, we had a "get to know you party" with some of
the regular Waseda students. One nice thing about Japanese style rooms was how
they were laid out. They had a large tatami (straw) floor where from 3 to 8
people laid their futons out to sleep. That really helped to create a more group
kind of atmosphere and encouraged socialization. The Ryokan, which is a Japanese
style inn, we stayed at in Kiyosato was built by an American to foster
Japanese-American relations. There were many great hiking trails and even
tourist shops to see.
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