On July 31, 2026, the International Education and Student Mobility Division hosted an international exchange event, "Co-Creation & Culture: Japanese Summer Lantern Festival", aiming to promote interaction between exchange students and KyotoU students while providing the latter with an opportunity to introduce and explain Japanese culture in English.
The event began with a presentation by student Peer Tutors, who introduced traditional Japanese summer customs, such as Obon and summer festivals (natsu matsuri). They explained in English, using accessible terms, the origins of these traditions and the cultural background of Japanese paper lanterns (tōrō).
Following the presentation, approximately 35 participants, including both exchange and KyotoU students, formed pairs and participated in a lantern-making activity. The exchange students approached the task with great enthusiasm, decorating their lanterns with kanji characters, such as "夏" (natsu, or summer) and "涼" (ryō, or coolness), written using calligraphy brushes based on the provided sample guides, as well as ink-wash-style paintings (suibokuga) and colorful depictions of birds and mountains. These creative efforts resulted in beautiful and unique artworks.
Throughout the session, participants enthusiastically exchanged stories about Japanese summertime customs and unique summer experiences from their home countries. The activity enabled exchange students to discover the culture of Obon and the essence of Japanese summer, while also allowing KyotoU students to practice explaining their own culture in English.
Toward the end of the event, the completed lanterns were lit, enveloping the venue in a magical glow. The participants continued chatting together as they admired the lanterns, smiling and enjoying this unique cultural experience and the atmosphere of the approaching summer festival season.
