Academic: Japan Exchange Trip, 2012

Updated: Wed 23 Jan 2013  

Enjoying the clear blue skies and exquisite Autumn foliage which make late October the most appealing time to visit Japan, Head of Languages, Mr Hunt, led an exchange to our partner school in Saitama, just outside Tokyo. This is the 20th year of our relationship with Urawa, one of Japan’s most prestigious grammar schools. Japan is famous for its hospitality, and the Whitgift pupils spent a very enjoyable eight days staying with the families of the Urawa pupils. The most memorable part of the trip for the group was marching through the 2000 Urawa pupils who were assembled for our welcome ceremony, to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory. Other highlights included taking part in lessons at Urawa, learning the art of Judo, visiting Nikko – a World Heritage site famed for its beautiful waterfalls and ancient shrines – sightseeing in downtown Tokyo, and a trip to the Studio Ghibli museum. All of the Fifth and Sixth Form boys on the trip are now confirmed Japanophiles and can’t wait to go back.