Broome students embrace Japanese culture

A group of St Mary’s College students immersed themselves in Japanese culture and history after taking part in an annual cultural exchange program last month.

Staff and students travelled to Taiji, Broome’s sister town, for 13 days during the April school holidays and stayed with host families.

Now in its ninth year, the cultural program was established after SMC was chosen by Taiji’s mayor and the principal of the local school to engage in the initiative in 2007.

In that time, more than 100 students from both towns have participated in the program.

During a meeting with the students, Mayor Kazutaka Sangen spoke about how the two towns mutually benefited from each other through the pearling industry in Broome, and continued to keep the bond through the exchange.

Before visiting Taiji, the group enjoyed some cultural treasures of Japan in Kobe, Kyoto and Hiroshima including visiting historical and sacred temples and shrines, the memorial peace park in Hiroshima and visited some animate centres.

A highlight was walking the streets of the famous Gion district in the ancient capital of Kyoto clad in the kimono traditional dress.

SMC exchange co-ordinator Anthea Demin said once they arrived in Taiji town, the students took their responsibilities as ambassadors seriously, from bonding with their host families, to attending school and engaging with kindergarten students, and being guests of Mr Sangen and the town council.

During the trip, the students were also privileged to meet with family members of pearl divers who worked in Broome in the 1950s and 1960s.

Ms Demin said the meetings proved memorable for three girls in particular, Abier, Rose and Ruby Hamaguchi, who met with their grand-aunt in the nearby town of Takeshiba.

Looking back on their memorable trip, Ms Demin said the students made the most of the opportunities available to them.

“They fully appreciated and built on the existing historical relationships of the two towns and took their roles as young ambassadors seriously in the way they engaged, embraced and respected the Japanese culture and the history of this region,” she said.