SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Group 1
Cultural Exchange at Shibaura Institute of Technology Kashiwa High School and Special Lecture by Nobel Laureate KAJITA Takaaki
On May 27, a total of 96 participants from Group 1 of the Sakura Science High School Program (SSHP)—85 high school students and 11 supervisors from India, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa—visited Shibaura Institute of Technology Kashiwa Junior and Senior High School in Chiba Prefecture. The school is designated as a Super Science High School (SSH) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), with a strong emphasis on science and mathematics education. It also offers a Global Science Class focused on international exchange. Young people aspiring to play active roles on the global stage gathered for a full day of interaction through culture and science.
At 9:30 a.m., the group was warmly welcomed by Japanese students who would serve as their buddies for the day. With cheerful greetings of "Nice to meet you!", the exchange began. Although some students appeared slightly nervous at first, they quickly relaxed as they introduced themselves and talked about their hobbies and school life, soon filling the space with smiles.
The SSHP participants were divided into four groups and took part in various activities alongside their Japanese buddies, including cultural exchange (origami and kendama), a school tour, and traditional Japanese culture workshops including tea ceremony and calligraphy.
At first, the visiting students seemed unsure of what to expect, but the host students patiently explained each activity using English as well as gestures. During the origami sessions, they tried making paper shuriken, cranes, and airplanes, celebrating together upon completion. During kendama, some students successfully performed tricks despite trying it for the first time, earning enthusiastic applause. During the tea ceremony, participants experienced Japanese culture with all five senses, expressing surprise at the flavor of matcha and the sweetness of traditional Japanese sweets. In the calligraphy class, after learning about hiragana, katakana, and kanji, students chose words such as their country names, friend, Pokémon, and sakura, and immersed themselves in creating their own works.
In the afternoon, the participants moved to the auditorium with their buddies to attend a special lecture by Nobel Prize–winning physicist KAJITA Takaaki, recognized for his discovery of neutrino oscillations.
Professor KAJITA spoke about his own high school days, his motivation for pursuing a career in research, and his work on neutrino observations at Super-Kamiokande, as well as cutting-edge research aimed at directly detecting gravitational waves. He conveyed important messages to the students, emphasizing that both research and other endeavors require time and perseverance before reaching conclusions, and that teamwork becomes essential as challenges grow more complex.
During the Q&A session following the lecture, many students eagerly raised their hands, demonstrating their keen interest. In response to a question from an Indian student, "If you could give one message to young people who want to contribute to science in the future, what would it be?", he replied firmly, "Keep dreaming." When asked whether he had ever felt like giving up, Professor KAJITA shared the intense experience of the 2001 Super-Kamiokande accident. His story of overcoming a seemingly hopeless situation through the team's determination to never give up and their swift decision-making deeply moved the audience.
Although the visit lasted only one day, the SSHP students and their peers at Shibaura Institute of Technology Kashiwa quickly bonded, sharing meaningful experiences through cultural exchange and exposure to world-class scientific research. As they left the school with lingering reluctance, the participants carried with them a broadened international perspective and a renewed sense of inspiration and hope for the future.
