On 12 February 10 students from 3 universities in Shanghai arrived at Osaka City University (OCU) for a 3 week exchange program between the sister cities Shanghai and Osaka. All 10 participants are advanced students of Japanese Studies at their home university. During their stay at OCU the group will attend language classes and special lectures, visit Japanese companies, spend time with OCU students and go on excursions to the historic cities of Kyoto and Nara.

At their welcome party in the Tanaka Memorial Hall the students already showed their high Japanese language skills through fluent self-introductions in Japanese. At an exchange meeting with OCU students, they enjoyed Japanese games, heard about daily life and traditions in Japan, and in turn told about student life in Shanghai. The visitors also made a one-day trip to Kyoto and experienced traditional tea ceremony and tried their hand at silk printing.

As for most students this is their first visit to Japan, we hope these 3 weeks will leave them with a positive first impression and many valuable memories of Japan.