On Friday, January 23, 2026, the fourth Japanese Cultural Event “Japanese Song Experience” was held with 14 international students in attendance.

This event was organized in collaboration with a cappella chorus circle Jingle-Jangle at SUMS. First, Marina Nakajima, a fourth-year medical student, gave an explanation of the historical background and the meaning of the lyrics for the traditional Japanese song “Furusato.” This was followed by a singing workshop with the participating international students.

The session began with the participants dividing into three groups to practice the main melody before singing together in unison. Next, after practicing the alto part, the participants split into soprano and alto groups to perform the song in harmony. Although the international students initially felt a bit hesitant with the unfamiliar Japanese lyrics, they enjoyed the challenge with the help of English explanations and demonstrations provided by the club members.

The event proved to be a valuable opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of the historical background of an iconic Japanese song and the Japanese language, while also fostering international exchange between students.