Japanese Cultural Exchange
Fifty years ago the then Mayor of Cowra Ab Oliver and the Principal of Seikei High School in Tokyo Mr Kunihara, through their experiences of the atrocities of World War II, felt that the only way to ensure that there was never a war like it again, was to educate the future generations of Japan and Australia on the amazing cultures of each country. And so the Cowra Seikei Exchange Program began.
2024 marked the dawn of an exciting new chapter in the relationship between Seikei and St Raphael’s Catholic School as we celebrated the 55th year of the Seikei/Cowra Exchange.
We are truly thrilled that St Raphael’s is afforded the incredible opportunity to deepen our connection with Seikei, while honoring our historical ties to the Cowra Community.
The annual St Raphael's Japan Study Tour has become a highlight of the school calendar for interested students in Stages 5 & 6. The 10 day travel experience is remarkable in so many ways. For many, it is the first independent journey taken, with personal boundaries, responsibilities and expectations challenged. The travel itinerary includes Tokyo, Kyoto, Miyajima Island and Hiroshima with highlights being the temples, castles and shrines, samurai festivals, theme parks, bullet trains and of course, karaoke!
Importantly, the Japan Study Tour includes a week-long school experience at Shiroishi and Seikei High Schools. During the 5 days our St Raph’s students experience Japanese culture, food and language by being fully immersed in family and school life. We are very blessed that our students are able to experience rural Japanese life in Shiroishi and city life at Seikei, which is an incredible contrast over 2 weeks.
The generosity of our Japanese school and families is reciprocated when in return,each year St Raph’s families host students in Cowra. St Raph’s provides a regional Australian classroom experience, and our families welcome students into their homes to provide an insight into everyday Aussie life, including kangaroos in our backyards, sheep farming, bonfires, BBQ’s and country views!
These worthwhile experiences are only possible due to the enthusiasm and support of our students, families and our community. The annual study tour and exchange program is an incredible opportunity for our students and families to make lifelong friendships with students and families from Japan. Despite the difference in language, lots of laughs and amazing experiences are shared. It’s an amazing opportunity for the Japanese and Australian cultures to be explored and contrasted in an educational setting.
At St Raphael's Catholic School, we consolidate Cowra's historical and cultural ties to Japan by providing Japanese Language Studies as a key component of the Year 7 Curriculum, and as an elective choice for Stage 4 (Years 9 & 10) where it is quickly gaining in popularity due to the dynamic and varied subject content. Students explore Japanese language and culture through cooking, speaking and writing, and trivia and games. Class activities are designed to expose the vibrancy of Japan through real life re-enactments of day to day school and home life, both in the classroom and on excursions.
A key feature of Japanese Language Studies as St Raph's are the immersion experiences at the Cowra Japanese Garden. We are so grateful for this partnership - how amazing is it that we have the largest Japanese Garden in the Southern Hemisphere right here in Cowra, and so accesible for educational experiences. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Cowra Japanese Garden and are already planning our involvement in the upcoming Koyo Matsuri Autum festival celebrating Children's day, and Sakura Matsuri in Spring.
And due to the combined efforts of staff and students, and the growing strength of our ties with Japan, we are delighted to announce that in 2026, St Raphael's will be offering Japanese Language Studies as a HSC Stage 6 Subject choice.
