Seiritsu International Education

The JE09 group with the Higashi Ju-jo ippon taiko team.

The 12th day of the JE09 program was another exciting day filled with great activities both inside and outside of the school. Including our usual Japanese lesson, the group tried Taiko drumming, had a delicious lunch prepared by the school-chef Akakura-san, and took a field trip to Koiwa to learn how to make Soba noodles.

Taiko is a style of large Japanese drum typically performed in a large ensemble with several different types of drums and many drummers. Heavy on bass and with a thick resounding sound, Taiko drumming is a very physical and intense style of music. All the students got to try drumming and afterwards, the Higashi Ju-jo ippon daiko group performed for us.

Eliza with her tiny Taiko Sensei. Even though some of the members of the group were quite young, they still played the drums like professionals.

A trip to the Edo Handmade Soba School, taught by Mr. Masao Ito, was scheduled for the afternoon. Ito Sensei is a renowned chef and has taught techniques for making Soba around the world. He is now retired, and has converted his living room into a classroom to teach the art of making Soba noodles. With the right ingredients and plenty of help from Mr. Ito, everyone’s Soba was delicious!

Ito Sensei, showing how its done.

Jessica showing us the aftermath of kneading and rolling the soba dough

Deanna slicing her freshly prepared soba dough into edible noodles.

Everyone at Ito Sensei’s house having just devoured their handmade Soba.

Everyone outside the Edo Handmade Soba School just before saying goodbye!