Students from the University of Melbourne came for off-campus training.

Today, students from the University of Melbourne in Australia visited the Doguyasuji Shopping Street as part of their off-campus training.

The purpose of this training is to experience "living Japanese" as it is actually used in Japan, rather than Japanese learned in classrooms or textbooks.
Sennichimae Doguyasuji was chosen as the training location not as a tourist spot, but as a place for learning that allows participants to experience everyday Japanese life and business interactions, fostering natural human connections.

As part of the training, we held okonomiyaki making experience at Chibo, sandblasting experience at Senda Glassware, knife sharpening experience at Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide, and job shadowing experiences at Chida, Ebisuya Hardware Store, and Chida Glass.

Students experience Japanese expressions, customer service phrases, and Kansai-specific ways of speaking by visiting specialty stores that handle kitchen knives, cooking utensils, kitchen equipment, and food samples, and by conversing with shop owners and staff.
Listening to product descriptions, asking questions, and engaging in casual conversation all provide practical Japanese learning opportunities.

Sen-nichimae Doguyasuji is not just a place where tools are sold; it's a place where Japanese food culture, the spirit of commerce, and everyday Japanese language come alive.
I hope this off-campus study trip will be a valuable experience for all students to deepen their understanding of Japan.