HU holds “Regional World Cooking 10” Event



The Hiroshima University International Center encourages exchange between international and Japanese students through various cultural exchange activities and outdoor programs. Since 2011, the center has conducted “Regional World Cooking” classes, inviting international students from various countries and regions to become “cooking experts,” who introduce the specialty of their local cuisine, and then cooking and eating such dishes together with participants, both Japanese and international students.



The tenth session of “Regional World Cooking” was held on January 16, (Sat) 2016 in the Shitami Fukushi Kaikan (Welfare Center). This time’s topic was “Japanese festival meals,” and the students cooked “ozoni” (soup with rice cakes) and “ehomaki” (sushi roll eaten during setsubun). There were 5 Japanese students and 11 international students, or collectively 16 people who enjoyed a day full of cooking and fun.

While listening to the teacher's cooking instructions, they separated into several groups and helped each other to prepare the dishes. The participants started with “ozoni,” heating up a soup stock with dried bonito and konbu (a kind of kelp) as its base. They then made “ehomaki,” wrapping dried seaweed around rice and various ingredients of their choice by hand. Afterwards, everybody ate his/her ehomaki without speaking as per tradition, looking toward the south-southeast, which is the lucky direction of the year. Then, the participants sat back to enjoy their hard efforts, eating what they had made throughout the day while talking about the manners and customs of their home countries and regions.



One of the participants said, “It was my first experience making a traditional Japanese meal. It helped me to understand a little bit more about Japanese culture.” Another said, “Thanks to this event, I was able to become acquainted with people that I may have never met otherwise; I am very glad to have made some new friends.” This time, given that the menu was inspired by Japanese cuisine, the Japanese students had the opportunity to introduce their home country’s culture to international students. Through food, not only did the students have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of cultures and customs both in Japan and abroad, but they also had the chance to enjoy a fun and informal day of international exchange by cooking together.

We hope that this event has helped students to deepen their understanding of various cultures. We also hope that similar opportunities for international exchanges will continue to flourish on and around campus.

Preparing soup stock for “ozoni”

Preparing “ehomaki”

Eating toward the lucky direction of the year

Group photo

【Inquiries】

International Exchange Group,

Education and International Office,

Hiroshima University

TEL:082-424-4541

E-mail: kokusai-ryugaku(AT)office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp

(* Please replace (AT) with @.)


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