Hello, I’m Kentaro Takano, a 3rd year student. This is the second time to write a journal from New Zealand. My journal topic is about our trip to Christchurch from Wednesday, January 14, to Friday, January 16.

On the first day of the trip, from midday to evening, we went to the Christchurch Gondola and New Brighton Beach. After getting off the gondola, we could see a view that stretched far into the distance. We could also find the direction of New Brighton Beach, which is about one hour away by bus. In addition, on the opposite side, the bay was spread out, and the scenery was beautiful. After that, when we arrived at New Brighton Beach, I said, “Can we see the peak of the gondola that we were on?” We did not know whether we could see it or not.

 

At night, we went to New Regent Street. The street around 21:30 was very beautiful because it was lit up. We really wanted to eat gelato while watching the tram, but we found out that the trams run only until around 18:00, so we decided that we would eat gelato the next day. After walking a little, we found a store that sold waffles, and I ate a waffle with vanilla ice cream. I felt that the waffle and ice cream I ate late at night were more delicious than when I eat them at a normal time.

 

On the second day, we took a shuttle bus from Cathedral Square and went to the International Antarctic Centre and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. At the International Antarctic Centre, we experienced very strong winds with snow and low temperatures like those in Antarctica, and I felt that making a living in Antarctica would be very hard. In addition, we could see penguins as if they were in Antarctica, and the equipment that people use there was displayed. I noticed that all of it was heavy.

 

At Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, which we visited afterwards, we could see many varieties of animals like birds, horses, and cows. My friends fed to the animals, but I was afraid to bring my hand close, so I gave them food by throwing it. Lastly, we could see the kiwi, which is the national bird of New Zealand. It was hard for us to see them because they were in a dark place; however, I felt good because I could see the kiwi.
Afterwards, around 16:30, we went to New Regent Street, but unfortunately, it was raining there. We expected that we could see the tram from the outside seating area with a roof at the store where gelato is sold. However, unfortunately, the tram did not appear until we finished eating gelato.

 

In the evening, we went to Riverside Market and the Bridge of Remembrance, which is near Riverside Market. The market has many stores, and we were quite torn about where to eat as our opinions differed. Finally, we decided to go to a Chinese food restaurant. I felt that even though we can eat Chinese food anytime, the Chinese food we ate there was especially delicious. When paying, we received a coupon from the store that sells ice cream in Riverside Market, so I thought that choosing Chinese food was a good decision. I was still hungry, so I bought a parfait from the ice cream store.

On the morning on the 3rd day of the trip, we rode the tram and went to the Cardboard Cathedral and the Art Centre of Christchurch. During the journey, we passed through Cathedral Square, which we had visited the day before, and we could also see New Regent Street, which we had visited on the 1st day and the 2nd day of the trip. The view from the tram was different from the view when we walked, and it felt very fresh.

At Cardboard Cathedral, the entire building had a sacred atmosphere. The building was built instead of Christchurch Cathedral, which was damaged by an earthquake in 2011, and we learned that the Cardboard Cathedral was built by a Japanese person. It was the first time I had entered a cathedral, and it left a very strong impression on me. I thought that I would like to visit a cathedral in Japan as well.
At the Art Centre of Christchurch, we could see many works of art. When I was looking at the paintings, it was fun to imagine many things. I found a swing that was very colorful, so I wanted to ride on it. However, I gave up riding it because the swing was wet due to the rain.
During the day, we went to a store where pasta was sold. I ordered pasta with a lot of seafood. It was very creamy, and the level of saltiness was very good, and it tasted really good.

 

This Christchurch trip was the best memory I have had since coming to New Zealand. I don’t think this trip could ever have been realized by me alone. I appreciate my parents who let me go on the trip and my friends who went with me.

Kentaro Takano

Hello! I'm Kotori Mae, a 2nd year student at the International College of Technology.
This time, I'd like to introduce part of our Engineering Design IIB (ED) class.
First, in the second-year ED course, we engage in activities aimed at regional revitalization. As part of this, we cultivated Beni Haruka sweet potatoes in the fields and learned about business while selling roasted sweet potatoes at the Roadside Station Sena. Then, aiming to expand new sales channels, we collaborated with Kuru,ru. in Ono to sell Kosen Beni Haruka sweet potatoes baked in clay pots and original goods at the end of November.

The Kosen Beni Haruka project in ED has been passed down and refined by seniors from the second cohort, but initiatives like collaborations were new to us. Despite some nerves, we put a lot of effort into creating a new logo for the collaboration and expanding our merchandise lineup.

Kuru,ru. specializes in clay pot-baked sweet potatoes, and this time we borrowed their method to sell Kosen Beni Haruka sweet potatoes baked in clay pots. We sampled them ourselves and found that even though they were the same Beni Haruka variety, they were creamier and sweeter, really highlighting the difference between regular baking and pot baking.

Furthermore, building on improvements made since our sales at Roadside Station Sena, we sold merchandise as capsule toys this time. Seeing the children who came to the store excitedly saying, “I hope I get this one!” or “This one's cute!” while excitedly spinning the capsule toy machines. Seeing increased recognition not just for the baked sweet potatoes but for the Kosen Beni Haruka characters themselves really boosted the brand, which made us very happy. Also, the people who visited our shop showed great interest not only in the sweet potatoes but in the International Technical College itself. We were able to share information about our initiatives and the college in Ono, creating opportunities to talk about each other's regions and fostering valuable exchanges.

As a side note, since we took turns selling, we had time to explore Ono during breaks. The folks at Kuru,ru. lent us rental bikes, so we cycled along the coast and tried Ono's famous soy sauce soft serve. Experiencing this unique Ono tourism made me realize anew, “We've successfully spread our Kosen Beni Haruka brand to a new place.”

As the business team, it was rewarding to directly contribute to regional revitalization and gain sales experience while still in high school. The Kuru,ru. staff actively communicated with customers visiting the shop. They also kindly shared tips with us about pot-roasting and roasting sweet potatoes, engaging in conversations. Seeing their attitude of enjoying interactions with various people while sharing the same goal of regional revitalization made me realize that simply selling isn't enough. Even small exchanges create opportunities to learn about each other's regions and highlight the importance of communication. I want to apply this lesson to our future regional revitalization activities. We'll also be selling roasted sweet potatoes at the Shirogane Festival and planning a special menu for visitors, so we'll keep pushing forward without letting up until the very end!

Kotori Mae

Hello. My name is Seiya Fujiwara, and I’m a 2nd year student at the ICT living on the Hakusanroku Campus. Compared to last year, there is less snow in Hakusanroku  (Foothills of Mt. Hakusan), but Mt. Hakusan is still completely white. Every morning when I wake up and look out the window, I can feel both the harshness of winter and the beauty of nature. My daily life usually consists of going back and forth between the dormitory and the campus, but I feel lucky to be able to enjoy the snowy scenery we can only see in Hakusanroku (Foothills of Mt. Hakusan) during this season.

On February 14th, 2026, I went to Hakusan Ichirino Onsen Ski Resort. I didn’t go last year, so the last time I experienced winter sports in Hakusan for the first time. I have skied before, so this time I decided to try snowboarding. At first, I was worried about whether I could snowboard well, but with the help of my friends and by practicing many times, I was able to learn how to turn smoothly by noon.

After that, I tried an intermediate course. However, I couldn’t turn well on the steep slope and fell many times. Still, I didn’t give up and kept trying. Gradually, I got used to the snowboard and felt that I was improving. In the afternoon, After that, I tried an intermediate course. However, I couldn’t turn well on the steep slope and fell many times. Still, I didn’t give up and kept trying. Gradually, I got used to the snowboard and felt that I was improving. In the afternoon,

There were also many skilled people at the ski resort, and some of them were doing tricks like jumps and spins. My friends and I tried to copy them, but at first, we couldn’t do it well. However, as we kept practicing, we slowly got better. Although I’m still not very stable, I can now do simple jumps and spins. It was very fun to be able to do things that I couldn’t do before, and I became so focused that I forgot about time. It also reminded me of my usual club activities and independent badminton practice, and I once again realized the importance of continuing to practice. If I have another chance to go, I would like to try more difficult tricks.

Seiya Fujiwara

Hello! This is Sade Moore, one of the Learning Mentors at ICT’s Hakusanroku Campus. For this Hakusanroku Journal entry, I want to talk about the End of the Year Party for the students, faculty, and staff at Hakusanroku Campus that the Learning Mentors organized. This year, the party took place on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. The reason this date was chosen was because, by this time, all of the exams for the second semester had officially concluded and the results passed back. Due to this what better way to celebrate and unwind for both students and teachers, than to have a party where everyone could play board games, eat, and have fun together.

Many of the students were the first to show up and you could feel the excitement coming off of them. The End of the Year Party is one of the events that the students look forward to the most, I think, and this year was no exception. They all swarmed around the snacks and couldn’t wait to eat them. We also brought out plenty of board games and card games for everyone to enjoy and also had students and teachers sing some karaoke songs. It was really nice to see the students having fun with the teachers in a more relaxed setting and seeing everyone smiling and happy after such a stressful exam time.

Also, during the party the winner of the House Cup between the 4 separate Houses received their prize for collecting the most House Points throughout the year. The House System was built in order to build teamwork amongst the students, and they can collect points throughout the semester for completing their homework or assignments, attending workshops that the Learning Mentors conduct for them, cleaning up after themselves and others around campus, amongst other merits. The house with the most points wins at the end of the semester, and each of the 4 Houses wins a special treat for the End of the Year Party. All of the students seemed to really enjoy their special treats.

As the party drew to a close, a lot of the students kept asking if there was more and if they could stay longer because they wanted to play more games and sing more songs. Unfortunately though, with the teachers needing to get off work soon, it wasn’t possible. However, it was a great feeling to know that they enjoyed themselves and to see all of the students and other teachers’ smiling faces made all of the hard work for this semester and the past year at ICT completely worth it!

Sade Moore

Hello everyone, and thank you for reading the ICT Journal. My name is Sena Takada, and I am a 3rd year student. Until recently, I used to count how many months it had been since I arrived in New Zealand—but now it feels faster to count how many months are left until I return to Japan.

In this journal, I would like to look back on some of my experiences during my study abroad. I hope this gives those who are considering applying to ICT even a small sense of what everyday life here feels like.

First, Dunedin, where we are currently studying, is a small city. However, it has great access to both the ocean and the hills (or mountains), so you can feel close to nature in your daily life. On a sunny day, you can go for a run on the beach and then enjoy a panoramic view of Dunedin from a scenic lookout. One of the best things about this city is that even without doing anything “touristy,” you can still find rich and beautiful scenery as part of ordinary life.

While living these kinds of days, if you travel just a little farther, you can also encounter the spectacular landscapes that represent the South Island. Around August 2025, I visited Lake Tekapo, one of the major tourist spots on the South Island, with my family who had come from Japan. As soon as we arrived, the area felt wrapped in silence and crystal-clear air. There are several restaurants and food trucks around the lake, so you can enjoy the scenery along with something to eat. We bought fish and chips from a particularly well-reviewed food truck, and it was delicious. The golden fish and chips looked perfect against the lake’s surface, whose colors kept changing from moment to moment. You can see stars from my homestay as well, but the starlit sky at Lake Tekapo—and even the stars seen from home—were both so beautiful that they were beyond comparison. It truly felt like a sky full of stars. (A perfect score ⭐)

As a side note, I use an iPhone 16 Pro to take photos of the stars. From a beginner’s perspective, the image quality is more than enough. Also, depending on the season, it seems that you may be able to see the aurora from Lake Tekapo, so I recommend aiming for that as well.

 

Lake Tekapo Petting Zoo

Next, many people associate New Zealand with sheep, and it didn’t take long after arriving at Dunedin Airport for me to understand why. When you drive around, you can see sheep scattered across the grasslands, and sometimes they even stare back at you. However, even though sheep stand out the most, this country is rich in biodiversity and is home to many different kinds of animals. In most households, dogs are welcomed as family members, cats are often allowed to roam freely, and in some gardens, wild hedgehogs relax as if they actually live there. That’s the kind of place it is.

Sleeping hedgehog in the garden, startled by children

 

By the end of January, once I had gotten used to this lifestyle, I experienced a farm stay in a place called Mosgiel, about a 20-minute drive from Dunedin. A farm stay is a style of travel where you stay on a farm and experience the daily life of the people who live and work there. It was full of “non everyday” experiences that you could never have in Japan. Since I was born and raised in Tokyo, I felt a strong contrast between what I had grown up with and what I was experiencing there.

My mornings began with the view from my bed—sheep, cows, and even an “invading” rabbit in the distance. I will never forget this experience. My happiness level was so high that returning to normal society felt difficult. Across the vast farm, the deep green pasture seemed to carry a concentrated scent of grass and soil. Luckily, the owner let us observe the work they normally do, and we rode a tractor out to where the cows were. I also got to see a sheepdog working up close for the first time, which left a strong impression on me. From the way the dog responded faithfully to the owner’s signals, I could feel the accumulation of daily training.

 

Suu the sheepdog and the cows

 

Suu gathering the sheep

Then, about an hour’s walk from where we stayed—past a steep hillside—there was a dog daycare facility for temporary pet boarding, so I went there out of curiosity to ask about it. It was a spacious property where about fifteen dogs could run around freely. The owner offered temporary care while owners were at work, and they were very friendly. The dogs’ playground felt like an amusement park, and honestly, it felt like a dream if I could come and play there every day. I felt like I became friends with many of the dogs.

I had heard that there is a kind of “hierarchy” in dog society, and I was thrilled to see an alpha leading the group up close. Since I rarely see so many dogs (especially large dogs) gathered together, it was fascinating. It also seemed that they were protecting a fawn that had been separated from its mother, and the little ecosystem inside the enclosure felt like its own miniature world.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

 

Finally, one essential part of studying abroad is the host family. Depending on the family, they may even take you on trips by car. My former host family (I had to change families due to circumstances), who are Fijian, once woke me up at 3:00 a.m. and drove me from Dunedin to Nelson at the very top of the South Island (roughly equivalent to the distance from Kanazawa to Kagoshima in Japan). They were the kind of wild people who would throw pear cores out the car window while yelling, “Compost!!” They were intense, but it is a great memory. I had the chance to visit around ten different homes, and because daily life can be completely different depending on the place and the people, I think it strengthened me mentally.

In this way, I believe one of the best parts of studying abroad is experiencing cultures that you cannot truly taste in Japan. Whether good or bad, I was given the chance to re-examine my own assumptions and fixed ideas. It may be a good idea to find something you can become deeply passionate about while you are still in Japan.

This became quite long, but thank you very much for reading.

Sena Takada