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.

Evening view of Lake TekapoEvening view of Lake Tekapo

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

 Hello, this is Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku Office. Today, I would like to write about the snowball fights and other winter activities held in the Health and Physical Education course for the 1st and 2nd year students.
 From Saturday, January 24th to Sunday, January 25th, 2026, a strong cold air mass covered Ishikawa Prefecture, including Hakusan City, resulting in a significant amount of snowfall within a short period. It was a “doka-yuki” a sudden, heavy snowfall, turning the entire area into a beautiful white landscape.

1st Year Students’ Snowball Fight

 About a week later, on Monday, February 2nd, the 1st year students eagerly took part in a snowball fight in their last PE class of the semester. Each team set up a cone that they had a protect from the other team. Based on the rules of the fight, such as winning by capturing the other team’s cone and requiring students hit by a snowball to freeze for one minute, students devised strategies and began the contest.
 Although both teams attempted to advance, snowballs kept hitting players one after another, slowing the game’s progress, and no winner was determined within the time limit. Despite the intense exchanges, the students’ laughter filled the field, creating a funfilled atmosphere.
 During the free play session that followed, students enjoyed throwing snowballs, building large snowmen, sledding, and having fun in the snow.

2nd Year Students Snowball Fight & Snow Slide Building

 On Tuesday, February 3rd, the 2nd year students participated in a snowball fight and snow slide building. The boys’ team started with a snowball fight, first by dividing into 2 teams and then building snow walls in their territory and preparing plenty of snowballs before launching their attacks on the opposing team. Their energetic attacks made them look like little snow warriors. As they were battling Philip Cadzow sensei unexpectedly joined in the fight. With overwhelming strength, he lifted the boys one after another and tossed them into the fluffy snow, sending them running away while laughing and shouting, a scene that delighted everyone.
 Meanwhile, the girls’ team focused on creating a snow slide. They packed the snow, carved it carefully, and shaped it until it was complete. When viewed from the front, the finished slide resembled a “Moai statue,” and its impressive craftsmanship drew surprised reactions from students and teachers alike.

 Surrounded by the rich winter nature of the HAKUSANROKU (Foothills of Mt. Hakusan) area, the students worked together, played in the snow, and spent a smile filled time together. This final Health and Physical Education course of the school year became a valuable snow country experience that strengthened relationships among students and created wonderful memories.

Yuri Makada