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, this is Justin Han. December is the time of the year when many cultures celebrate their holidays, whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just beginning of a new year. Although each person and culture celebrate differently, the end of the year remains a time for celebration with friends and family.

 Since December 2022, teachers at ICT Kanazawa Campus have volunteered their time and efforts to host an annual Holiday Party for students. Held during the last week of December, the party offers students and faculty a chance to celebrate together in a relaxed setting, enjoying food, drinks, and snacks while unwinding from the year’s challenges. In the spirit of international exchange, all participants are encouraged to speak English during the event.

 This year’s Holiday Party was held on Friday, December 19th, after classes ended with students and faculty enjoying a simple spread of pizza, potato chips, soda, and cake alongside holiday music playing in the background. As Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in many cultures, a Christmas tree, tinsel and other Christmas decorations adorned the room to create a festive atmosphere. 

 Different from previous years, this year’s event included 10 students and 2 faculty members from Singapore Polytechnic, visiting Kanazawa for the MILE program in collaboration with the International Program Center. Together with ICT students, they introduced themselves through an icebreaker game, learned about each other’s cultures, and then split into smaller groups to play simple party games.

 Unfortunately, after three hours of laughter and fun, the celebration came to an end as everyone parted ways. We hope that this party, even if only a little, helped everyone face the end of the year and welcome the new year with a brighter spirit.

Justin Han

Hello again! This is Domyson Abuan, one of the Learning Mentors at ICT Hakusanroku.

Our usual Learning Session time turned into something magical on Friday night, December 19th, 2025. The Living Commons lit up with a kind of holiday cheer that’s hard to put into words even though we also played fun game of Scrabble!

But the fun didn’t start there. In the days before the party, students helped decorate the Living Commons with colorful lights and ornaments. The biggest star was our tall Christmas tree, where students secretly placed their gifts, , trying not to get caught by their Secret Santa matches. We also made a handmade Advent calendar, adding a small surprise to each day in December. It was a slow build-up to something truly special.

The night began with our first-ever Christmas Scrabble Tournament, led by the English department. Students from both 1st and 2nd year teamed up and got right to work, forming words faster than Santa’s elves wrapping presents. One student scored over 400 points, on their first time playing the board game! The winning team earned prizes, but honestly, everyone walked away with accomplished smiles.

Then came the Secret Santa gift hunt. While the students were enjoying dinner, the Learning Mentors turned into sneaky elves—elves who assisted Santa Claus in making presents and pulling pranks—, gathered the gifts from under the Christmas tree, and hid them all around the Living Commons. When the students returned, the search began! There were cheers, laughter, and a few puzzled faces—mine included! I needed help finding my own gift!

Once all the presents were found, we gathered near the tree to open them. Some students tried to guess what was inside, while others couldn’t wait and dove right in. The gifts were fun and surprising: a glowing lightsaber toy, a bag of tortillas (that the students love so much!), robotics tools, novels and other books, and cute room decorations. Everyone had something to smile about.

The rest of the night was a cozy mix of snacking, gaming, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Some students played video games, while others chatted over chips and cookies. No matter how they spent the evening, everyone left with a full stomach and a happy heart.

Big thanks to everyone who helped make this night so special. From decorating the tree to finding the perfect gift, every little moment added up to something unforgettable. Here’s to more word games, more surprises, and more reasons to celebrate. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Domyson Abuan

 Hello! I’m Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku office. Today, I’d like to introduce this year’s Halloween Events.
 As the Halloween season approached, the Hakusanroku campus building was festively decorated by students and learning mentors. They created handmade Jack-o’-lanterns and added playful touches, such as illustrated plastic bags attached to air conditioner vents, brightening up the entire building.

 On Friday, October 31st, 2025, the day of Halloween, several students and faculty members attended classes in costume. Students dressed as Pokémon characters, maids, cowboys, and more, while teachers appeared in Japanese school uniforms or even banana costumes, creating a unique and lively atmosphere in the classroom.
 For lunch, a special Halloween menu was served such as Vampire’s Feast Pizza (stuffed with cheese and absolutely delicious!), creepy-colored pasta shaped like caterpillars PLUS about 10 varieties of candy available for everyone to enjoy. Students had a great time savoring these treats.
 As the classes came to an end, even more students joined in with creative costumes. One student a horse headpiece paired with a sumo outfit, another dressed up as an Arabian sheik accompanied by his bodyguards, and another student transformed ordinary red clothes into cape-like design for unique look. During the Halloween parade, students struck confident poses on stage, captivating the audience. Laughter and cheers filled the atmosphere, making the event lively from start to finish.
 After the parade, the learning mentors held a Piñata game, a tradition from Mexican celebrations where participants break a decorated container to release treats. Blindfolded students relied on the voices of their peers to guide them as they swung at the piñata. When the container finally broke and candy scattered everywhere, the room erupted in excitement.

 Later, during the Learning Session (Night School), learning mentors hosted a Campus Hide-and-Seek game. Students were divided into four groups, taking turns as “seekers” while the others hid. All the lights in the building were turned off, and seekers used their phone flashlights to search classrooms, labs, restrooms, and even inside shelves. Hidden students tried to stay silent, but some couldn’t help screaming when discovered! Those who remained hidden until the time limit received candy as a prize.

 This year’s Halloween event was a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty to come together and have fun. The entire campus was filled with seasonal spirit, and smiles spread through classes, meals, and activities all day long.

Yuri Makada