Hello, this is Arihiro Kodaka, and I am in charge of Engineering Design II for 2nd year students. At ICT, we place great importance on practical learning in collaboration with the local community. In Engineering Design II, students tackle agricultural challenges faced by the region and explore solutions from both technological and business perspectives. The Tech Team provides technical support for wildlife damage prevention to protect sweet potatoes, while the Business Team works to revitalize the community by marketing the protected sweet potatoes as a local brand product.

 In this class, students are expected to accurately understand the current situation, identify new approaches to revitalizing the local community, and establish clear design objectives to realize those ideas. To achieve this, it is essential for them to gain a multifaceted understanding of the significance and impact of cultivating crops in this region, as well as the resources and effort required. As a first step, the entire class participated in creating ridges in the field, planting sweet potatoes, and installing electric fences to prevent wildlife damage.

Please also refer to the Hakusanroku Journal written by President Maasaki Shikada,
“2nd Year Engineering Design: Beniharuka Sweet Potato Planting (May 26th, 2025)"

 Although it was already mid-April this year, more than 50cm of snow remained in the field, and the temperatures were still low, making it difficult to plant the seedlings. However, thanks to a miraculous period of continuous rain, the snow melted just in time for the scheduled delivery of the seedlings, allowing us to proceed with planting. However, the temperatures this spring were in the low 10℃, which was quite cold and not ideal for root development or growth. The seedlings didn’t look very healthy, and I was worried. Fortunately, in May, the temperatures finally started to rise, and I was relieved to see the seedlings beginning to grow.

 Even after the seedlings had taken root, we continued to monitor their condition. This year, I noticed that some seedlings had been pulled out. Upon researching online, we found reports indicating that newly planted seedlings can be an easy target for crows, which may be what happened in our field as well. Additionally, we observed that the electric fence had become loose due to the wire mesh getting caught on the binding wire used to secure it to the poles. Next year, we plan to install a camera to closely monitor what happens in the field after planting. We will be selling sweet potatoes again this year, so please enjoy our exceptionally sweet Kosen Beniharuka!

Arihiro Kodaka

 Summer is here, and with it comes the season of insects. Even in winter, we encounter stink bugs on the Hakusanroku Campus, but summer insects are truly in a class of their own, aren’t they?
 Hello, this is Tsutsui. At the end of June, I joined an after-school activity for Hakurei elementary school students organized by the local community center, together with students from ICT students.

 On a Wednesday afternoon after third period classes ended, four students—Madoka Nakazawa (2nd year), Kai Osawa (1st year), Reo Sakai (1st year), and Kotaro Higuchi (1st year)—visited a forest behind a nearby elementary and junior high school, just a three-minute drive from Hakusanroku Campus to enjoy insect catching with local children. Kai even brought his own insect net!
 When we arrived, the younger Hakurei students were already energetically catching insects, and the forest was filled with lively voices. Later, older grades hakurei students joined in, and the forest became even more vibrant as everyone began catching insects together.
 When you think of “insect catching,” you might imagine chasing butterflies and dragonflies with a net, or catching cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. However, the younger hakurei students were finding tiny insects quietly hiding on leaves and branches. They would point and say, “Here it is!”—but the insects were so small and blended in with the leaves that I couldn’t see them, especially with my aging eyes. The Hakurei students skillfully used a tool, which has a capsule at the end of a pair of tweezers, to catch them quickly and easily.
 Perhaps because it was early summer, the insects were still in the process of growing. But to the hakurei students, even the tiniest insect was a real “bug.” Their excited cheers and sparkling eyes when they found one were truly memorable. 
 That day, the hakurei students caught not only tiny insects, but also grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, ladybugs, pill bugs, stick insects—and even a frog! 

 The ICT students enjoyed interacting with the hakurei students in their own unique ways. The sky and forest they usually see from campus must have looked quite different that day.
 Although Hakusanroku Campus is surrounded by nature, students mostly study indoors during the week, and don’t often have opportunities to interact with the local community or nature. Moreover, due to limited transportation options, it’s not easy to explore the area on weekends. 
 This short experience gave the ICT students a chance to feel like part of the local community and to truly connect with nature. 
 I wonder if those tiny insects have grown bigger… Maybe now, even I could spot them.

 Three months have passed since we went bug catching. I wonder if those tiny insects have grown... Maybe now, even I could see them with my own eyes.

Tsutsui Masako

 Hi, my name is Kotaro Higuchi, a 1st year student at the ICT. Recently, five high school students from the state of Missouri, USA, visited our campus. Today, I would like to share my memories with my buddy, Isaac.

 I first met Isaac on the evening of Saturday, June 7th, 2025, the day they arrived at the Hakusanroku campus. My first impression of him was that he was tall and had such an adult aura, so I couldn’t believe that he is a high school student.  However, when I tried to speak with him, I found out that he was interested in Japanese culture. While we were explaining our school, he listened aggressively and frequently asked questions.

 I was relieved that we were able to become friends so quickly. The next day, we went on a trip to Kanazawa. During the bus ride, Isaac was curious about everything he saw in Japan. He said the rice plants growing in the paddy fields were beautiful and we had an exciting conversation about the differences between school life in Japan and America. In Kanazawa, he was impressed by the clever design of Kanazawa Castle and saying, “This castle must have been really hard to attack.” I thought that was a very interesting and unique observation. At the end of the trip, he became hooked on Japanese food, and he ate Dango and bought lots of Onigiri and snacks at 7-Eleven.

 After that, we spent our weekdays together attending some classes. We also played basketball and American football after school, which made the rest of the time we shared really satisfying. I hope we can meet again someday.

Kotaro Higuchi

 Hello, this is Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku Office. This time, I would like to introduce a project created by 1st year student Taiki Sasaki using Autodesk Fusion.

 In the Computer Skills IA course for 1st year students, students begin working with Autodesk Fusion to create 3D models right after entering ICT. In this class, students learn the fundamental computer skills necessary for engineers. Taiki Sasaki, a 1st year student, applied what he learned in class and spent two months creating a 3D model of a V8 engine! I've put together a video showcasing his work—please watch!

 

Yuri Makada

 Hello. My name is Haru Abe, a 1st year student living on the Hakusanroku campus. In June 2025, five high school students from Columbia city in America visited Hakusanroku campus. This time, I will write about what I feel about living with them in ICT as study abroad buddies.

 On June 7th, American students arrived at Hakusanroku campus. All the students are tall, and I was surprised by how mature they look. I was a little nervous because it was my first time meeting American students, and I couldn’t talk with them in English. But American students talked with me, perhaps because they were interested in Japan. Therefore, I was able to ease my tension. With the American students, I was able to have a lively conversation about Japanese, overseas animation, and sports.

 Every after school, we played basketball together. When I saw the tall American student dunk, I was surprised. After that, because he also plays American football, he taught me how to play it. But that was very difficult, and I can’t throw as far as he does. Also, after that we went to the onsen.

 For sightseeing in Kanazawa, we went to Kenroku Garden. I haven’t gone sightseeing in Kanazawa, so I’m not very sure about it. But I taught American students how to buy some food in shops, and because of that, I think that I fulfilled my buddy duties.

 At the time, I didn’t have confidence, and I was nervous because I wanted to improve my English skills. Also, I want to be able to talk more with native speakers at the next opportunity. See you again!