Institute of Cultural Excellence Kikkajuku (ICEK)
Our Programs
Workshops in Japan:
Shimoda City, Shizuoka Pref.
WORKSHOP IN
SHIZUOKA (WIS)
The workshop was planned to be held in Shimoda, a historic city surrounded by beautiful beaches and mountains, and in the town of Minami-Izu, on the other side of Izu Peninsula.
The issues, such as who will take care of the abandoned farmland and bamboo forests, and how we can cope with the increasing number of animals, such as deer and boars, are focused on in 2025. The theme changes accordingly every year.
Workshops in Japan:
Suwa/Okaya City, Nagano Pref.
WORKSHOP IN NAGANO (WIN)
Okaya City is located on the shores of Lake Suwa, surrounded by mountains such as the Yatsugatake Mountains, and was the number one raw silk producer in the world during World War I. In this historic city surrounded by mountains, we will consider ideas for revitalizing the region. We will tour the raw silk production process and a silk factory, and experience traditional handicrafts.
The workshop in Nagano focuses more on continuing tradition, such as Shintoism, Miso/Sake making, rather than revitalization issues.
Workshops in other countries:
Pengeragoan, Bali, Indonesia
WORKSHOP IN BALI, INDONESIA
This is a program to experience life in a Hindu village while staying with a Balinese farmer. We will teach Japanese culture and language at the village elementary school, and participants will also learn Indonesian language and traditional Indonesian dance. I also meet with eco-friendly green schools, bamboo villages (a village made entirely of bamboo), and hear stories from Japanese entrepreneurs.
Please email us if interested. We will organize a trip as soon as there are enough participants.
PHOTO BY HINAKO TAKEI
One-Day Workshop/Symposium
Tokyo and other locations, Japan
In 2024, we invited Professor Tim Parkinson from Winchester College in the UK, and with the cooperation of Keio High School in Tokyo, 12 volunteers from two high schools gathered in English to discuss the future of democracy from various perspectives.
In particular, even if you have an experience such as studying abroad, you often don't have the opportunity to talk or even discuss things in English afterwards, and your English ability weakens.
I want to continue discussing the topics that we don't normally talk about casually, in both Japanese and English.
