Undergraduate students from Nagoya University of Foreign Studies’ Department of World Liberal Arts show their enthusiasm at their CCNY orientation session on Aug. 3. Standing at the front of the room are Professor Catherine Franklin of the CCNY School of Education, and Professors Toshikazu Kikuchi and Ryan Morrison of NUFS
Twenty students from Japan's Nagoya University of Foreign Studies arrived at the City College of New York earlier this week for a whirlwind two-week visit that includes a full program of educational and cultural activities.
Coordinated by Associate Professor Catherine Franklin of the School of Education's Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture, the visit is the first trip outside of Japan for some of the students, all of whom are undergraduates in the NUFS'sDepartment of World Liberal Arts. Led by Professor Toshikazu Kikuchi, the group will visit a number of sites around the city, including museums, schools, the United Nations and the 9/11 Memorial. They will also hear lectures from City College faculty on a variety of topics connected to American culture -- such as New York City history, civic education and American education.
"The lectures provide opportunities for School of Education faculty to share their research and expertise in an international context," said Franklin.
One particular highlight will be a lecture by City College Librarian Sydney Van Nort on the legacy of Townsend Harris, the founder of CCNY. A prominent New York merchant who became Consul General to Japan in 1856, Harris negotiated the treaty that opened the Japanese Empire to foreign trade and culture. Owing to his goodwill, openness and honesty, Harris quickly gained the respect and affection of the Japanese people, and is revered there to this day.
One of those who remain reverent is Kikuchi. Earlier this summer, he travelled for four hours by train from his home in Nagoya to visit the city of Shimoda, where Harris lived when he first came to Japan.
"I visited some historic places in Shimoda on June 30 and July 1 to show my respect to Townsend Harris and CCNY," he said. "I took a walk along a lane named Harris's Path."
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