Two faculty members and six students from The University of Findlay will travel to Japan for almost four weeks as part of the fifth annual study tour through the Kake Educational Institution. The group will depart on June 26 and return July 23.

The group will travel to southern and western parts of Japan, and experience various aspects of Japanese culture. The focus of the program is “to do things with the Japanese.” The group will visit the universities, high schools and vocational schools owned by the Kake Educational Institution where they will interact with students, faculty and community members. While in Japan, the UF group will also do some sightseeing to historical locations such as Hiroshima, Kyoto and Nara.

The Kake Education Institution hosts a group of UF students and faculty in Japan each summer. UF returns the favor of the Japanese institutions with the Kake Ambassador Program, when Japanese representatives visit Findlay. Debow Freed, Ph.D., president of The University of Findlay, and C. Richard Beckett, D.V.M., chairman of The University of Findlay Board of Trustees, are board members for Kake. Dr. Kotaro Kake, general president of the Kake Educational Institution, is a member of UF’s Board of Trustees.

UF faculty and students participating in the trip include: S. Chris Ward, Ed.D, assistant professor in college of business; Jennifer Fox of Gahanna, Ohio, Japanese and accounting major; Yekaterina Yevgenyevna Kontar of Findlay, communication major; Laura Maurer of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Japanese and TESOL major; Holly Siebeneck of Mount Blanchard, Ohio, psychology major; Michael Strahm of Fostoria, Ohio, business major; and Erin Taylor of Oregonia, Ohio, Japanese major. Hiro Kawamura, Ph.D., director of language and cultural programs and associate professor of Japanese, will also accompany the group for part of the study tour.

For further information, contact Kawamura at kawamura@findlay.edu.

By Brooke Jacobs '07
Pre-Medicine Major
Bucyrus, Ohio