Art school students from Odesa participate in culture exchange at Seisa Junior and Senior High School.(November 2023)

Art school students and their teacher visited Japan from November 6 to November 20, 2023, from Odesa, one of Yokohama’s sister cities.

This visit was made possible through the invitation of Seisa Junior and Senior High School and with the cooperation of the City of Yokohama.

During their stay, the visiting students shared artworks brought from Ukraine and experienced Japanese culture at Seisa Junior and Senior High School. Activities included wearing yukata, participating in a tea ceremony, and listening to traditional Japanese wadaiko.

They also shared the current situation in Ukraine, life in Odesa, their style of learning, and how they were enjoying Yokohama, while Seisa students introduced their own drawings and explained how to make traditional dolls. Through this, students from both cities became friends and learned more about each other.

On another day, the students met and spoke with Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka. Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky and Odesa’s Director of International Affairs Oksana Chernova were also present.

When asked about their time in Japan, the students expressed their gratitude, saying, “We had the opportunity to learn about Japan and make new friends. Thank you very much.”

International Exchange in Yokohama