Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School held “The Galaxy Festival” in June 2021, in which its students worked together as classes to create and present video works. A total of 19 classes, including both the morning and the afternoon classes, presented their videos. The students living in Japan, and the students still unable to enter Japan due to the effects of COVID-19 and taking classes online spent two to three weeks in collaboration with their classmates to create a highly complete work.
The theme of the video works were selected by the class members themselves. There were a wide variety of works such as Japanese anime dubbed into students’ local languages, quizzes about Japanese contemporary culture, funny pictures and daily scenes of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, songs and senryu (Japanese humorous poems) portraying the lives of international students in the midst of COVID-19 crisis.
On the day of the Festival, the students seemed to be enjoying a feeling of accomplishment by watching the video works they created with all their might, trying various ideas. As the class came together to make the video and spent time collaborating with each other, it seemed that the relationship between the students became even deeper and the desire to study together in Japan became stronger.
Due to COVID-19 related restrictions, students in their home countries are not being able to come to Japan, and students in Japan cannot travel or go out freely under movement restrictions to prevent spread of infection, so everyone may be disappointed. Even so, they were able to work together for the Galaxy Festival and their experiences became precious memories.
We know that Tokyo Galaxy students are doing their best, helping each other with their friends who are working hard toward the same goal of learning Japanese despite the current COVID-19 situation, so we are trying to support them from our heart. To those who are studying in their home country without being able to enter Japan, we want to tell you that when this pandemic subsides and you become able to study in Japan, you will realize the preciousness of the days you spend in Japan, after overcoming many hardships. Until then, let’s continue to work together toward our goals!