Macleans College students participate in Tokyo exchange
Posted on February 03, 2026
Over two weeks at the end of 2025, four Macleans College students took part in the Kokusai exchange programme in Tokyo, Japan.
The exchange provided Ailsa Tan (Mansfield House), Lajeen Sabri (Hillary), Andrew Hu (Kupe House 2021 - 2025) and Ethan Zhang (Kupe House 2021 - 2025) with an opportunity to experience Japanese culture and build connections with students from Kokusai Junior College.
A key feature of the programme was living in student dormitories alongside Japanese students. This allowed participants to experience daily life firsthand. Friendships quickly formed through shared activities, including card games, the Just Dance video game and karaoke.
Cultural exploration was central to the exchange. Students visited well-known areas of Tokyo such as Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Asakusa. In Asakusa, Macleans College students wore kimonos and visited local shrines. They also took part in cultural activities, including calligraphy, a traditional tea ceremony with matcha preparation and cooking Japanese dishes such as okonomiyaki.
The programme also offered insight into Japanese school life. Students attended a wide range of classes as English teaching assistants, where they observed teaching styles and experienced a typical school day. They delivered English lessons, spoke about life at Macleans College and taught the haka, supporting cultural exchange and strengthening connections with local students.
These shared experiences created lasting memories and strong friendships. Students returned home with a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, improved communication skills and meaningful connections with their Kokusai hosts.
