Imperial hosts its third Sanka Day for local school pupils - News

Tuesday 1 May 2012
By John-Paul Jones

During Universities Week 2012, which began on Monday, Imperial will be hosting its third Sanka Day, in which local school pupils visit the campus to find out more about Japanese culture and about life at the university.

The Japan theme is in celebration of Imperial hosting members of the Japanese Olympic team, with Sanka meaning “participation”.  The visiting primary schoolchildren on Thursday will be given the opportunity to learn basic Japanese, sample some judo and traditional dancing as well as having a bash at Taiko drums. For many of the young visitors the trip is also their first time on a university campus.

Watch a video from the last Sanka Day below:

Sanka Day 2012

sport, Sport Imperial, japan, sanka, language, judo, drum

The two previous days have been praised by teachers and school pupils, and have helped earn the College an Inspire Mark, which recognises innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the time of the award Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “I congratulate everyone involved in Sanka Days for securing the Inspire mark and wish you every success with your work.”

The day has also attracted the attention of the media, with NHK, Japan’s national public broadcasting corporation, sending a film crew to capture the activities on the second Sanka Day in February. Footage was then broadcast on national breakfast news in Japan.

The organisers from Sport Imperial were eager to host the third Sanka Day this week to coincide with Universities Week. This year the Week is Olympic-themed, celebrating the many and varied contributions universities are making to the 2012 Games.