13 November 2011. Towards the end of the academic year, Vava'u High School and Tonga High School have scheduled activities to enhance the knowledge of their students studying the Japanese Language. Vava'u High School will hold a Japanese Week from the 14th - 18th November.
During the 5-day event, various activities have been arranged such as selling Japanese food, Japanese quiz competition, sports competition, experience Japanese culture etc. Further, the highlight during this week is the "Presentation of Japan Earthquake and Tsunami" (an overview of the severe earthquake and tsunami that struck North East region of Japan in March 2011) and the "Stamp Rally" where students are to collect as much stamps as they could by saying Japanese sentences.
Tonga High School will mark the 25th of November as its Japanese Day. The highlight of the day will be the selling of Japanese food (Kumara Onigiri) and the Cultural forum where the Japanese Language teachers will introduce traditional Japanese culture such as origami (folding paper), Japanese Calligraphy, Japanese toys and wearing of the Yukata (Kimono).
The Japanese Language was first introduced into the school syllabus in Tonga in 1986 at Vava'u High School. At present, six (6) High schools are now studying the Japanese Language i.e (Tonga High School, Vava'u High School, ‘Eua High School, Tupou College, Tonga College and St. Andrews High School). There is approximately 200 students taught by thirteen (13) teachers (7 Tongan and 6 Japanese including JICA volunteers.
Issued by the: Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Nuku'alofa, 2011.