Information
Manga, Sake, and Akita Culture: Student Bus Tour
Akita is famous for its delicious komachi strain of rice and the best rice results in the best sake. In early November, an AIU bus trip took Japanese and Study Abroad students to a behind-the-scenes tour of a sake factory, Yokote City’s traditional storehouses and Manga Museum, and the Akita Furusato Mura, a complex of museums and local product displays, to get a better feel for the culture and history of the province.
Lacquerware display at the Furusato Mura.
“I could have spent twice as long exploring at the Furusato Mura and still would not have seen everything.” – Jirawat N, Mahidol University International College, Thailand
(Photo copyright: Jirawat Nuntajurapo. Used with permission.)
According to AIU Professor Darren Ashmore, Head of the Japan Studies Program, Akita has long been the edge of the unknown in Japan. It has been Japan’s last frontier, a place of exile, the last refuge of the Fujiwara Family, after they were driven from the Imperial Court, and saw the last mainland battle of the Boshin War that ended samurai rule in Japan.
Perhaps owing to its shorter growing season and snowy winters, Akita is also known as a center of folk craft and performing arts. It has the most folk performances, and still sports many unique local crafts. Many of the latter are displayed at the Furusato Mura the first stop of the trip. Though students also had the option of visiting the Akita Museum of Modern Art or enjoying the foliage while strolling around the outdoor statuary.
Fall foliage at the Furusato Mura outdoor statuary.
(Photo copyright: Kyriacos Anastasiou. Used with permission.)
[Photo Here: Full, Museum Outdoors]
“The Akita Museum of Modern Art has great exhibits, free admission to students, and the Manga Museum displays original drawing from well-known artists and avails a vast collection of manga that you can read at their premises.”
– Kyriacos A., University of Nicosia, Cyprus
The next stop was Masuda Town in Yokote City. Famous for its natural apple juice, that experienced a recent boom in popularity, Masuda Town is also home to the Manga Museum and preserved storehouses. Manga graphic serials are immensely popular in Japan among children and adults, both men and women and Akita prefecture has produced more manga artists than any other. The museum has many original drawings on hand, as well as manga to read.
While some manga have a dedicated following outside of Japan, many international students were more interested in visiting the preserved samurai houses and storehouses in the surrounding town.
“The most impressive [part of the trip] was the old storehouses because it was like the time had stopped in those houses and we can now see how they lived before.” – Marie E., Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, France
Storehouses and preserved dwellings line a river in Masuda Town.
(Photo Copyright: Jirawat Nuntajurapo. Used with permission.)
Students listen to an explanation of the sake refinery process during the behind-the-scenes tour.
(Photo Copyright: Kyriacos Anastasiou. Used with Permission)
“Last but definitely not least, we were shown around the premises of a sake brewery and the guide did her best to explain what the procedure of making sake is and at the end we were given a chance to taste some of the sake that the brewery produces.”
– Kyriacos A.
Unfortunately, with final exams and papers approaching, this was the last bus trip planned for this semester. However, for students staying through the spring semester, and students coming in the future, there will be more trips to come, so please don’t miss these opportunities to go beyond the usual and explore Akita and Japanese culture in depth!
“For last words I will say that this trip and the Yamagata trip were great- good memories thanks to AIU and AIU staff. We, students can enjoy our time and discover Akita the most because of all your efforts.”
-Marie E.
Thank you to all of the students who submitted their feedback and photos from the trip. All photos used on this page are copyright of the students and used with permission.
Akita is famous for its delicious komachi strain of rice and the best rice results in the best sake. In early November, an AIU bus trip took Japanese and Study Abroad students to a behind-the-scenes tour of a sake factory, Yokote City’s traditional storehouses and Manga Museum, and the Akita Furusato Mura, a complex of museums and local product displays, to get a better feel for the culture and history of the province.
Lacquerware display at the Furusato Mura.
“I could have spent twice as long exploring at the Furusato Mura and still would not have seen everything.” – Jirawat N, Mahidol University International College, Thailand
(Photo copyright: Jirawat Nuntajurapo. Used with permission.)
According to AIU Professor Darren Ashmore, Head of the Japan Studies Program, Akita has long been the edge of the unknown in Japan. It has been Japan’s last frontier, a place of exile, the last refuge of the Fujiwara Family, after they were driven from the Imperial Court, and saw the last mainland battle of the Boshin War that ended samurai rule in Japan.
Perhaps owing to its shorter growing season and snowy winters, Akita is also known as a center of folk craft and performing arts. It has the most folk performances, and still sports many unique local crafts. Many of the latter are displayed at the Furusato Mura the first stop of the trip. Though students also had the option of visiting the Akita Museum of Modern Art or enjoying the foliage while strolling around the outdoor statuary.
Fall foliage at the Furusato Mura outdoor statuary.
(Photo copyright: Kyriacos Anastasiou. Used with permission.)
[Photo Here: Full, Museum Outdoors]
“The Akita Museum of Modern Art has great exhibits, free admission to students, and the Manga Museum displays original drawing from well-known artists and avails a vast collection of manga that you can read at their premises.”
– Kyriacos A., University of Nicosia, Cyprus
The next stop was Masuda Town in Yokote City. Famous for its natural apple juice, that experienced a recent boom in popularity, Masuda Town is also home to the Manga Museum and preserved storehouses. Manga graphic serials are immensely popular in Japan among children and adults, both men and women and Akita prefecture has produced more manga artists than any other. The museum has many original drawings on hand, as well as manga to read.
While some manga have a dedicated following outside of Japan, many international students were more interested in visiting the preserved samurai houses and storehouses in the surrounding town.
“The most impressive [part of the trip] was the old storehouses because it was like the time had stopped in those houses and we can now see how they lived before.” – Marie E., Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, France
Storehouses and preserved dwellings line a river in Masuda Town.
(Photo Copyright: Jirawat Nuntajurapo. Used with permission.)
Students listen to an explanation of the sake refinery process during the behind-the-scenes tour.
(Photo Copyright: Kyriacos Anastasiou. Used with Permission)
“Last but definitely not least, we were shown around the premises of a sake brewery and the guide did her best to explain what the procedure of making sake is and at the end we were given a chance to taste some of the sake that the brewery produces.”
– Kyriacos A.
Unfortunately, with final exams and papers approaching, this was the last bus trip planned for this semester. However, for students staying through the spring semester, and students coming in the future, there will be more trips to come, so please don’t miss these opportunities to go beyond the usual and explore Akita and Japanese culture in depth!
“For last words I will say that this trip and the Yamagata trip were great- good memories thanks to AIU and AIU staff. We, students can enjoy our time and discover Akita the most because of all your efforts.”
-Marie E.
Thank you to all of the students who submitted their feedback and photos from the trip. All photos used on this page are copyright of the students and used with permission.