The Japanese Culture Program (JCP) is a deeply integrated, inquiry-based approach to cultural learning that helps students engage critically and meaningfully with the world around them.
Grounded in respect for our host country and its evolving cultural landscape, the JCP invites students from all backgrounds to explore, question, and experience Japanese culture in ways that resonate with their own identities and worldviews. From the symbolic arts in the Early Learning Center to advanced cultural investigations in the IB Diploma Programme, the JCP spans the full YIS journey.
Students have hands-on experiences in printmaking, drama, music, visual arts, and shadow performance. Each activity is linked directly to classroom learning through collaboration between the JCP coordinator and homeroom or subject teachers.
Students are encouraged to explore their own perspectives and express themselves through their cultural experiences. Whether they are questioning norms, creating hybrid cultural artworks, or simply finding their place within a new context, the JCP creates an environment where confidence, creativity, and respect grow together.
Japanese cultural elements enhance transdisciplinary units and enhance creative expression.
Students explore intercultural perspectives through projects such as rice farming and ethical storytelling.
Learners connect JCP experiences to TOK, CAS, and the Extended Essay, often working with a database of local experts and artists.
“I love celebrating the Hinamatsuri because we can make dolls and eat special candy.”
“I was able to learn many new things about the old Japanese style of making rice and toys. “
“My drama class took a trip to Kamakura and we visited the shrines and used them as inspiration for storytelling and I learned a lot about the history of Japanese and Kamakura.”
The JCP encourages students to engage with them thoughtfully. Through experiences like Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), students examine both the cultural significance and the social implications of traditions through lenses such as diversity, identity, and justice. This reflective approach helps students understand both the beauty and complexity of cultural practices while building connections within our community through:
Aligns with transdisciplinary themes through seasonal and cultural events like moon viewing, harvest festivals, and martial arts demonstrations
Projects such as the Kamakura drama excursion or indigenous guest speakers deepen students’ intercultural understanding and support global-minded inquiry.
Students draw on community connections for original research, performances, and reflections tied to TOK, CAS, and Extended Essay goals.
The Japanese Culture Program is designed to leave a lasting impression. As students graduate from YIS, they take with them a sense of confidence – not only in understanding the culture of Japan, but also in articulating their own place in a diverse world. They leave with experiences that shape their identity, stories they can share, and relationships that transcend borders.
YIS students don’t just learn about Japanese culture – they live it.
