Cal Poly Pomona welcomed 195 students from Nihon Kogakuin Music College in Tokyo along with their faculty and staff on Nov. 14.
The Nihon Kogakuin Cultural Exchange Event at the Bronco Student Center included dance performances, a presentation on cultural customs and a cultural exchange lunch.
The event was hosted by the Global Education Institute (GEI) of the College of the Extended University (CEU) and planned and coordinated by GEI, Nihon Kogakuin Music College, and Tour America, LLC.
“We are so impressed by the organization of event,” said Shuichi Kotera, teacher at Nihon Kogakuin Music College. “We look forward to working with Global Education Institute again next year.”
The opening ceremony was highlighted by remarks from Cheryl Wyrick, Interim Dean and Senior International Officer of the College of the Extended University and International Center. Other speakers included Iris Levine, Dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences and Kotera.
The opening ceremony was followed by a lecture from Michael Millar, lecturer in the Music Department, on “professionalism and music industry career in the U.S.”
The students were also able to enjoy a dance performance by CPP’s Broncettes dance team before having lunch with 70 CPP volunteer students as part of a cultural exchange. In return, the Japanese students also delivered a presentation on cultural customs and performed several dances.
Final remarks were given by David Horner, Associate Dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. Horner also presented the certificate and the gift to the student representatives. The Japanese students were given a campus tour following the closing ceremony.
After the event, the Nihon Kogakuin Music College confirmed that it would again bring students to CPP on Nov. 12, 2020.