{"id":177509,"date":"2023-05-11T14:49:39","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T00:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=177509"},"modified":"2023-05-11T14:49:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T00:49:39","slug":"governor-of-fukuoka-prefecture-visits-kapi%ca%bbolani-cc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/05\/11\/governor-of-fukuoka-prefecture-visits-kapi%ca%bbolani-cc\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture visits Kapi\u02bbolani CC<\/abbr>"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"group
Fukuoka government officials, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> culinary program, and Paul S. Honda International Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College<\/a> welcomed the governor of Japan\u2019s Fukuoka Prefecture, Seitaro Hattori, to the campus in late April. The successes of an exchange partnership between Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s culinary arts<\/a> program, Paul S. Honda International Center<\/a> and Nakamura Gakuen University<\/a> (NGU<\/abbr>) to mutually broaden the academic and cultural experiences of students from both institutions piqued the interest of Fukuoka government officials and sparked enthusiasm for the visit.<\/p>\n

\"pastry
Momo Takasaki from Fukuoka in Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s patisserie class.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We believe that it will be wonderful if this exchange can lead to the development of professionals who can play an active role internationally and to the global dissemination of each other\u2019s culture,” said Hattori. “Both Fukuoka andHawaiʻi<\/span> share a common connection, and like here and your beautiful ocean, Fukuoka is also blessed with beautiful nature and seas that create the waters surrounding us. We, in Fukuoka, are blessed with abundant nature, agriculture, forestry and fish products from the sea and mountains. We hope that students from the University ofHawaiʻi<\/span> will encounter many programs in Fukuoka.”<\/p>\n

The collaboration also opens opportunities to have a profound long-term impact.<\/p>\n

“We often learn about ourselves and our home by going abroad,” said Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi. “The transformation that we go through when we are exposed to completely new and foreign experiences has powerful life-long impacts. This is why the governments on both sides are committed to supporting the exchange between NGU<\/abbr> and Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>, and Fukuoka andHawaiʻi<\/span>. My hope is that by expanding these opportunities, our students will nurture a strong identity and sense of kuleana (responsibiity) as global citizens and representatives ofHawaiʻi<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

Spring break in Fukuoka<\/h2>\n

Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> culinary art students spent their spring break traveling and learning in Fukuoka. For many, it was their first time traveling internationally. Within a week, students experienced cultural activities, cooking demonstrations, culinary lectures and industry site visits.<\/p>\n

“Having the opportunity to visit Fukuoka was an incredible experience,” said Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> culinary student Sheena Llorico. “It was amazing getting to learn about the production of rice, and making our own mentaiko (salted cod roe). We even partook in classes taught by one of NGU<\/abbr>‘s wonderful professors, where we learned about the variety of rice and the process to make one of Fukuoka’s known dishes, Motsunabe. What I’m most grateful for is being able to learn more about Japan’s culture and the friends I’ve made with the group I went up with, as well as the NGU<\/abbr> students who were so kind to us.”<\/p>\n