International Events

Due to a situation where COVID-19 is not yet fully controlled, as of 2022, in-person events where large numbers of people get together have been canceled or held with restrictions.

Dokkyo University hosts a variety of international events that are intended to promote interaction among international students, Japanese students, and local Soka citizens. Get involved to experience various different aspects of Japanese culture at Dokkyo. An event calendar is provided below.

International Spring Party

This get-together for Dokkyo students and international students gives you an opportunity to enjoy a Japanese calligraphy performance and to engage in recreational activities and games with Japanese students. As such, this event provides a great opportunity for you to meet new people and to make new friends.

Japan Cultural Tour

Why not take a stroll around Saitama or Tokyo to explore the area and experience some Japanese culture? With Dokkyo students acting as guides and support from experts, you will develop a better understanding of traditional Japanese culture.

Past tours

Yanesen tour: Students visited Tokyo's Yanesen district (Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi), which is one of the city's most traditional areas. This popular destination allows you to experience both modern and historical Japan at the same time through its architecture, arts and crafts, and other attractions. The participating students got to try their hand at amezaiku (the making of sculptured candy) and watched a puppet show.
Bonsai tour: Bonsai, which literally means "potted plant," is a fascinating art form that creates a representation of nature in the form of a miniaturized tree. Students visited Omiya Bonsai Village in Saitama to experience cultivating a bonsai tree for themselves.

Soka Kokusai-mura Ichi-banchi International Festival

Soka City hosts an international festival at Dokkyo University every year. A variety of foreign nationals living in Soka and its surrounding areas participate by providing local food and goods, performing cultural dances, and so on. Foreign residents from over 80 countries live in Soka, the home of Dokkyo University. Exchange students enrolled at Dokkyo participate in the "World Language" program, which involves engaging in casual conversations with Soka citizens about their home countries in their own language.

One-day Bus Trip

A one-day bus trip is hosted to promote exchange among international students and Dokkyo students.

Past destinations

Tochigi (Nikko Toshogu and Oya History Museum): Students visited Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which is a world heritage site dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. They also visited the Oya History Museum, which is built underground in a massive former stone quarry.
Jindaiji and Nihon Minkaen: Students visited Jindaiji, an ancient Buddhist temple situated in the west of Tokyo, and Nihon Minkaen, an open-air museum located in Kanagawa where traditional Japanese houses are preserved following their relocation from places all over Japan. They also participated in an aizome (Japanese indigo dyeing) workshop.

Samurai Parade (Soka Shukuba Matsuri)

Soka once flourished as a shukuba, a town that served as a post station to provide travelers with various services, such as food, drink, accommodation, and transport, during the Edo period. Hosted by Soka City every October, the Soka Shukuba Matsuri gives you an opportunity to join a parade dressed in a samurai or daimyo (feudal lord) costume as if you have slipped back in time to the Edo period (participants are selected by lottery).

Dokkyo Study Abroad Fair

Every year, the Dokkyo Study Abroad Fair is held for Dokkyo students who are interested in studying abroad. We ask exchange students here to participate in the Language Café, which forms an essential part of the fair. Your participation is sure to make Dokkyo students more interested in studying abroad.

School Visits

Exchange students with opportunities to visit elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. Japanese students and exchange students exchange presentations about their countries fostering a better understanding on both sides. These visits also give you an opportunity to see how students spend their days at Japanese schools.

One-night Homestay Program

Students stay with a volunteer host family in Saitama for one night. This program is offered three times a year by Go Global Saitama (GGS). You can participate in the program free of charge, once during your study period.

Other On-campus Activities

Dokkyo University runs various other on-campus activities aimed at promoting interaction between international students and Japanese students, as well.

Japanese Language Learning Support Program

Japanese student volunteers who are interested in teaching Japanese to speakers of other languages can help you learn the Japanese language. This program is available to all non-Japanese international students. For more information, please see the Japanese Language Office page.

International Communication Zone

At the International Communication Zone (ICZ), you can enjoy various opportunities to meet and talk with people while experiencing different languages and cultures in a cozy atmosphere. Drop in for a visit and have some fun! For details, please see the International Communication Zone (ICZ) page.