On August 7, 2016, the International Student Center of Gifu University and Gifu City co-hosted the Student Presentation on Japanese Culture Studies at Gifu University Satellite Campus. Presentations were made by the international students who are studying at the Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course at the International Student Center.

International students study the Japanese language and culture at Gifu University for one year from October to August every year as state-funded students recommended by the embassies, their home universities or as exchange students from Gifu University's partner universities overseas. They write theses to wrap up their studies at Gifu University. The themes of the theses are chosen by the students and under the instructions of their supervisors, and assisted by the Japanese tutors (Gifu University students), they complete their theses.

A total of 10 international students made their presentations. They are from Australia, China, France, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden and Thailand who are enrolled as the 15th students in the course this year.

On August 7, the teaching and administrative staff, students, international students as well as citizens came to listen to the presentations despite the sweltering heat. The students spoke about a comparison between Japanese culture and that of their countries and other topics by showing slides. They later took questions from the audience and answered every question politely and in detail. Such exchange with the audience showed the students' accomplishment of their daily studies and research activities at Gifu University.

The students will attend the closing ceremony of the course on August 23, and after returning to their countries, they will resume their study at their home universities. Many of the former students of the course come back to Japan to continue their studies at the graduate school of Gifu University or other universities, or to find employment. We all look forward to seeing them again and hope for their great success in the future.

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The followings are the names of the speakers and the themes of the theses (in the order of making presentations)

○Ms. Li Qi Qi (China)
　"Japanese Mask Culture - Why Japan is called "Mask Kingdom" "
○Mr. Birkbeck-Jones Toby(New Zealand)
　"Once upon a time, there were people called "Maori" - Analysis of Maori folk tale"
○Mr. Teguh Pulasara(Indonesia)
　"Why people pay for smartphone game apps?"
○Mr. Descoust Charles-Etienne, Jean (France)
　"Men and Salt - Differences of faith in and expressions of salt in Europe and Japan"
○Mr. Ng Terence Tsz Chung (Australia)
　"Japan seen through the lens of Christianity - History of acceptance of Christianity in Japan"
○Mr. Wiklund Simon Tor (Sweden)
　"Legacy of Samurai Warriors - Is the spirit of Samurai of Inazo Nitobe still alive among the Japanese youths?"
○Ms. Wang Huiyi (China)
　"Challenges and Characteristics of Hairdressing in Japan and China"
○Mr. Jonsson Emil Patric (Sweden)
　"Pronunciation Analysis of Korean spoken by Korean Residents in Japan - Comparison and analysis of explosives at word-initial consonants"
○Mr. Samuthkiri Anecha(Thailand)
　"Treatment of Special Needs Students in Japan and Thailand - Welfare services between Gifu University and Kasetsart University"
○Ms. Seo Eunae (South Korea)
　"Public Advertisement in Japan - Look into the transition of public advertisement with the passage of time"