On Sunday, August 6, 2023, the Center for Japanese Language and Culture, Gifu University held a presentation session (a hybrid presentation between in-person and online) for students who had completed the "Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course 2023." Approximately 30 people from on and off campus attended for the speeches given by five international students (the 22nd batch of students (from China, Thailand and Vietnam) of the Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course).

International students who are enrolled in the course study Japanese language and Japanese culture at Gifu University from October to August the following year as state-funded students recommended by embassies and their home universities, or as exchange students from Gifu University's overseas partner universities. At the end of the course, students write theses on the themes they choose guided by their supervisors and Japanese tutors (Gifu University students).

Five students spent a lot of time searching, analyzing and editing their theses on cultural similarities and differences between Japan and their home countries from their original perspectives.

In the presentations, all students demonstrated their excellent Japanese skills while showing slides to the audience. They also fielded questions raised by the audience both at home and abroad during the Q & A session, and active exchange between speakers and audience continued for some time.

The students will attend a course completion ceremony scheduled on Thursday, August 24. After returning to their countries, they resume their studies at their home universities. Some of those who had completed the course returned to Japan to continue their studies at graduate schools at Gifu University or other universities, or to work in Japan. We look forward to seeing the 22nd batch of students again soon in Japan, wishing them the very best for the future.

The following are the names of five students and their speech themes (in the order of presentations):

- Ms. LI QIAOZHEN (China) "My observation on "dialect cosplay" - based on my field research of "dialect cosplay" among youths in Japan and China

- Ms. HO THI NHU HOANG (Vietnam) "Omotenashi (Japanese hospitality) - from the survey results by Vietnamese living in Japan"

- Ms. WANG　XUETONG (China) "My observation on taboo words among the youths - comparison between Japanese and Chinese"

- Ms. JIEWSAKUL SUPASUTA (Thailand) "Relationship between money spent on Oshikatsu (activities for favorites) and level of happiness - comparison of sense of obsession between Japanese and Thais"

- Ms. LIU SIRAN (China) "Comparison of practice teaching between Japan and China - centering around GU students' practice teaching"