On August 13, 2013 seven (7) students from the Ryukoku University visited the campus of Palau Community College (PCC).  The Ryukoku University is an institute of higher learning in Kyoto, Japan.  It began as a Buddhist seminary and now bases its educational values on five pillars of Buddhism: equality, independence, self-reflection, gratitude, and peace.  Ryukoku University is one of the oldest universities in Japan educating over 20,000 students.

A prominent part of the school’s education is an exchange program.  The school invites students from international universities to attend their school for a semester; they also provide an exchange program in which a group of its students travel to different places to experience other cultures.  A group of students from Ryukoku University visited Palau as part of their school’s exchange program.  They were accompanied by Dr. Yasukatsu Mastushima, a professor from the university who is acquainted with PCC Japanese Language Instructor Reiko Kawamura.

During their visit to PCC, they met with a group of students from the college to exchange ideas and cultural experiences.  The students of Japan expressed their appreciation for Palau’s beauty while the students from Palau shared their curiosities about Japanese culture.  Through such exchanges, the students attending PCC are exposed to the diversities of cultures and societies around the world.