Five senior OHS students have returned from the Tsunami Awareness Day held in Kumamoto, Japan, inspired by all they experienced. Vansh Kumar's report follows.

Our recent school trip to Japan was one big adventure filled with culture, great sights, and meaningful moments.

Travelling together Vansh Kumar, Olivia Clark, Vaitofiga Anesone, Vinny Carter, Jacob Cooper, and Ms Gabriel arrived in Tokyo and were immediately swept into the heart of Japan. On the first day, we went on a sightseeing tour that gave us a kaleidoscopic view of Tokyo's ultramodern landscape. We marvelled at the mini-Statue of Liberty, high-rise buildings, and the sprawling shopping malls. The sweltering summer heat couldn't slow us down; on the contrary, we soaked up every moment of exploring Tokyo on foot.

 We arrived in Kumamoto the next day and were welcomed by the cute Kumamon bear mascot, who in an instant stole our hearts. We were booked into different hotels, each one full of new experiences of Japanese culture and hospitality. Each meal introduced us to more delicious seafood delicacies, with special delight taken by the foodies among us!

 We also visited the historic Kumamoto Castle, where we saw with our own eyes the destructive effects of past earthquakes and understood on a deeper level how Japanese communities work resiliently.

 Every night, after we had done all the scheduled activities for that day, we would take leisurely strolls through streets, dazzling with bright city lights and truly felt the energy and beauty of Japan at night. The last few days of the trip were filled with special events and meaningful exchanges.

 We attended a Tsunami Awareness Ceremony where we saw some very interesting Japanese performances, and in which Vansh was given the honor of giving a speech on tsunami prevention before a huge audience. As a group, we presented to schools from Fiji and Japan on how natural disasters had affected New Zealand and outlined our action plans on how to help mitigate their impacts.

 The highlight of the trip was visiting Uto Junior and Senior High School, where we joined students in traditional Japanese activities such as calligraphy, emergency food preparation, and taiko drumming. It was a great opportunity to be able to experience the school life of Japan and to make friends with the students, whose kindness and warmth will remain in our hearts.

 After days of learning, sharing, and exploring, we returned home with souvenirs, unforgettable memories, and friendships. This trip to Japan has inspired each of us in unique ways, but it definitely, left all of us with a much greater appreciation for cultural resilience, the beauty of Japan, and our shared responsibility for facing the natural challenges ahead.