Written by Lin Han Lu (Brandeis University), Student Correspondent for CET Japan, Summer 2026
Throughout these weeks, I was lucky to participate in various Japanese culture related activities. Going to these adventures, I captured special moments in action: from brewing matcha to watching an experienced kendo fight. I hope you enjoy the following photos!
Enjoying a Cup of Tea
For one of the CET activities, students not only learned how to make matcha, but also learned the proper etiquette behind brewing and drinking matcha. Unlike regular green tea, matcha is made from finely ground tea leaves, which are whisked directly into hot water instead of being steeped and removed.
We watched a demonstration of measuring the tea powder, adding hot water, and whisking the matcha until it became smooth and foamy. We also practiced the polite ways to receive the tea bowl, turn it before drinking, and show appreciation after finishing. This was definitely the best activity to wind down after a day of classes!
The Martial Arts of Kendo
One of my units in Japanese class is Japanese sports and the importance of respect and mindfulness. While reading the textbook, there was a mention of a sport I wasn’t quite familiar with called Kendo, a martial art that’s derived from samurai swordsmanship. I was fascinated by how Kendo is not only about physical strength or technique, but also about mental focus, proper etiquette, and respect for one’s opponent.
To my surprise that week, my class and I were able to participate in a Kendo activity with the members of the university’s Kendo club! We had the chance to try basic movements ourselves, including how to hold the shinai, how to stand, and how to practice simple attacks. At the end of the activity, it ended off with a competition of whoever could shout the loudest while doing one of the attacks (I definitely did not win lol).
Trip to Tokushima
After a month being at CET, we had a large excursion to Tokushima with the entire program. Our trip to Tokushima started on a rainy day, but the weather did not stop us from enjoying the experience. We watched a traditional Japanese puppet show called Bunraku, where the detailed movements of the puppets and the storytelling/narration made the performance really interesting to see in person.
After the puppet show, we went on a boat ride to see the Tokushima whirlpools. The rain made the trip feel a little more adventurous, but it was still exciting to be out on the water and see the whirlpools up close. It was a fun change of pace from our usual days in the big city of Osaka!
Enjoying the Rescue Cat Café
One of my more recent experiences was the cat café, where I interacted with cute rescue cats! It was a refreshing experience after not being able to see my own cats for a month (I hope they won’t get jealous!). Had a great time capturing some silly cat poses and petting these cats.