A group of 12 students and an escort travelled to Japan to participate in the Round Square International Sports Collaboration (Basketball) Programme from 23rd to 31st July, 2023. Four teams from India and three teams from Japan took part in this programme. The Indian and Japanese teams competed in a total of 16 matches. The Welham Girls' team played three matches, two of which were against Japanese teams Kogakuin and Meiji. The Welham team defeated the Kogakuin team but fell short against the Meiji team. The effort of the Welham Girls' team was truly outstanding.
The team returned with pleasant memories of Japan. Ms Chiho Nakagawa, the RS Coordinator at Junior and Senior High of Kogakuin University also praised the members of the team for their dedication to the game. Apart from basketball games, the team witnessed the famous tea ceremony of Japan, learned a few words in Japanese, practised badge making and Japanese calligraphy. Another fantastic experience was the visit to Mt. Fuji, and 'Team Lab'. The students also had the opportunity to organise a trip to Shibuya via a Japanese metro train. Tasting Japanese cuisine and learning about Japanese culture and traditions were extremely enjoyable learning experiences. Overall, it was a fantastic trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.