Nineteen Chinzei Gakuin Students Visit East Tennessee
August 3, 2026 2026-08-03 10:39Nineteen Chinzei Gakuin Students Visit East Tennessee
Nineteen Chinzei Gakuin Students Visit East Tennessee
Nineteen students from Chinzei Gakuin and two teachers recently traveled to East Tennessee to enjoy two weeks of cultural exchange. Dr. Ana Barrios, professor of Spanish and Honors Program faculty member, led this summer language and culture program that promotes travel and cultural emersion. High school students from Athens also enjoyed the program in order to learn more about Athens’ Sister City, Isahaya, Japan.
The program seeks to create lasting friendships among the Japanese and American students while also showcasing Southern Appalachia’s natural resources, culture, and history.
Staying on the Tennessee Wesleyan campus, the Chinzei Gakuin students emersed themselves in the town of Athens, visiting places such as Denso Manufacturing, City Hall, and the Living Heritage Museum. Some of the program’s highlights included cornhusk doll making, a visit to Kilbride Nature Sanctuary, a showcase of traditional Asian dancing, and an Appalachian music session. Students also visited iconic staples of Tennessee and surrounding areas, including Rock City, Mayfield Dairy Farms, Knoxville, Nashville, and Dollywood.
In order to prepare students for their trip to Athens, six families from Athens City Middle School began to correspond with the Chinzei Gakuin students in the months previous to their arrival. These families then opened their homes to the Japanese students for an evening of dinner, gratitude, and fun.
Chinzei Gakuin High School is located in Athens’ Sister City, Isahaya, Japan, alongside Nagasaki Wesleyan University, TWU’s sister university. The links between the cities and the universities go back to 1881. The Reverend Dr. Carroll Summerfield Long—who was born in Athens, received degrees from TWU, and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery—founded Chinzei Gakuin that year.
The program could not exist without a host of helpers from Tennessee Wesleyan, the City of Athens’ Friendly City Sister Cities Committee, and local churches and individuals. TWU looks forward to ensuring the growth and health of the program.
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