Seventeen students and three staff members from the YIS HOPE Cambodia Service Club spent an inspiring 9-day trip to Cambodia where they helped to construct a new junior high school classroom building in rural Angkrong Village with our local NGO partner, HOPE International Development Agency. The trip afforded our students the opportunity to experience first-hand the struggles of people living in severe poverty and the ways in which HOPE’s community-based development activities are making a difference.
A self-organized group of eight of our HS koto players took the grand prize at the "Kono Oto Tomare! Koto Competition" finals held on January 2, 2018 at the International Forum in Yurakucho. The contest, sponsored by the popular manga Kono Oto Tomare! which tells the story of a koto club at a Japanese high school, was open to high school and university ensembles. Close to twenty groups from around the country made the initial application, with only five being selected to perform in the finals. We're delighted to say that YIS's student-led K8 performed brilliantly, winning the competition. The creation and success of the group is an encouraging example of self-initiative, mentorship and teamwork underscored by friendship and a passion for playing the koto.
