In this beautiful season of fresh greenery, we were absolutely delighted to welcome the students and staff from NLCS Jeju to Kobe for a truly inspiring exchange festival.

Here is a glimpse into our rehearsal held on May 30th.

At the heart of this event was a special limited-edition logo that beautifully unifies the identities of both schools. Featuring Kobe’s iconic Port Tower alongside Jeju Island’s symbolic guardian, the “dol hareubang,” the design reflects the proud spirit and connection we share.

Following the rehearsal on May 30th, students headed to the main event at Katsuo-ji Temple. Surrounded by serene nature, they immersed themselves in traditional Japanese culture—writing their wishes on mandalas and embedding their future dreams into Daruma dolls. A major highlight was the choral performance of a brand-new piece composed especially for this occasion by Mr. Harry Thorrington, Director of Music at NLCS Jeju. The beautiful lyrics vividly captured our two homes, weaving together Jeju’s Hallasan and the heritage of its women of the sea with Kobe’s Mount Rokko and Rokko Island.

You can watch the full video of this performance on our Instagram.

“It begins with our staff from Jeju and Kobe showing that we are united as one solid team, paving the way for the children to cross borders and become one big team as well.” As Ms. Ruth Baker, Head of Expressive Arts and Grade 3 Teacher, beautifully noted, this event was all about connection. While there was a touch of shyness at first, the students quickly bonded during a fun stamp rally around the temple grounds. By the final scene, they were all waving with the brightest smiles, holding their Daruma dolls together.

Click here to view more moments from our time at Katsuo-ji Temple.

When we trust children and encourage them to explore without limits, they thrive and grow naturally with joy. The genuine, lifelong friendships born during this festival will undoubtedly become a priceless treasure for their futures.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable collaboration possible.