Canvas Gate Inc.

Celebrating 21 years of our partnership with California State University!
I recently traveled to the U.S. for student interviews and homestay orientations. It was a productive trip.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that next year’s program will be expanding to both Japan and Taiwan! 🇯🇵🇹🇼

We conducted interviews for the third cohort of internship students at a university in Thailand.
The candidates demonstrated strong interest in a diverse range of fields, including manufacturing (sales engineering), hospitality, Japanese cuisine, and caregiving. We took the time to carefully discuss each individual’s purpose, goals, and expectations.

In addition, we held meetings to explore new partnerships with other universities, making it a highly valuable and productive experience.

The “Japanese Culture Program in English” for Thai elementary and middle school students (ages 10–13), which began on March 2, has successfully concluded today.

During the program, students took part in a company visit, recycling and sustainability learning, workshops, and lessons on Japanese history and literature. They also enjoyed a meaningful international exchange with children from the after-school care service “iYou.”

Through these various experiences and interactions, it was wonderful to see the students having fun while deepening their understanding of Japanese culture.

At “iYou,” a multifunctional support center for early childhood development and after-school care operated by Canvas Gate, we hold small-group activities every month.

In addition to our regular activities that help children become familiar with and engage with English, this month we introduced calligraphy art and calendar-making.
After learning the basics from a professional calligraphy instructor, each child created their own design using their imagination.
The result was a collection of wonderful artworks, each reflecting the child’s unique personality.

We held a parent orientation for the “Learning Japanese Culture in English” Program scheduled for March.
The program promotes international education by enabling elementary and junior high school students from Thailand to develop multicultural understanding through academic and cultural learning in Kyoto, while the orientation highlighted parents’ strong educational commitment and intergenerational learning through student experience sharing.

We visited internship students from a university in Thailand who are in Japan to learn about Japanese work culture.

We were grateful to receive warm encouragement from the university’s administrators and staff, and we hope the rest of their time in Japan will be filled with meaningful learning and growth.

A new country, new people, and a new environment.
None of this has been an easy challenge for me.

What truly supports me through this journey is the connection with people who believe in me and walk alongside me.
That is why I stay focused on my goals and purpose, keeping my Seeds and Needs close to my heart.

With sincere gratitude to everyone who has given me this invaluable opportunity, I will continue moving forward together.

In preparation for a program scheduled to begin in September 2026 for students majoring in Fisheries Science, we visited a crab processing company in Hokkaido.
The staff warmly welcomed us with smiles, and we had the opportunity to carefully learn about the working environment, job responsibilities, and living conditions.
It was a truly productive visit.
Moving forward, we will continue working closely with the host company to ensure that students can stay safe while gaining valuable learning experiences.
We are sincerely grateful for this meaningful connection.

Visited Thai students who are currently doing their internship at a nursing care facility.
Also, a student who participated in an internship at the same facility last year has now been officially hired and has come to Japan.
I am grateful for an environment where we can learn and grow together.

Students from a university in Vietnam have arrived in Japan to participate in internship programs in the hotel and culinary fields.
Through their work in customer service, housekeeping, and food preparation, they will learn Japan’s spirit of omotenashi while aiming to improve their language abilities, fundamental professional skills, and understanding of Japanese work culture.
Over the course of the year, we will support them and learn together so that they can spend their time in Japan safely and meaningfully.