UNL: Nutrition, Food & Culture in Japan” (May 17-26, 2026)

A group from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), College of Education and Human Sciences, Department of Nutrition & Health Sciences -including Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Department Chair Shinya Takahashi, Professor of Practice Linda Young, and 19 students -participated in the “UNL: Nutrition, Food & Culture in Japan” program (May 17-26, 2026). In addition, a former UNL student who participated in this program two years ago -and who is now enrolled in a master’s program in the Graduate School of Agricultural Science at Kobe University as a full-time international student-also took part in the program.

At Kobe University Hospital, the group participated in a campus tour of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, after which they moved to the Graduate School of Medicine to take part in a discussion with Kobe University students and international students during a class in the Department of Medical Device Engineering. 

As part of the first-year seminar for the School of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, we held a lecture titled “An Invitation to Study Abroad.”, Prof. Takahashi gave a lecture in English on short-term and long-term study abroad programs, and UNL students gave presentations on their academic experiences and life in Nebraska. In the second half of the session, participants interacted with one another through activities such as a quiz about the United States.

Food Resources Education and Research Center, Kobe University also held rice-planting workshops.

In addition to visits to Kobe University’s campuses, this program included off-campus activities such as a factory tour of the Kewpie Kobe Factory, a mayonnaise-making experience, and excursions to Nara, Hiroshima, and other locations. Through these diverse cross-cultural experiences, participants deepened their interactions with the Kobe University’s faculty and students.