CLEARFIELD -- Holt Elementary School first-grader Dino Santiago may not know where Japan is, but he knows people from Japan "do really cool things, like stick fighting."
The Clearfield school welcomed 29 students from Ogaki Kita High School, in Gifu, Japan, on Thursday as part of an educational exchange program.
"They are coming here for training of the English language," said Roy Yamamoto, president of the Chikyunjin Network, the organization that arranges the students' visits.
"They are staying with host families to learn American and Utah culture. In Japan, they can watch American movies on TV and in the theater, but they still need to meet and understand real people."
The visiting students have not been here long, but they have already made many observations about the local culture compared to their own.
"(In) Utah, the nature is very beautiful," said Yoshino Nawa, a 17-year-old Japanese student. "Strangest thing -- there is little traffic. Japan has many traffic in the road. There are little traffic signals in Utah."
Holt Elementary teacher Atsuyo Wright, who is originally from Japan, has arranged visits to the school for several years.
"I think it really helps the students to open their eyes, to see other country's cultures and people, especially," she said. "It is very important to prepare our young ones to accept other cultures."
Holt Elementary Principal Judy Nixon said presentations such as these are important in helping students understand differences between cultures.
"We want the kids to learn an appreciation for one another and their individuality," she said.
"Also, the kids get quite excited about it."
Although the Japanese students' main purpose for being in Utah is to experience American culture, they put together a presentation to share their culture with Holt Elementary students.
"We show them Japanese sports," said Nawa, the program narrator. "American kids are reacting very well. We are a little nervous. It was very fun. I want to talk with many people and make friends. The kids are very cute."
The Japanese students demonstrated several of their traditional sports such as karate; kyudo, a form of Japanese archery; karuta, a Japanese card game; and naginata, the stick-fighting game that impressed first-grader Dino, as well as third-grader Dakota Mauldin.
"It was awesome, because I got to see people from another country," Dakota said. "I would like them to remember that they got to come to America and see what it was like here."
The Japanese students ended their program by singing the Japanese song "Daichi Sansyo" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."
"I really thought it was interesting and fun to watch," said third-grader Katlyn Linford.
"I really liked to hear the Japanese people sing. I am impressed that they could talk English so well."
The Japanese students also spent one-on-one time with the fourth-grade students.
"I think this is a very interesting program," said 16-year-old Japanese student Yusaku Ario.
"We meet elementary school students and I can teach Japanese culture, so it is my good experience. I can make good friends with them. There are so many things to share."
Yamamoto said many Japanese students apply to be part of this program and are chosen on academic merit.
The students will spend a week in Utah, during which they will visit Olympus High School in Salt Lake City, as well as Moab and the state Capitol.
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