Junior High School Students Visit the Tokyo Temple Annex to Learn About American Culture and Christianity

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On July 16, 2026, 41 third-year junior high school students from Shibaura Institute of Technology Junior and Senior High School (with two students absent that day), accompanied by two teachers and one tour coordinator, visited the Tokyo Temple Annex of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The visit was conducted as part of a pre-departure learning experience for the school's overseas educational travel and homestay program centered in Utah, USA, scheduled for September. 

The students are expected to spend approximately two weeks in mid-September living with host families in the St. George, Utah, area. Because their stay will include a Sunday, the visit was designed to help them gain a deeper understanding of Christian culture. Students received explanations about the purpose of temples, the differences between temples and meetinghouses, daily Church life, the Family Home Evening program, and Church worship services.

Students were especially interested in the English conversation component of the visit. Missionaries served as instructors, helping them practice everyday English expressions that would be useful while in the United States and interacting with their host families.

The program began with a welcome from Shoma Koyama, representing the Church's public affairs efforts. Edward Ray then introduced the history of the Church and aspects of Christian culture, while also explaining similarities and differences between Christianity, Buddhism, and Shintoism. His presentation provided students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of different cultures and beliefs.

Following the presentation, students participated in small-group English conversation sessions before going on a guided tour of the facility. During the tour, they learned about the adjacent temple, visited the chapel, received explanations about Christianity, and even enjoyed some recreational activities on the basketball court in the cultural hall.

The origins of the program can be traced to Vice Principal Saito of Shibaura Institute of Technology Junior and Senior High School, which has conducted overseas educational trips to St. George for many years. In addition to sightseeing, homestays, and language study, Saito wanted students to learn about temples and the Church because of St. George's historical connection to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through Michael Thompson of Zion International Program, which supports the school's U.S. program, Saito consulted Tomomichi Ishida, Communication Director for the Tokyo North Area.

Although the school initially considered hosting a presentation on campus, Ishida suggested that students visit the Tokyo Temple and its adjacent facilities in person. As a result, a pre-departure learning visit to the Tokyo Temple Annex was established in 2023. The program has been held annually ever since, and this year marked its fourth consecutive year.

At the conclusion of the visit, accompanying teacher Noriko Kariya offered summary remarks. Two students, on behalf of all the students, expressed appreciation and shared aspirations for the upcoming journey. Participating missionaries Elder Christensen and Sister Mikkelsen also offered words of gratitude and encouragement.

Through post-visit surveys, students shared comments such as: 

• "I really enjoyed talking with the missionaries."
• "The missionaries who guided us through the temple visitors' center were kind, and I had a great time. I’d like to meet them again."
• "The missionaries were approachable and easy to talk to. Now I'm even more excited about visiting St. George."
• "Learning about Christianity helped me better understand world cultures and broadened my perspective."
• "My understanding of Christianity changed after learning accurate information about it." 
• "By learning about temples and chapels firsthand, I gained a deeper understanding of a religion that was previously unfamiliar to me."
• "I learned that there is a temple in Tokyo and now understand the difference between a church and a temple. It was enjoyable."
• "I learned many things I would not normally have the opportunity to learn. Seeing things in person made the experience especially meaningful."
• "I appreciated learning about different values and ways of thinking. I think that understanding will be useful when I go abroad."

One person who assisted with the event commented, "It was impressive to see the students learning while clearly enjoying themselves. With support from missionaries and Church members, the participants change each year, but their sincere engagement is always evident."

Another Church member remarked, "Although some students seemed a little nervous, it was wonderful to see them actively trying to communicate in English with the missionaries. I hope their experiences in St. George will connect with what they learned during this pre-departure program and make their journey even more meaningful."

The visit provided a valuable opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of both the Church and American culture. It is hoped that their upcoming educational travel experience will lead to meaningful learning opportunities and lasting memories.