It was a chilly winter afternoon with a little rain, but inside, the WLE office was filled with excitement because of our balloon art class.

The balloon art session begins	First tries at twisting balloons	Ms. Takase assists Meredith

Everyone paid close attention to balloon artist Ms. Takase, who instructed WLE students on this unusual and difficult art, and WLE interpreter Reiko, who was a great help assisting students. Ms. Takase demonstrated twisting balloons into distinctive and easily identifiable forms, including a dog, a giraffe, a mouse, a flower and a heart.

Ms. Takase explained that air is firstly pumped into the balloon. This proved to be a challenge because if too much air was pumped into the balloon, it would burst with a big pop. However if not enough air was pumped inside the balloon then the shape wouldn't turn out. Also, if the balloon was twisted or folded at a wrong section, it would burst. Students found it quite difficult to achieve pumping the exact amount of air inside the balloon, and to apply just the right amount of pressure on the right parts of the balloon, without accidentally popping their balloons. With feelings of apprehension about bursting balloons, everybody focused on carefully transforming their balloons into works of art.

Mio, Mari and Terence attempt to twist their balloons	Meredith, Sean and Hwang start to get the hang of it	Forming the petals of a flower

Students rose to the challenge of effectively filling and twisting their balloons, and in true WLE spirit, cheerfully assisted each other along the way. Hwang (Korea) not only gave Meredith (Canada) tips on twisting her balloon successfully, but also on Japanese language.

Making a heart-shaped balloon lie flat	A beautiful cherry blossom	Two mice resting on the leaves of a flower

Towards the end of the session, some students tried their hand at creating their own original items, with much success. For instance, with a little help from Ms. Takase, Kim applied the technique of making a heart into twisting a hat, while Akiko twisted a cute mouse.

After the session, students and teachers enjoyed refreshments and the sight of their balloon art masterpieces.

Mr. Kataoko sat at the head of a big table surrounded by the 10 of us from WLE looking at him with great interest. Mr. Kataoka Kyouichi makes Byobu, which is a folding screen traditionally used as a partition and decorative feature in Japan. A group of us were listening to his presentation at a workshop held at the Byobu museum on a winter's Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Kataoka first showed us "Karakuri-Byobu" or a trick screen. The Byobu consisted of 2 boards, 2 meters high, showing 4 different sides as he flipped the boards over like swinging a door. It was really strange to see 4 sides instead of the 2 sides (front & back) you would normally expect to see. Everyone was amazed at this trick happening right in front of their eyes! Click the link on the right to watch a demonstration video of the Byobu .

Click here for Video Clip!

Byobu screens on display	Mr.Kataoka's presentation on Byobu	Everyone listening carefully

Being at the Byobu museum with a great Byobu master gave us the esteemed opportunity to make our own miniature trick screens. While working on our screens, Mr. Kataoka introduced the various Byobu to us and explained each in detail. The more he explained, the more we understood his deep commitment to the quality of Byobu, such as the appropriate structure, the excellent choice of material, and his spirit towards his work. New comers Meredith, Sandy (both from Canada), and Erik (from USA) had no trouble understanding him speak since WLE staff were on hand to translate anything they didn't understand.

Examining the materials to make Byobu	Making Byobu	Which paper is the most expensive one?

The presentation reached its peak when he quizzed us about the price of golden leaf paper used for the screen paper. We were given 5 kinds of golden leaf paper and had to guess which one was the most expensive by look and touch.
"This is it!"
"No, that is the most expensive!"
The workshop was filled with excitement, and Laura (from Switzerland) got the piece of special golden leaf paper for answering all the questions correctly.

Time flew by as it does when we have fun. Two and a half hour's work finished in a flash and we were all closer friends than before. Thanks to Mr. Kataoka's informative presentation, not only did we have a renewed interest in Japanese culture, but we went home that day Byobu experts, with our very own miniature Byobu tucked in our bags.

Washi is traditional hand-made Japanese paper made from the fibers of plants. Popular for its beautiful texture and durability (the paper can apparently withstand many conditions and last for several years), Washi has existed since ancient times in Japan when court nobles officially used it. Nowadays, Washi is not only used as writing paper, but for all kinds of paper art. For a 60x90 cm piece of this genuine Japanese paper, you can expect to pay at least 600 yen (approximately US$5). The reason for this rather high price is the lengthy production process involved, so to learn more about this precious paper-making tradition (and the lengthy production process), we visited Ozu Washi Cooperation in Nihon-bashi.

Ozu studio	Materials used to make washi: mucilage, Mitsumata, and Kouzo	Mixing the paper liquid is a lot like paddling a boat¡­

Upon arrival at the studio, we were greeted by Saito-san and staff. The first thing they taught us about was the characteristics of Washi: its strength, soft translucency and absorbency. They then explained the methods used in creating Washi.

It's harder than it looks	It's also hard work keeping the mould absolutely horizontally level	Creating a one-of-a-kind piece of washi

The process of Washi paper-making is as follows:

1. Put the bark of Kouzo and Mitsumata trees, Manila hemp and mucilage in the tub filled with water. Stir well to make a dissolved liquid.
2. Scoop the liquid by a bamboo mould. Move the mould back and forth to form the layer of dissolved paper. This step is repeated several times until the desired thickness is achieved. When forming the paper, the thick water bounces against the bamboo mould in constant motion, causing an interestingly soothing sound. The mould must be kept parallel to the ground in order for the fibers to bind well, but the tough work may cause your arms and lower back to feel strained.
3. Set aside the wet formed paper to a container, and make a decoration with thread and origami papers on it.
4. Make another piece of paper which is more transparent by repeating step 2, and cover the decorated paper with it.
5. Vacuum the paper to get rid of the liquid with a special drainer.
6. Dry the paper by sticking it on the iron plate heated 60 C (140 F) for approximately 30 minutes. Then remove it from the plate to iron it.
   

It's harder than it looks	It's also hard work keeping the mould absolutely horizontally level	Creating a one-of-a-kind piece of washi

Name: David Matthew Ashcroft Staples
Program Enrolled in WLE: Japanese Language Intensive Year
Country of residence: Canada
Citizenship: Canadian
Profession: Student
Educational background: High School Graduate
Languages spoken: English, French, Japanese
Hobbies: Toy Collecting

Is this your first time in Japan?
Yes, it is.


Why did you decide to study Japanese Language?
I had a curiosity and interest for the Japanese Language and Culture.

How are you finding your studies in Japan?
They were quite enjoyable. I met many new friends who made the experience all the more pleasurable.

How do you like Tokyo?
For someone who comes from small town Canada, it certainly was a change of pace. It was an unforgettable experience to say the least.

What do you find most interesting about Tokyo?
It's sheer size in comparison to what I am used to back home.

How has your experience in Japan changed you if it has?
In so many ways - to meet as many people as I have and to learn so much from them, you cannot help but let the people have an impact on your life.

What is the thing you like most about Tokyo/Japan?
Public transport. It's not a very interesting answer, but coming from a place where public transport is almost non-existent, getting from point A to point B easily and effectively is not to be overlooked.

Will you come to Japan/Tokyo again?
As soon as humanly possible.

Name: Tachapan Tarasansombut
Program Enrolled in WLE: Total Beginner, Conversation and Intensive
Country of residence: Thailand
Citizenship: Thai
Profession: Student
Educational background: BA of Business Communication major in marketing and advertising
Languages spoken: Thai, English and Japanese
Hobbies: Listening to Music

Is this your first time in Japan?
No, I've been here 3 times before I decided to study here

How are you finding your studies in Japan?
I like the afternoon class because I'm not a morning person.

How do you like Tokyo?
Based on my past experience I found Tokyo very clean compare to other Asian country. The city is well organized.

What do you find most interesting about Tokyo?
For me harajuku girls and the Elvis dancers at yoyogi park. They're so cool/different.

What are the things you like most about Tokyo/Japan?
I like the food, the politeness of people, cleanliness, the convenience stores and the karaoke

How has your experience in Japan changed you if it has?
In many ways. Firstly, my appearance because I enjoy the food here...overall Tokyo helped me become a more mature and independent person.

What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in Japan?
I would say learn some basic everyday words, study the train system before hand, and bring comfy shoes as there will be lots of walking.