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Makassar, 18 November 2025 — Golden Gate School Makassar welcomed an official visit from Dr. Ohashi Koichi, BEc., M.P.A., Head of the Japanese Consular Office in Makassar, along with his team. The school visit, held from 13:30 to 14:00 WITA, served as an important moment for students and teachers to learn about Japanese culture firsthand and to gain insights into educational opportunities available for Indonesian learners in Japan.
The visit was led and warmly welcomed by the Principal of Golden Gate School Makassar, Muhammad Richsan Yamin, S.Pd., M.Sc, accompanied by the school’s teaching staff. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm from the start of the event.
During his presentation, Dr. Ohashi highlighted core Japanese cultural values such as discipline, hard work, politeness, and the everyday character of Japanese society. His engaging delivery made students feel as though they were experiencing Japan directly.
The session continued with a presentation by Ms. Kiki, a staff member of the Japanese Consulate, who introduced various educational opportunities, including the MEXT Scholarship, Monbukagakusho Scholarship, as well as teacher training and internship programs. The information broadened the students’ and teachers’ understanding of academic pathways and professional development prospects in Japan.
The event grew even more lively through an interactive Q&A session and quizzes involving the students. Cultural demonstrations—including an introduction to the yukata, the traditional game kendama, and basic Japanese expressions—became highlights of the visit.
Students of Golden Gate School Makassar showed remarkable enthusiasm. Many actively asked questions, joined the quiz confidently, and several even conversed directly in Japanese. This left a strong impression on Dr. Ohashi, who praised the students’ abilities and curiosity. He also gave special recognition to Yusran Bakri, one of the teachers who previously joined a student exchange program in Japanan experience he described as a valuable asset in building global-minded character within the school.
Principal Muhammad Richsan Yamin, S.Pd., M.Sc emphasized that this visit marks the beginning of broader collaborative opportunities.
“This school visit is an important step toward strengthening the relationship between Golden Gate School Makassar and the Japanese Consulate. We are currently preparing follow-up programs, including plans to open a special class focusing on Japanese language and culture as support for students pursuing further studies or participating in international programs in Japan,” Richsan stated.
He added that Golden Gate School Makassar already has a positive track record. Several alumni from the class of 2024 successfully obtained Letters of Acceptance (LOA) from renowned universities in Japan, including Kyoto University, and took part in the MEXT scholarship selection. Moving forward, the school is committed to expanding similar opportunities for more students.
The visit from the Japanese Consulate marks an important milestone in strengthening global education at Golden Gate School Makassar and paves the way for deeper collaboration in academic, cultural, and human resource development initiatives.
