An art exhibition drawing on the experiences and research of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students during their recent tour of Japan is now on show in Wagga Wagga.Eleven CSU students from the Faculty of Art and Education led by lecturer Ms Rachel Walls, toured Japan for two weeks in February this year to immerse themselves in an ancient culture while visiting sites with significant relevance to popular media, history and art.“The tour allowed the students to explore and expand their knowledge through research specific to Japan, a culturally challenging location where issues of language and social norms need to be carefully observed,” Ms Walls said.“They learned how to be resourceful, aware and respectful in finding and navigating sites for their research.”The trip introduced the students to Japan as a place and a culture. Students looked into Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, and how these are woven into the fabric of Japanese society, as well as on traditional theatre, crafts, and textiles.“We also learned about the disappearing of intangible cultural heritage, often in the form of traditional crafts.“Students were asked to consider the ‘differences’ presented by a much older country with a history that they wish to preserve, particularly in relation to Australia’s, and Charles Sturt University’s, struggle to rescue Aboriginal language and culture systems,” Ms Walls said.During the tour, the students identified and commenced researching their own topics on Japanese culture and art, something normally reserved for postgraduate studies.“I wanted them to lead their own research, blending both practice and academic methodologies. The exhibition demonstrates their ideas and impressions from Japan.“The exhibition also shows the students’ enthusiastic and creative responses, which are really diverse and demonstrate the wide backgrounds of our students.“The results are outstanding as a synthesis of academic research and creative freedom within a cultural study.”The exhibition is part of their assessment for the tour, which was funded in part by the Federal government’s New Colombo Plan and supported by CSU Global. The exhibition ends on Wednesday 29 August, and is near the HR Gallop Gallery (room 227), Building 21 at CSU in Wagga Wagga.Applications for the next tour to Japan in 2019 are now open to CSU students.