The Japanese Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU), conducted a community service activity at Shafiyyatul Amaliah Private Senior High School, Medan, involving two inbound students from Kitakyushu University, Japan. The activity aimed to broaden students' understanding of Japanese society and education while fostering their motivation to learn Japanese and pursue further studies in Japan.

The community service activity was conducted by the Head of the Japanese Literature Study Program, FIB USU, Alimansyar, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., together with two students from Kitakyushu University, Hikari Inamoto and Arisa Monji. The activity was also supported by two students from the Japanese Literature Study Program, FIB USU.

Shafiyyatul Amaliah Private Senior High School, Medan, was selected as a community service partner because the school offers Japanese language as a subject. Through this activity, Japanese language learning was enriched by introducing students to the social life and culture of Japanese society firsthand. The presence of students from Japan provided an opportunity for participants to gain insights based on the experiences of young people who grew up and pursued their education in the country.

The presentation began with an introduction to Fukuoka Prefecture and Kitakyushu City, both located in the Kyushu region of Japan. The two students introduced the local community's way of life, traditional foods, climate, and tourist attractions. The materials covered ramen and mentaiko as part of Fukuoka's culinary heritage, as well as yaki curry, or baked curry, which is one of Kitakyushu's signature dishes. Students were also introduced to Kokura Castle and the Kitakyushu Manga Museum as destinations showcasing Japan's rich history and popular culture.

Students received information about Kitakyushu University, including its available faculties and study programs. The two students also introduced university life, course scheduling, student organization activities, and the Seiransai campus festival. These materials provided an overview of student life in Japan and various opportunities to develop interests beyond academic activities.

The introduction also covered senior high school life in Japan. Arisa Monji shared her experience studying at Hokuchiku Senior High School in Fukuoka Prefecture, while Hikari Inamoto introduced her experience at Takefu Senior High School in Fukui Prefecture. Both explained their experiences entering senior high school, the subjects they studied, study schedules, break times, and extracurricular activities, known as bukatsu.

In addition to classroom learning, students were introduced to various school activities in Japan, such as sports festivals (taiikusai), cultural festivals (bunkasai), and study trips (shuugaku ryokou). Through these materials, students gained an overview of the Japanese education experience, which encompasses not only academic learning but also the development of interests, teamwork, and learning experiences outside the classroom.

The introduction to school and university life is expected to help students understand the similarities and differences between educational experiences in Indonesia and Japan. Information about campus life can also broaden students' perspectives when planning their education after graduating from senior high school, including preparing their language and academic skills if they wish to pursue further studies in Japan.

This community service activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education. Introducing the Japanese language, culture, and education system serves as a form of learning enrichment that supports broader perspectives and appreciation of cultural diversity. The activity also aligns with the spirit of Target 4.7, which emphasizes the importance of global citizenship education and understanding cultural diversity.

The community service activity also supports SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration between the Japanese Literature Study Program, FIB USU, Kitakyushu University students, and Shafiyyatul Amaliah Private Senior High School, Medan. The meeting provided a platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences from different educational environments while strengthening educational relations and cross-cultural understanding between Indonesia and Japan.

The involvement of two students from the Japanese Literature Study Program, FIB USU, as assistants also supported the implementation of the activity and strengthened ties between the university and its partner school. This collaboration reflects how international academic partnerships can be utilized to provide broader benefits to the community.

Through this community service activity, the Japanese Literature Study Program, FIB USU, hopes that introducing students to Japanese society, culture, and education will foster their interest in learning Japanese and broaden their educational aspirations. This community service activity represents one of the implementations of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi) in supporting quality education and partnerships for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.