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

The community service activity was carried out by the Head of the Japanese Literature Study Program of 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 four students from the Japanese Literature Study Program of FIB USU who are alumni of Sultan Iskandar Muda Private Senior High School in Medan.

Sultan Iskandar Muda Private Senior High School in Medan was selected as a community service partner because the school offers Japanese language classes. Through this activity, Japanese language learning was enriched with direct introductions to Japanese social life, culture, and education. The presence of students from Japan also provided an opportunity for the participants to interact and gain information based on firsthand experiences.

The presentation began with an introduction to Fukuoka Prefecture and the city of Kitakyushu, both located in the Kyushu region of Japan. Hikari Inamoto and Arisa Monji introduced the local lifestyle, traditional foods, climate, and tourist attractions in their hometowns and surrounding areas. Students learned about local culinary specialties, such as ramen and mentaiko from Fukuoka and yaki curry from Kitakyushu. The presentation also covered Kokura Castle and the Kitakyushu Manga Museum as examples of destinations that bring together Japanese history and popular culture.

The two students also introduced Kitakyushu University, including its available faculties and study programs. Information about university life was presented through explanations of course scheduling, student organization activities, and the Seiransai campus festival. This introduction provided students with an overview of the higher education environment in Japan and various opportunities to develop their academic abilities and extracurricular interests.

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

In addition to classroom learning, students received information about various school activities in Japan, such as sports festivals (taiikusai), cultural festivals (bunkasai), and study trips (shuugaku ryokou). The presentation provided an overview of how school life in Japan encompasses academic learning, interest development, teamwork, and learning experiences outside the classroom.

Through the introduction to school and university life, students were encouraged to understand the similarities and differences between the education systems in Indonesia and Japan. The information presented is also expected to broaden their 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: Quality Education. Introducing the Japanese language, culture, and education system serves as an enrichment of learning 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.

In addition to supporting quality education, this activity reflects a contribution to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The collaboration between the Japanese Literature Study Program of FIB USU, Kitakyushu University students, and Sultan Iskandar Muda Private Senior High School in Medan brought together experiences and knowledge from different educational environments. This exchange of experiences aligns with the spirit of Target 17.16 concerning the strengthening of multi-stakeholder partnerships to support sustainable development.

The involvement of four students from the Japanese Literature Study Program of FIB USU who are alumni of the partner school also strengthened the relationship between the university and the school community. This collaboration provided a platform for students to share experiences while demonstrating the role of university students in supporting educational activities and community service.

Through this community service activity, the Japanese Literature Study Program of FIB USU hopes that introducing students to Japanese society, schools, and universities will foster their interest in learning Japanese and broaden their educational aspirations. This activity also represents an implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi), particularly community service, through the utilization of international academic cooperation to enrich learning experiences at the partner school.