On the morning of December 22, 2025,　Mr. Lucas LEDO visited Hyogo Prefectural Akashi Nishi Senior High School. Lucas studied at Akashi Nishi Senior High School in Japan from September 2023 to July 2024. This time, he returned to the school after two years and reunited with the students from DGA Class 1-8 (now Class 3-8). He also participated in English and physical education classes.

In January 2025, Lucas had already reunited with the current DGA 3-8 class students (who were 2nd-year students at the time) in London during their UK study trip. Lucas is Italian and is currently studying French at a high school in France. This time, he came to Japan with his mother and visited Akashi Nishi Senior High School. Afterward, he plans to visit Hiroshima and Kyoto, staying in Japan for about two weeks until January 3, 2026. He expressed his desire to come back to Japan again when he becomes a university student.

On the morning of December 18, 2025 (Thursday), first-year students from the Department of Awareness (DGA) at Hyogo Prefectural Akashi Nishi High School visited the University of Hyogo. First, Mr. Jeremy September from the Global Business Course (GBC) of School of Economics and Management gave a lecture about his home country, South Africa. Following that,  the students had an exchange meeting with Akashi Nishi High School graduate, Ms. Kawasaki, a second-year student, who shared stories about her high school days and current university life.

In the afternoon, the students visited Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. They first had lunch in the cafeteria. Then, there was a university overview presentation by staff, and we watched a mock class video. Finally, we had a campus tour and discussion session with student participants. Akashi Nishi High School graduates who participated included Ms. Nishimura (first-year), Ms. Onishi (second-year), Mr. Kitamura (third-year), and Mr. Hirose.

On the morning of November 27, 2025 (Thursday), 1st-year students at Akashi Nishi Senior High School visited Kobe University. First, we toured the Kobe University campus. We enjoyed the view from the top floor of the Tsurukabuto Second Campus and visited other campuses guided by Mr. Okamoto, a fourth-year student at Kobe University and graduate of our school.

Next, Professor Koichi Yamashita from the Faculty of International Human Sciences gave a mock lecture titled "Interaction between Globalization and Education - Social Development and Individual Growth". Afterwards, he introduced the Faculty of International Human Sciences at Kobe University.

In the afternoon, we visited JICA Kansai located in HAT Kobe. First, Ms. Horai spoke to us about JICA. Then, we listened to the experiences of Ms. Emiko Morita, who worked as a JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer in Zambia. It was a fulfilling day.

      On November 7, 2025, the English Recitation Contest for the 1st-year students of the DGA was held in the 5th period at School Alumni Hall (Kisho Kaikan). Finalists and guest speakers including an international student from Belgium, Loic, made wonderful speeches. The students who won the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places were awarded on November 21 at the principal's room.

1st prize                 2   UEDA Yuki          　　  　I Have a Dream

1st prize               33   YOSHIDA Miyu                I Have a Dream

3rd prize               14   SUGAHARA Kokoro        I Have a Dream

4th(Honorable)      32   YAMAMOTO Kokomi      I Have a Dream

  On November 7, 2025, the English Speech Contest for the 2nd-year students was held in the 6th period. Finalists and guest speakers made wonderful speeches. The students winning the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places were awarded on November 18 at the principal's room.

2025 English Speech Contest Results

1st prize                31    MISHRA Adity       I am me, you are you

2nd prize                4    OZONO  Yurara     Love yourself keep it real

3rd prize                 1    AOYAMA Nao 　　The Person I Admire Most

4th (Honorable)    34    YASAKI Rio 　　   What I learned from basketball

An award ceremony was held at the gym of Akashi Nishi Senior High School in the 7th period on October 9, 2025, and eight DGA students were awarded.

First, two award winners of Toban-Deistrict English speech contests received their certificates; Ms. NAGANO Kokomi received the third prize of the contest, and Mr. TSUJITA Riichi got the certificate of the fourth place.

Next, two third-year DGA students received the certificate of EIKEN Pre-1st Grade. They were Ms.TAIRA Sachika and Ms. MAEDA Yuina.

Finally, four third-year DGA students received the certificate of GTEC Official Test Advanced B2 level, equivalent to EIKEN Pre-1st Grade. They were Ms. ANDO Manami, Mr. KANEMOTO Changki, Ms.KOUNO Yuuki, and Ms. TSUKUDA Emi. 

The 40th Hyogo Prefecture Higashi-Harima District Senior High School English Speech Contest was held at Miki Senior High School on October 4, 2025. Three students joined it from Akashi Nishi Senior High School.  All of them are the  2nd-year students belonging to the Department of Global Awareness(DGA). 

Ms. NAGANO Kokomi made a speech titled, 'Carrying My Hometown on My Shoulders' and  came in the third place. She has advanced to Hyogo Prefectural English Speech Contest. 

Mr. TSUJITA Riichi came in the fourth place, and Ms. TAKAHASHI Hinako did her best.

The 21st Junior High School English Recitation Contest was held at Akashi Nishi Senior High School on September 27, 2025. Twenty-two students joined the standard section (一般部門）and four students joined the experienced section (特別部門)

Four students in each section were awarded. In the standard section, the first place went to MIYAZAKI Kouta from Iwaya Junior High School.

[Standard Section]

1st place: MIYAZAKI Kouta from Iwaya Junior High School.

 2nd: SHO Masahiro from Utashikiyama Junior High School

3rd: YOROZU Sari from Himeji International School

4th: TAKAHASHI Yuji from Kanki Junior High School.

In the experienced section, Mia Michelle STARK won the championship. 

[Experienced Section]

1st: Mia Michelle STARK from Utashikiyama Junior High School

2nd: KONAGAYA Shinba from Kakogawa Junior High School

3rd: Uy Xiao Ji PANGANIBAN from Nonoike Junior High School

4th: KINUGAWA Koumei from Suma Kita Junior High School

2025 Sports Day was held at Akashi Nishi Senior High School on September 26, 2025.

The third-year DGA (3-8) students joined the pink block (H) and won  the cheering competition.

Second-year DGA yellow-team students also did their best.

The first-year DGA green-team students participated in the cheering competition for the first time. 

ALTs also enjoyed joining the Sports Day.

The second open high school was held at Akashi Nishi Senior High School on September 20, 2025.

First, in the first half, junior high school students and their parents listened to explanations of (1) the whole school and the regular course, (2) Education course (3) the Department of Global Awareness(DGA).

Second, the DGA offered its own programs: 

(1) A first-year DGA student Ms.Kawabe made a speech; she was the champion of the speech contest held in the English Camp held in August at Aspia Akashi.

(2) A group of two or three students from the second-year DGA class answered the questions about (A) English and other classes (B) School events (C) Visiting universities  and (D) Club activities.

(3) The junior high school students listened to 2024 English listening test of the DGA.

(4) The junior high school students and their parents listened to self-introductions of three ALTs of Akashi NIshi;(1) Shaquille from America (2) Shelly from Balbados and (3) Brittany from Australia.

There were two sessions in the morning and in the afternoon. In total, the number of participants was 127. They were 64 students , 61 parents and two teachers. Thank all the participants for coming. See you at the next open high school in November!