The IEED (Div. International Education & Exchange, School of Engineering) organized on February 20th a one-day excursion to discover the Miyagi and Yamagata region. The excursion started first with the visit of the Nikka Whisky distillery located in Miyagi prefecture few kilometers away from Sendai, followed by a tasting session. The excursion moved to the neighboring Yamagata prefecture. There, in addition to draw their personal piece of Shogi (the well-known Japanese chess) participants have experienced Japanese food, “hanagasa” dance (traditional local dance from Yamagata) and even enjoyed a wide collection of Hina doll. The trip ended with a relaxing boat cruise on the Mogami river, the “mother river” as local people use to call it.