Four SMAN 1 Narmada Students to Introduce Perang Topat Culture in Japan

Four students from SMAN 1 Narmada—Ni Kadek Gita Sathyananda, Ni Kadek Dwi Lestari, Baninnajieb, and Nyoman Diva Wedantara—are preparing to depart for Shizuoka, Japan. They will travel thousands of kilometres not for a holiday, but to carry out a significant mission as cultural ambassadors for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Gita, Dwi, Baninnajieb, and Diva will leave for Japan on Saturday, 20 June 2026. They will participate in a cultural exchange programme with the International Youth Education Support Association to introduce the Perang Topat tradition, an ancestral heritage from Lingsar Temple in West Lombok.

Ibnu Jaya Hadi, Vice Principal of SMAN 1 Narmada, said the four students will not merely present the Perang Topat tradition through a rigid presentation, but will bring it to life in a dance performance they have rehearsed with high dedication. Through the artistic stage in Shizuoka, these students aim to show that a message of peace can unite differences from Lombok, Indonesia.

"There is a profound message about tolerance, unity, and mutual cooperation between religious communities, which is the core spirit of the Perang Topat tradition," Ibnu stated.

The departure of these four students is not an instant project. SMANAR, the nickname for SMAN 1 Narmada, has maintained a cultural exchange programme with Japan as a long-standing tradition since 2011. The school has successfully nurtured this international relationship for 15 years without interruption under the careful guidance of extracurricular coach Indah Yusniawati of the Hikari Japanese Club.

Risma Devi, an Indonesian language teacher and alumna of SMAN 1 Narmada, said the Hikari Japanese Club is no ordinary extracurricular activity. According to her, the club’s relationship with the Japanese community remains very strong. "Having been a student and now a teacher at this school, I am proud of this extracurricular activity," Risma said.

For Risma, this success is tangible proof that a school activity can change a student’s life path. Many SMAN 1 Narmada graduates who were active in the Japanese Club have eventually found work in Japan. "This opens up real career opportunities and global perspectives," she added.

For Gita, Dwi, Baninnajieb, and Diva, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They are not merely students going abroad, but ambassadors weaving a bridge of friendship between nations. When the plane carrying them lands in Japan, the cultural identity of NTB will be proudly voiced on the stage in Shizuoka. They are proving that a school report is not just a set of grades, but a gateway to the world.