Bea’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Brynae Harrod (Japan in DC)

As much as I like to be back home in the United States, I’ve missed Japan. The trip was as I expected. It was a blast while I was there, learning a little bit of the language to get around, talking to the people, having culture shocks almost every day. Surprising myself, since I already had culture awareness. I’m glad I only embarrassed myself once, the memory of accidentally confusing a Japanese woman for one of my friends. I deeply apologized but I’m glad I was just as easily forgiven.

My most famed memory from being over in Japan had to be the way the Gifu prefecture fishes. It’s something I’ve seriously never heard of. Amazing how fishing in such a way was even possible – fishing by using birds as a host to capture the fish; no fishing nets, no rods or even a string. But instead, a rope being tied around the neck of a bird that can swim like a duck. The bird caught fishes themselves. But in order to stop the birds from swallowing the fish, the fishermen yanks the rope so the bird knows to not swallow the fish and instead give it back to the fishermen. I wasn’t able to see the fishing for myself but still just hearing it put to me was a surprise to how it even worked. Even more since our presenter didn’t know a lot of English, watching him explain what he’s saying with movements was very funny to watch. Although he looked silly while he explained, everyone was able to understand perfectly.

Harajuku would also be one of my famed memories while staying in Japan, I’ve never been much of a ‘fashionista’ but with Japan, especially in Harajuku, Tokyo, it was so normal to express yourself with the use of clothing. Goth, Kawaii, pop fashion, they had it all. Fashion is a very creative way I’ve seen people express who they are, and Japan has taken the trophy for it. Yami-kawaii being fairly new, has to be a great way of expressing the sad feelings of depression through their culture. I was told feelings like this have always been never talked about and viewed in such a negative way. With fashion, people are able to cope with those thoughts. I think of it as a beautiful way to express one’s thoughts without the use of traditional arts.

Juliana’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Juliana Franco (Japanese at CHEC)

My trip to Japan was a life changing experience. I got to see many phenomenal things I don’t see on a daily basis here in Washington, DC. Personally, this trip taught me a lot about self-respect, being healthy, taking care of myself and others, even if I don’t know them. Japan gave me the opportunity to get on the Shinkansen, which is also known as the bullet train. On our way from Tokyo to Gifu, while being in the bullet train, I got to see many different houses, some were small box houses and other were big houses. I also saw Mount Fuji while we were on the bullet train.

When we got to Gifu, the group of students and I got to go to Sogo High School and everyone was so nice and friendly to us. We received a warm welcome when we arrived at the high school. During our visit, we got to learn cool things like how to write calligraphy, how to play koto, which sounds like a guitar, and how to do archery. We also had very friendly tour guides to show us around the school. By the end of the school tour, we became really close friends with many of the students of Sogo High School. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye and head our separate ways.

Another experience that taught me a lot about culture in Japan was the home stay. During my home stay with the Saka family, I was honored to be a part of their family and visit places like the Castle Museum, the 100 yen store, and I got to try ramen for the very first time with my homestay family. Japan was a really great and unique experience. I’ve made good friends, I’ve eaten foods I have never eaten before, and I visited many great places. Unfortunately, the trip was too short but I hope to visit Japan later on again in life.

Tyler’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Tyler Bailey (Japan in DC)

The recent trip to Japan, that was given to us as an opportunity to learn about its culture, was a blessing and so much fun! It had always been a dream of mine to travel there and see all that it gives. On the trip we ate a lot of delicious food, went to a lot of cities and shrines, learned about its history and its many businesses, and even had a homestay where we were able to see how it is living there. One of my favorites that I will always remember since going on the trip is finally getting to try on a kimono! While with my host family, I got the chance to try a kimono on for the first time. It was tighter than what I imagined it to be and a lot harder to move in, but it was still fun and really beautiful. They even took us to a shrine for pictures and showed us how to properly pray there. Another favorite from the trip is taking the Shinkansen (the bullet train). The ride on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Gifu Prefecture was really smooth, and lasted for only two hours! We got to see a lot of mountains while on the train, even being in the station was really cool. Its systems and the design of the trains and the station are way different than ones in Washington D.C.

I learned a lot of things while in Japan: new Japanese phrases, how to properly use chopsticks, how the currency over there was, and even learned that the U.S. took part in creating the Japanese constitution! This trip to Japan has changed my perspective on a lot of things, and also gave me some light on what I may want to do in the near future, studying abroad-wise. I’m very grateful to have gone on this trip and I would go again in a heartbeat if given the chance.

Maria’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Maria Garcia (Japan in DC)

The trip to Japan was truly a life changing experience for me. I was able to embrace so many new things, things that I had only ever heard about. Some of those things I learned I still use to this day. Before every meal, I make sure to use the phrase “itadakimasu,” which was a way of saying thank you for everything that leads to the moment we have and the food we have with us. I love the bathrooms, not just the heated seats, but the fact that we were able to use squat toilets. Last year at this time, I had no clue toilets like that actually existed. But today, thanks to the KAKEHASHI Project, I am able to look at life in a more appreciative way. At school, all of my friends are happy I was able to go to Japan. In the stories I have told them about my adventure in Japan, I include something valuable that I will always remember. The food was amazing (it was new) and really delicious. I loved the fact that no matter your status everyone was treated the same, and as foreigners they treated us the same (it was really cool).

The most amazing thing to me was the culture, because I had only heard of it and even though I hadn’t embraced it, I was mesmerized in the little I had heard. Now, actually being in Japan, was an eye opener, because I was able to see kids my age excited to teach me all that they could. At some times, such as the homestay when language was a problem, I would open my little blue book and try to at least pronounce each word I wanted to make a sentence. It didn’t work all the time, but at least I tried, and my host mom would be very confused, but was very patient. She would try her best to teach me new words and I would try my best to remember them. When we were back with the group, I realized how crucial it was for me to try and speak more.

I didn’t want to leave, and still wish to be there, but the trip soon came to end. I never cried during the trip, but when we were on the plane, I realized we were leaving and I was leaving something very special. All the connections I made along the way, especially Ms. Fujimoto, were part of my family and having to leave was the hardest for me. That is why I am thankful for the opportunity I was given because it gave me so much.

Tara’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Tara Martin (Japanese Plus; Japan in DC)

The KAKEHASHI trip was extremely impactful on me and my personality. I think it was the best way that i’ve been able to experience and deepen my understanding of Japanese culture. One of my favorite parts of the exchange trip was going to Kidochen, a sweet shop in Ogaki City. I was really looking forward to this because my family (my aunt and my mother especially) are amazing bakers and I really love sweets. I found the process of making the different flower mochi very fun. It also made me pay attention to detail and be very patient with the process, because rushing it would make it look nothing like the examples the chef made. It was a great way for me to learn an underlying cultural aspect of Japanese culture and appreciate my work.

My other favorite was the homestay. I think it was the best way for me to really experience Japanese culture that I already heard about. It was helpful for me to really understand how these practices influence daily living. It’s one thing to hear about how you live in Japan versus actually experiencing it. I had known before that you shower before you get in a bath and the bath is only for soaking, but what I didn’t realize was just how cold the shower water was. It definitely made the warm bath feel amazing. I also really enjoyed sleeping in a futon because it was really warm and cozy; also because my host family had no central heating, so I was freezing most of the time. They also fed us different foods than the program did, which helped me try new things. This really meant a lot to me because throughout this entire trip I was able to meet new people and get a new experience and it changed me.

I realized just how different Japanese culture is from American culture, especially the small things like shoes (high tops seem like a great idea until you have to keep relacing them every time you take them off). Going on the KAKEHASHI trip also made me even more aware of the Japanese and American relationship. I definitely want to go back to Japan and have more time for sightseeing, and somehow make it for the 2020 Olympics.

Jeff’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Jeff Jenkins (Japanese Plus)

I must say that the program was marvelous, and I enjoyed every moment of it. From the people that I met and the things that I was able to experience, especially the homestay and the Gifu High School visit. I find it amazing how traditional Japan remains, while other countries are rushing to new advancements and technology, forgetting their cultural roots. The High School that we visited was a great example, because they had clubs for Japanese calligraphy, Japanese archery and Kumi daiko (traditional Japanese drums). It is amazing that teenagers can participate in more old-fashioned clubs, instead of just track and field, football and basketball. It’s awesome to know that they have a larger variety of activities to choose from for their afterschool activities, something I wish we had in America.

Being able to communicate with Japanese people in Japanese was super fun and it showed that I had come a long way from the last time that I had visited Japan, which was in the summer of 2016. Possessing the ability to read and communicate in Japanese filled me with me self-gratification and I couldn’t be any happier about it! Especially during my stay with my host family, I could convey my ideas to them and we could hold conversations with each other making our time together much enjoyable. I must say that it was quite interesting switching from Japanese and English, I remember quite clearly that I said the phrase “sumimasen” to both Japanese and English speakers one too many times, as if it was instinctively. The Japanese classes I have been taking for a year in a half truly paid off, and I’m thankful to my sensei and my Japanese Director for allowing me to see how much I’ve truly grown and gained a deeper perspective on Japan – specifically, their “Constitution,” which was crafted by the United States of America after WWII.

I had known that our relationship with Japan had been deep since WWII, however I never knew that we constructed a constitution that stops them from declaring war or going to battle with anyone. This was truly shocking to me, because I had always thought of the constitution as something that would only be used in America, not across the world. I only knew the tip of the iceberg when it came the relationship of Japan and America, but after my trip, I understood that it goes a lot deeper than we may know.

Clark’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Clark Gray (Japan in DC)

The lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was particularly meaningful to me. I got a lot of insight on how Japan handles important matters such as diplomacy and national security. We also talked about issues regarding Japan’s shrinking population and China’s loophole abuse of the UN Law of the Seas, which I learned about in much detail in my AP Human Geography class last year. This showed me how important the concepts learned in school are more useful than making one seem smarter. This shows me the understanding I have gained from human geopolitics can help me make a difference on the global scale possibly working in diplomatic relations and other international efforts.

The onsen was a completely new and interesting experience. I heard that an onsen was a Japanese spa. I did not know that it was a naked spa. I thought it would be really weird and I was a bit worried, but it was not awkward or weird. I spent most of my time in hot pools relaxing and rejuvenating, especially when my friend Jeffrey encouraged me to go into a pool saying, “that’s where the water was hottest.” I was shocked to find that it was a shock therapy pool. It felt almost like paralysis but my body felt like new afterward. This experience taught me again how to appreciate surprises and to be more open.

The homestay was amazing. My mom and dad were so nice, they treated us like family. They fed us like grandparents. We watched various tv programs like the Olympics and that reminded me of family movie night with my family. At home, my duty is to wash dishes so I tried to help my host mom which she was very much surprised by and appreciative of.  The second day was really when it hit me that I was in Japan waking up to people talking in an unfamiliar language. It felt cool and inspires me to learn Japanese.

Raven’s KAKEHASHI Trip Reflection

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By Raven Bluford (Japanese Plus)

Going to Japan this time around, I am coming in with new eyes. A lot of things I learned the first time I went to Japan were reinforced this time around. But all in all, there were definitely many things I didn’t know before. A few things that really stood out to me on this trip was Japanese energy conservation, Japan’s foreign policy, Japanese customer service, Japanese school life, and Japanese home life. I already knew that Japanese people were environmentally aware and they did a lot of energy conservation. But actually experiencing how they conserve their energy in daily life was very interesting to me and made me think about how I waste energy on a daily basis. I should try to be more environmentally aware of the decisions I make, because the smaller decisions can have a negative impact on the earth as a whole. Examples of the energy conservation I observed were the eco-flush toilets, turning off all electricity when you leave the house, and the houses not having central heating.

Learning about Japan’s foreign policy was one of my favorite lectures that we’ve heard on the trip, because I already had an interest in the relationship between the US and Japan. This interest came from me writing a research paper about the US occupation in Japan after World War II, which was the foundation for the relationship that the US and Japan have now. So it was interesting to understand how that relationship evolved and to see what Japanese people really think about not having nuclear weapons. The point of view that a lot of Japanese people have about not having nuclear weapons was really fascinating and it really made me think about how much better the world would be if we all shared that same mindset, because it would force everyone to talk it out instead of just resorting to violence.

Another thing I learned that I didn’t know the first time I went to Japan was about Japanese school life. I already knew that it was required for the Japanese students to have a club. But I never knew how much commitment and time that they put into their activities and it was interesting to see how in America the goal is to do multiple activities and put just enough effort into them, but in Japan the students choose one activity and they put more than enough effort into their activity. Another thing that I learned about Japanese school life or from what I’ve seen from Japanese people in general, is that they know how to turn the professionalism on and off. When the Japanese students turned off the professionalism, I could see that we were not so different in that we could bond over the fact that we were all shy on first meetings and that we shared similar music interest. But I also found a lot of the students to be quite hyper, which was quite refreshing.

The main thing that stood out to me over the trip was Japanese family life. For home stay, I stayed with a family of 4 with a father, mother, daughter, and son. Prior to the trip, I expected the father to not be as active in the children’s lives because I’ve read about how sometimes the men that work in companies are overworked, so they aren’t home as much. But I was pleasantly surprised and happy to see my host family’s dynamic and I really valued that they took us into their home and allowed us to view this dynamic. All in all, this trip reinforced to me things I already knew and things that I learned. This trip also reinforced to me that in the future I would love to stay in Japan more long-term and I would not trade this trip for anything, because I am so appreciative of the people I’ve met, the things I’ve done, and the things I learned.

Emely’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Emely Flores (Japanese at CHEC)

My name is Emely Flores. I’m in the 11th grade. I had an opportunity to get a free trip to learn about and go to Japan. What can I say about my journey? There was so much that I took in and wish it was longer, but even though it was in a short time, I can’t complain. I loved every second of it, especially having the chance to be hosted by a family over there. Now that was an experience! I was chosen because during the summer I heard about a TOMODACHI exchange program for Japanese students. They were visiting D.C. so I decide to go with them during a tourist experience, and met the students, and I was able to learn more about Japan and I was much more intrigued.

When I heard about the opportunity of going to Japan for a week, I jumped right on board. it was a lot of meetings and conversations to get me mentally prepared and ready to go across the ocean, and ready for a new culture lifestyle. I won’t lie, I was nervous. It was a lot to take in just knowing I was gonna be in a different country and meet a lot of people, who I thought I was gonna have a lot of trouble communicating with, but it was a once in a lifetime experience that I was gonna take. I mean not many can say at my age they went to Japan.

Although all this was a rush for me, everything changed the minute I got there. It wasn’t the fact that I had my best friend with me and my close friends, but the environment of Japan. The people making me feel accepted and safe was the best feeling ever. Not only that, when I went to stores or restaurants and my teacher wasn’t there to help me talk to the employee for help or in general anywhere, people were always open to do hand gestures or try to say things in English or anything possible for us to find communication. The things I did in Japan were stay in Tokyo and visiting famous tourist places and going to Gifu which was two hours away from Tokyo on the Shinkansen, which in America we call the bullet train. it’s a fast train that we were able to get on in Tokyo.

Going to Gifu was an experience I’ll never forget. I was able to go to a school there and meet kids around my age and see what they did, their activities, learn about their dreams and what they want to do, and how they’re gonna achieve them. I was able to see the cultural difference – how kids enjoyed their school – from their warm smiles when they saw us, their welcome gestures of showing us their music, sports, dancing and games, and so much more. I just couldn’t help it but  smile and felt so happy.

Additionally, meeting my host family was the true experience. Even though it was only for a couple of days, I truly can say it will never be forgotten. The tea ceremony and the kimono wearing and going to the temple and even cooking with my family was so much more than I could’ve asked for.

Japan overall was a trip that I wished lasted longer. The people were just so amazing. Just knowing now that there’s a bridge there for me to always cross is much more than I could’ve asked for.

Asa’s KAKEHASHI Reflection

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By Asa Forte (Japan in DC)

Traveling to Japan has been an extremely informative experience. While in Japan, I learned many interesting aspects of the culture that I never would have even imagined. My group even got to visit Tokyo. We went to Akihabara, which is also known as Anime City for its display of anime and manga. This was personally one of the most meaningful moments during the trip. I also really enjoyed participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Before visiting Japan, I knew there were many vending machines in the public. However, I underestimated just how many vending machines I would actually see in person. I counted over one hundred vending machines in the first two days of the trip. I also noticed something rather peculiar about the majority of these vending machines. They all have drinks and cigarettes, but there aren’t any snacks, though it’s understandable, seeing how some snacks may melt or go bad, thus being incompatible with those vending machines.

I also noticed how power-conservative Japanese people are. While staying in my host home, I was politely instructed to turn off any lights and heaters that weren’t in use.

Later in the week, my group visited a high school in Gifu. This school had a list of after school programs. The students were very dedicated to the programs in which they were involved. Since then, I’ve decided to assert more effort in the arts of my interest, and be more successful as an individual Duke Ellington high school student. I’m an instrumental major, but I’m also multi-talented. It’s very difficult to maintain my interest in my talents and artistic interests attending this school, because it requires the majority of my attention. However, seeing those Japanese students and their dedication to the arts has reminded me of my passion, and the responsibilities that I’m entitled to. I will, however, keep my attention balanced between my responsibilities and my talents to ensure success, not only in school, but in life.