By Margarita Muñoz-Salazar

Before I joined Japanese Plus, my knowledge about Japan was limited to their advanced technology and the architecture of their ancient temples. When I learned that my school offered a program to study Japanese language and culture, I knew I had to take the opportunity. I wanted to explore a culture entirely different from my own and broaden my horizons. Initially, I had no idea what to expect and assumed the class would involve extensive studying and take a long time to master, given how different Japanese is from English. My only goal was to be able to hold a conversation in Japanese, as I lacked confidence in my language-learning abilities. Despite my nervousness, I was excited to learn something new and unique.

Looking back, the early days of the program now seem amusing. In the first few weeks, we painstakingly learned each hiragana character, which now we can read effortlessly. It’s surreal to see old pictures and realize how much we’ve memorized. I remember how stressed we used to get over hiragana tests, yet we recently took an entire Japanese language exam and performed better than expected.

One of the most memorable moments was when we were told we would meet Japanese students. For weeks, we prepared by studying various conversation topics, practicing introductions, and thinking of questions to ask. When we finally met, we mainly spoke in English, but it was an invaluable experience. Despite our limited proficiency, this meeting was significant for me as it pushed me out of my comfort zone and motivated me to continue learning Japanese. The Japanese students taught us about their culture and school life, and it became clear that I had learned a lot more Japanese than I realized. This encouraged me to keep improving my language skills for future interactions.

Attending the annual Sakura Matsuri (Japanese street festival) with Japanese Plus was another highlight. The festival allowed me to immerse myself in Japanese culture beyond the classroom, using some Japanese with native speakers and observing the blend of modern and traditional aspects of Japanese culture. Learning about things like strawberries from Kyoto was particularly enjoyable. The Sakura Matsuri was a fun and engaging way to deepen my understanding of Japan, and I plan to continue attending in the future.

The beginning of my second year in Japanese Plus was also significant. I felt more motivated, knowing I had limited time left in the program. Meeting a new teacher and seeing my progress since the start was enlightening and made me eager to learn more. Reuniting with friends and participating in more activities outside the classroom added to the enjoyment of the program.

As we neared the end of our second year, our final exchanges with Japanese students were memorable and unique. These interactions showcased my progress, as I could hold conversations about various topics, including city life, food, hobbies, and TV shows. One group even visited my school, allowing them to experience American high school life. Playing soccer and exploring a museum together were highlights that made me feel accomplished and slightly sad, knowing I might not have such exchanges again soon.

Visiting the Japanese embassy in DC was another moment of accomplishment. From knowing no Japanese to being invited to the embassy felt surreal and made me realize I had exceeded my expectations. The visit showed me that studying in Japan is accessible and much cheaper than in the US. It was a fitting conclusion to my two years in Japanese Plus, reinforcing that a connection to Japan is within reach if I pursue my interests.

Going forward, I plan to continue learning Japanese and possibly study in Japan for university. If you had told me two years ago how far I would be in my knowledge of Japanese, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s amazing to see how much I’ve learned in just two years. To anyone trying to learn Japanese or any language, I would say the most important thing is to track your progress because looking back and seeing how much you’ve achieved is a big motivator. I am very grateful to have participated in Japanese Plus and hope more people take the initiative to do the same. 

By Margarita Muñoz-Salazar

Every time I meet a new group of Japanese students I am excited to test my Japanese language skills and meet new friends. While talking with Japanese students, I felt thrilled that I was able to practice my Japanese and that they could understand what I wanted to say. While speaking with them, I got excited to see my own progress.

Due to the scheduling we got to meet two different groups of Japanese students in one week. With the KAKEHASHI group I was able to see their presentations on さくら (sakura), しろ (castles), and おりがみ (origami). It was also very fun with this group because they were able to spend a day at my school, DC International. I’m glad that they got to see the difference between American and Japanese schools. For example, in Japan the students stay in one class the whole day while the teachers are the ones to move around. Here in the US it is the opposite. The next day with the group we got to play soccer on the National Mall.

That same Saturday I was able to meet with students from the TOMODACHI group. While exploring the city and eating lunch with them, something that stood out to me was conversing with girls my age from a different country. From talking about things about school and food to TV shows and boyfriends, these are conversations I will remember and look back on happily. Seeing the students’ perspective on my city and how they would take pictures of things that I considered normal (one student actually said that squirrels aren’t common in Japan) made me view DC in a different light and be thankful that I am here. I hope to meet all the new friends I made again.

By Margarita Muñoz Salazar

NOTE: On March 22, 2024 Japanese Plus student Margarita Muñoz Salazar and Program Director Sally Schwartz were invited to attend a special reception at the Embassy of Japan held to honor the Japanese participants in the Long-Term Education Administration (LEAP) Program. LEAP, a program sponsored by the Japanese government, brings young administrators from Japanese universities to the United States to learn from and exchange information with international program specialists at American universities. The embassy reception was held at the end of the 10-month program. The participants returned to Japan the following day.   

Going to the Japanese Embassy was a culturally immersive experience, not just an event. Every moment was insightful, from discovering the accessibility of educational possibilities, to witnessing the consistency of Japanese punctuality.

Importantly, the embassy provided valuable information about possibly studying in Japan. It is not easy to start studying in a new country and as someone interested in going to Japan, learning about the wide range of programs and opportunities in Japan was fascinating. One that stood out to me the most was through American University School of International Service which would allow me to get an undergraduate dual degree (BA in International Studies). Students that participate in the program will spend 2 years at American University and another 2 in Ritsumeikan University. Participating in this program will allow me to gain the skills and experience to excel in careers in both countries. Not to mention that the tuition for Japanese universities is significantly cheaper than in America. All the programs and scholarships I learned about motivated me even more to study in Japan, and I encourage anyone interested to keep looking for something that fits their needs because there is bound to be something for them. 

In relation to culture, I considered the Japanese dedication to punctuality to be remarkable.  When I got to the event, it had already started and I was just four minutes late. This would pass for on time in many western cultures, but it would be considered tardy in Japan. It really is proof of the customs and traditions that are deeply integrated in Japanese expectations. This event acted as a reminder of how important it is to respect other cultural traditions and practices, even when it comes to presumably unimportant things like punctuality.

It was also interesting to learn about Japanese business etiquette. It left an impression that swapping business cards was appreciated.  In Japan, exchanging business cards, or めいし, is not only standard practice but also a sign of professionalism and respect. Watching this practice genuinely highlighted how important small actions are to creating trust and relationships.

Of course, visiting the Japanese Embassy wouldn’t be complete without trying some Japanese food. Having sushi (すし), a traditional Japanese dish, was the high point of the visit. Each dish’s excellent flavors and careful presentation showed Japan’s unique tradition.

Overall, attending the event was an honor. It provided a glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural history and left me inspired to explore more of what Japan has to offer.

By Margarita Munoz Salazar

Nengajo (年賀状) is a traditional Japanese New Year’s greeting card. It is sent as a happy-new-year greeting to friends, family, and coworkers. Nengajo usually include drawings or pictures related to the new year, like the zodiac animal for that year, traditional Japanese symbols, or landscapes. People frequently include handwritten notes with the pictures, wishing the receiver good health, happiness, and prosperity in the upcoming year. In Japan, sending and receiving nengajo is a common tradition. It is considered respectful to exchange these cards during the New Year’s holiday. 

I was able to participate in a Nengajo contest for the Japan Information & Culture Center. Since this year is the year of the dragon, I put my drawing skills to the test and made a drawing based on the Japanese film Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki. I enjoyed participating in this tradition as it was a fun way to be part of the celebration of a new year. 

As something that is not very common to do in the US, Nengajo is a good way to signify that you care about someone especially if you take the time out of your day to make a drawing or include a message.  

By Margarita Muñoz Salazar

While our class was visiting the current JICC exhibit, there was a picture that really captured my attention. The picture had enemy soldiers lined up being taken somewhere while being escorted by Japanese-American soldiers. What stood out is that instead of being a tragic or upsetting description, it was humorous. After capturing German soldiers, the Japanese-Americans are able to make jokes of the situation and their situation by saying that the Japanese Army surrendered and confusing the enemy. Seeing that even these soldiers are able to have fun and stay somewhat positive made me feel happy for them, knowing that after all the hostility they have received, they are still willing to fight for their country and stay optimistic. This gives me a new perspective on the way I should see life. What these soldiers are telling everyone is that it’s okay to have fun during depressing times because we are human and it’s in our nature to look for distraction.

By Margarita Muñoz Salazar

On December 7th, our Japanese Plus program got to go to the Navy Yard in southeast DC to participate in a special event commemorating the lives lost when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. We were invited to take part in a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Program there by the National Museum of the US Navy. On behalf of our whole group, we want to express appreciation to Education Director Paul Perry and the others at the museum for inviting us and for being such great hosts.

Days before the event, thanks to a visit from Paul to our class, we got the opportunity to create our own wreaths that would be put on display. Wreath making was fun as we all got to show off our artistic and creative skills. Not only that but it gave us a chance to reflect on why people should commemorate the loss of life at Pearl Harbor, and how to include those thoughts on our design. 

On top of making the wreaths we had to write a statement on why we believe it’s important to commemorate the lives lost, both Americans and Japanese. Coming up with the statement required me to reflect on the war’s involvement in history and how it affected people at the time. I was able to reflect on the consequences of war and the importance of avoiding similar tragedies. 

“Remembering both American and Japanese-American lives lost during Pearl Harbor is important in acknowledging the complexities of history. It recognizes the significance of respect and compassion among diverse communities while accepting the pain and losses suffered by people on both sides of the conflict.”

The Navy Yard itself is magnificent; it is as if I was walking into a history book. All the artifacts and ship models were so remarkable. It was as if I was learning about American history all over again. My personal favorite exhibit was the life sized version of the inside of a wooden boat. Being able to see a life sized cannon is not something very common. I recommend that people go see the museum themselves. 

Margarita Munoz Salazar

On April 15, 2023 Japanese Plus was able to have a booth in the biggest Japanese festival of the country, Sakura Matsuri.  Although our booth wasn’t the biggest or most entertaining, I can proudly say our whole group enjoyed the whole experience.  

We got to interact with people that came up to our booth asking questions about the program. People coming up to us and talking about their own experience with Japan. It was very interesting to see how all of us there were connected by a common interest in Japan. However, there were moments when the booth would die down. So my classmates and I were able to sneak out of the booth and look around. Close to us there were people writing your name in Japanese calligraphy. All of us learned how to write our names but we just wanted to do that for fun. I would say that that’s how the whole festival felt, just having fun even if you already know or don’t know what you are learning about Japan.

By Margarita Munoz Salazar

Yesterday February 5th, Globalize DC was able to meet with 18 high school students from Hiroshima, Japan, thanks to Kakehashi.  We were notified of the meeting around 3 weeks before the set date, so the whole class started studying more than ever. We had a sheet of paper with questions we wanted to ask them and basic Japanese phrases to use. I was so scared of messing up my Japanese that I would stay up revising lines like なんさいですか (How old are you?) and なんねんせいですか (What grade are you in?). Ms. Sally told us a few days before that the Japanese students would probably be shy and that we would have to initiate conversation, but that was the farthest thing from the truth. 

When we arrived at Z-burger in Tenleytown, we got to finally meet the students by having lunch with them.  I was able to sit down with こうあさん (Koa) and こはなさん (Kohana), along with D’Amonie. At first I was really nervous that I forgot a lot of my Japanese and I was only able to say what my name was. But that was not a problem because both Koa and Kohana were so nice that we were able to ask each other questions in both English and Japanese. It was so fun to ask them about what they like, what shows they watch and what type of music they listen to (K-pop). It was nice to see what things we have in common even though we live so far away. 

When we were on the bus to the church, where we would continue the rest of the activity, I sat next to あやなさん (Ayana). She was probably the most social person I talked to and was so easy to talk to. Getting to know how excited she was to be here and talk to me in Japanese was very exciting. When we finally got to the church I was more confident in my Japanese. I also got to sit with こはなさん (Kohana), まいかさん (Maika), まやさん (Maya), ちひろさん (Chihiro) and かえらさん (Kaera). There we were all able to talk about our family, what we like, and I was able to learn some Japanese ‘slang’ that I would never learn in a classroom.  Unfortunately, it was soon time to say goodbye. Although most of us were able to exchange Instagrams and take many pictures together, we still didn’t want to end the conversations. But I am confident enough to say that I have made new ともだち (friends). 

This whole experience motivated me to get even better at Japanese. Being able to communicate with native speakers my age was probably my favorite thing that I have ever done in this program. I will always remember this moment and smile with joy. I hope to one day be able to meet my friends again whether it be D.C. or in Japan.