School: Benjamin Banneker

Grade: Rising 10^th

Zodiac sign: Virgo (Year of the Rabbit)

Favorite color: Yellow (specifically the color of sunflowers)

Fun fact: I really, really, really love Bushveld rain frogs (aka the potato fairy)! If you search up “potato fairy” on YouTube, you’ll find a bunch of cute videos of them walking around in their wooden block homes. I love them, especially when they’re yours, they’re super super cute!!

Future career: As much confidence as I had when I was in second grade thinking I was going to be an astronaut or botanist, now I’m not sure what I want to do. Most jobs I would want to do I don’t think would support me financially, or if they do support me, I wouldn’t be happy with them. I’m trying to find a profession that could do both, but I can’t really seem to find one. But, if none of that were a problem, I’d love to be an artist for a living, so I can take commissions and make money by doing what I love the most.

Why did you join Japan in DC? I’ve been in love with the culture of Japan, especially the arts, which includes music, theater, dance, sculptures, paintings, and other forms. I feel captivated looking at items related to the culture, like traditional hand fans or garments, like kimonos. All the Japanese food I’ve had, I’ve almost always loved (for example, sushi). Saying I love sushi is a huge understatement.) The music is also incredibly good as well. One of my favorite music artists of all time, Taeko Onuki, is Japanese. I listen to her almost every single day. I even owe Japanese pop culture, specifically anime, for kickstarting my love for drawing, which I also do almost every single day. I still love anime, by the way. Just not as much as I did in my 5th grade year. I think that their history is also really interesting as well, and I don’t even like history! Crazy how something you’re so interested in can completely reshape a subject.

Speaking of history, I read a graphic memoir about George Takei’s experience in the Japanese American camps they were even kept in during World War II. It’s called “They Called Us Enemy.” Read it. It’s super cool, and I especially like the art. I think it’s safe to say that I would definitely not be the same person I am today if it wasn’t for Japanese pop culture, so when I heard about this program for kids like me that allowed me to learn even more than I know now, I just had to sign up.