I was fortunate to be selected as one of four Central Texas students to visit Japan in late November and early December. We participated in the Kakehashi Project, which is run and funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Center (JICE). They partner with organizations worldwide to educate students and professionals on Japanese culture and history.
My Kakehashi Project opportunity was arranged through the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, and the four of us traveled from Houston to Tokyo Narita Airport. We then spent time in Fukuoka, located on Kyushu (the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands), and in Tokyo.
In Fukuoka, I did a homestay with a local family, visited Kokura Castle and shrines, and attended a day of high school. In Tokyo, we explored one of its famous shopping districts and were amazed at how clean and orderly a metropolitan area of 37 million people can be. We also attended a disaster preparedness briefing, which is mandatory for all professionals in the city, as Japan is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
The trip was an incredible experience that deepened my interest in Japanese history, its people, and its food. I definitely want to return one day to visit other prefectures (equivalent to provinces) and explore the country’s many outdoor activities.