Local High School Students visit Japan through the Kakehashi Project
2024/2/12
The Kakehashi Project by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the North American regional component of the “Japan’s Friendship Ties” Programs. The project aims to promote grassroots exchange between Japan and North America to encourage mutual trust and understanding between nations as well as to build a basis for future friendship and cooperation. Selected Americans are given the opportunity to visit Japan to participate in this exchange created in partnership with organizations such as JICE (Japan International Cooperation Center).
Kakehashi Reporting session
In December 2023, as part of the Kakehashi Project, seven students from Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, visited Japan with their Japanese language teacher, Haruka Fujiwara. Seniors Jerry Brown and Alex Nguyen; juniors Jayda Fountain, Sarah Hudspeth, Vanessa Stevens, and Gloria Sung; and sophomore Grace Kim spent one week in Japan, where the overall theme of their trip was to learn about recovery from natural disasters and Japan’s cutting-edge technology. Through these lenses, the students were able to participate in a number of experiences that gave them the opportunity to learn more about Japan and about how Japan has recovered from past natural disasters.
Curtis High School students in Asakusa!
Joining students from Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas and Chalmette High School in Chalmette, Louisiana, the Curtis High School students first flew to Tokyo, where they participated in a number of cultural activities. The students visited a sumo stable, toured Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa, spent time at the Panasonic Center in Tokyo, and joined a workshop where they learned the history of Tokyo Some-Komon kimono and made cotton tote bags with prints using hand-carved stencils.
Curtis High School students showing off their new tote bags!
Following their cultural experiences in Tokyo, the students traveled north to the Tohoku region via bullet train to visit areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011. This was one of the most important and moving experiences of their trip. They visited the ruins of Arahama Elementary School in Sendai, Miyagi, which served as a shelter for more than 300 students and local residents during the disasters of March 2011. The Curtis students were able to observe the damage caused by the tsunami to the lower floors of the building and see the upper floors where evacuees stayed. They spoke with high school student guides who gave them a tour of the school in English. Next, they visited nearby Sendai Higashi High School, where they were able to meet local students. Together, the students did language exchange, played games, and shared food. The Curtis students even tried Japanese calligraphy!
Arahama Elementary School, Sendai, Miyagi (Banner reads, “Arigatou, Arahama Elementary School”)
The students also did a homestay with local families in Marumori Town, Miyagi. After visiting NanoTerasu, a 3 GeV synchrotron radiation facility in Sendai that is planned to open in 2024, they spent time with their host families wearing yukata, visiting a local castle, sharing homemade food, and more. The students were very touched by the kindness of the host families. The experiences and interactions the Curtis students had with local high school students and their homestay families were a catalyst for them to want to further their connection with Japan. When it was time to leave, it was hard to say goodbye!
Overall, the Curtis High School students felt that visiting the Tohoku region and hearing about people’s experiences there left them with very positive impressions. Students noted that much of the media coverage they had seen of the 2011 disaster focused solely on the devastation and not on the recovery efforts that followed. Through visiting this region, the students learned not only about the tragedies that occurred, but about how people were able to recover from these tragedies and better prepare for the future.
Curtis High School students with their certificates at the end of their trip
The students and their teacher, Fujiwara-sensei, hope to grow the relationship with the high school they visited, as well as share their experiences in Japan with their school and local community through presentations, videos, and speeches. They even created Instagram accounts to share their experiences with the public! Overall, they were so grateful to JICE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support and funding, which gave these students the trip of a lifetime that will continue to deepen their interest in and connection to Japan in the coming years.
To see more from their trip to Japan, please check out their Kakehashi Instagram profiles!
Chaperone:
Haruka Fujiwara (@fujiwarakakekashi2023)
Students:
Jerry Brown (@jb.kakehashi2023)
Alex Nguyen (@kakehashi.tripaccount)
Jayda Fountain (@jayda.andreaa)
Sarah Hudspeth (@sarah13hudspeth)
Vanessa Stevens (@kumainjapan)
Gloria Sung (@jace.ria)
Grace Kim (@grakaye.kakehashi)
Kakehashi Reporting session
In December 2023, as part of the Kakehashi Project, seven students from Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, visited Japan with their Japanese language teacher, Haruka Fujiwara. Seniors Jerry Brown and Alex Nguyen; juniors Jayda Fountain, Sarah Hudspeth, Vanessa Stevens, and Gloria Sung; and sophomore Grace Kim spent one week in Japan, where the overall theme of their trip was to learn about recovery from natural disasters and Japan’s cutting-edge technology. Through these lenses, the students were able to participate in a number of experiences that gave them the opportunity to learn more about Japan and about how Japan has recovered from past natural disasters.
Curtis High School students in Asakusa!
Joining students from Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas and Chalmette High School in Chalmette, Louisiana, the Curtis High School students first flew to Tokyo, where they participated in a number of cultural activities. The students visited a sumo stable, toured Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa, spent time at the Panasonic Center in Tokyo, and joined a workshop where they learned the history of Tokyo Some-Komon kimono and made cotton tote bags with prints using hand-carved stencils.
Curtis High School students showing off their new tote bags!
Following their cultural experiences in Tokyo, the students traveled north to the Tohoku region via bullet train to visit areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011. This was one of the most important and moving experiences of their trip. They visited the ruins of Arahama Elementary School in Sendai, Miyagi, which served as a shelter for more than 300 students and local residents during the disasters of March 2011. The Curtis students were able to observe the damage caused by the tsunami to the lower floors of the building and see the upper floors where evacuees stayed. They spoke with high school student guides who gave them a tour of the school in English. Next, they visited nearby Sendai Higashi High School, where they were able to meet local students. Together, the students did language exchange, played games, and shared food. The Curtis students even tried Japanese calligraphy!
Arahama Elementary School, Sendai, Miyagi (Banner reads, “Arigatou, Arahama Elementary School”)
The students also did a homestay with local families in Marumori Town, Miyagi. After visiting NanoTerasu, a 3 GeV synchrotron radiation facility in Sendai that is planned to open in 2024, they spent time with their host families wearing yukata, visiting a local castle, sharing homemade food, and more. The students were very touched by the kindness of the host families. The experiences and interactions the Curtis students had with local high school students and their homestay families were a catalyst for them to want to further their connection with Japan. When it was time to leave, it was hard to say goodbye!
Overall, the Curtis High School students felt that visiting the Tohoku region and hearing about people’s experiences there left them with very positive impressions. Students noted that much of the media coverage they had seen of the 2011 disaster focused solely on the devastation and not on the recovery efforts that followed. Through visiting this region, the students learned not only about the tragedies that occurred, but about how people were able to recover from these tragedies and better prepare for the future.
Curtis High School students with their certificates at the end of their trip
The students and their teacher, Fujiwara-sensei, hope to grow the relationship with the high school they visited, as well as share their experiences in Japan with their school and local community through presentations, videos, and speeches. They even created Instagram accounts to share their experiences with the public! Overall, they were so grateful to JICE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support and funding, which gave these students the trip of a lifetime that will continue to deepen their interest in and connection to Japan in the coming years.
To see more from their trip to Japan, please check out their Kakehashi Instagram profiles!
Chaperone:
Haruka Fujiwara (@fujiwarakakekashi2023)
Students:
Jerry Brown (@jb.kakehashi2023)
Alex Nguyen (@kakehashi.tripaccount)
Jayda Fountain (@jayda.andreaa)
Sarah Hudspeth (@sarah13hudspeth)
Vanessa Stevens (@kumainjapan)
Gloria Sung (@jace.ria)
Grace Kim (@grakaye.kakehashi)