"2024 Invitation Program for Japanese American Students" Reflection by Eva Kurima
2024/10/4
From Aug. 19 to 27, 2024, three Japanese American high school students from around the U.S. participated in the Invitation Program for Japanese American Students, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. San Diego student Eva Kurima represented the Los Angeles consulate on this program. During their one-week stay in Japan, the students learned about various aspects of Japan such as its politics, economy, society, history, culture, and language, to promote mutual understanding and exchanges between Japanese and young Japanese Americans.
Beyond the Surface: Exploring the Depths of Japan and Myself
by Eva Kurima
This past summer, I didn’t just learn history – I lived it, walking in the footsteps of my ancestors and uncovering the layers of a complex nation. Over the course of nine days in Japan, I was able to step through not only some of Japan’s key historical events but also through my family’s past, providing me with ideas on my potential to shape the future. The trip was made possible by an invitation to participate in the Invitation Program for Japanese American Students sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was fortunate to be one of three Japanese American students selected for the program and given the opportunity to learn firsthand about various aspects of Japan. Exhausted after the 9-day intensive program and an 11-hour flight, I stepped back onto American soil reflecting on three key takeaways: the vast knowledge I gained, newfound clarity in my identity as a Japanese American, and new potential pathways for my future educational and career ambitions.
My journey began on August 19, leaving early in the morning from San Diego airport, running to make my connecting flight to Seattle, and arriving at Haneda airport the next day. Upon landing, I was greeted warmly by our chaperone who welcomed us with the utmost hospitality. Our first four days were spent in Tokyo and Yokohama where we immersed ourselves in Japan’s rich history, unique culture, and evolving economy. We explored politically significant locations and visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the strict security protocols emphasized the gravity of the work being done there. We also engaged with foreign staff at the Yokohama International Affairs Bureau, learning about the challenges and successes they experienced integrating into Japan's tight-knit society. Though the pace was tiring, the city provided us with learning opportunities around every corner.
For the next step in our journey, we boarded the bullet train (shinkansen) and traveled southwest down the main island of Honshu. We passed through the ancient city of Kyoto where my mother was raised and ended our trip in the port city of Hiroshima, a place rich in history, culture, and the birthplace of my great-great-grandparents. During our stay in Hiroshima, we visited iconic landmarks such as Miyajima where we engaged in a traditional shakushi (wooden rice paddle) making experience. This was just one of the many cultural activities that deepened my appreciation for Japan beyond the typical tourist’s perspective.
In Hiroshima, each participant also had the opportunity to homestay with a family for two days. I was a guest of a family in Kure who welcomed me with open arms and treated me like a sister and daughter. Having grown up on the beaches of my hometown of Carlsbad, I was surprised by the calm, still-water of Kure, giving me a different perspective on Japan’s diverse landscape. During the homestay, I was also able to meet several participants of the local Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program which encouraged me to apply to the program in the future.
In stark contrast to the warmth and hospitality of my homestay family, visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was particularly poignant because of my personal connection—I have relatives who perished in the bombing. Walking through the museum, the images and stories revealed a world of suffering, but also resilience I hadn’t fully understood before. It was a humbling and deeply personal experience, reminding me of the critical importance of peace and diplomacy between the U.S. and Japan. Our time in Hiroshima made me feel deeply connected to Japan on a personal level, experiencing its culture not as a visitor, but as a member of the community.
After the homestay, we took the bullet train back to Tokyo but got stuck briefly in Kyoto due to a heavy storm. We arrived safely in Tokyo and the next day visited the Wata Cafe in Tokyo where we learned about their mission to support young women in distress. This visit shattered my previous misconception of Japan as a flawless society. I realized that like any other country, Japan has its challenges, including high suicide rates and social pressures that many women face in silence. This realization shifted my perspective, making me more aware of the complexities behind Japan’s image as a harmonious nation, including those non-Japanese living in the country. It brought to mind the struggles my brother, Noah, faced when moving to Japan for college at Waseda. For example, the difficulty in finding housing because he was a foreigner. Japan, I learned, was not the perfect society that I see in Ghibli movies and anime.
During our final steps of the program, I began to see broader societal issues in Japan with greater clarity. I realized that the country, despite its modern and welcoming image, still grappled with social barriers, especially for those who did not fit the traditional mold. As a person of half-Zainichi (Korean in Japan) heritage, this really hit close to home. Like my maternal grandmother who hid her Korean heritage in Kobe, I too found myself hesitant to fully embrace both my Japanese and Korean roots in America. At school, I often downplayed my ethnic identity to avoid being seen as different. But the program changed that. It gave me the confidence to stand proudly in my own multicultural identity. The program opened my eyes to a new world—not only of Japan’s culture and history but also of my own potential. Whether through medicine, diplomacy, or another path I have yet to discover, I am determined to bridge cultures and contribute to a more peaceful and interconnected world. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Invitation Program for Japanese American Students, the lasting connections I have made, and the possible future pathways that have opened up in front of me to pursue.
Eva Kurima is a Junior at Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, California. She swims for the girls’ varsity team, starts at receiver on the varsity flag football team, plays flute and piccolo in the Symphony Orchestra of the San Diego Youth Symphony, and is a Reischauer Scholar at SPICE (Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education).
Beyond the Surface: Exploring the Depths of Japan and Myself
by Eva Kurima
This past summer, I didn’t just learn history – I lived it, walking in the footsteps of my ancestors and uncovering the layers of a complex nation. Over the course of nine days in Japan, I was able to step through not only some of Japan’s key historical events but also through my family’s past, providing me with ideas on my potential to shape the future. The trip was made possible by an invitation to participate in the Invitation Program for Japanese American Students sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was fortunate to be one of three Japanese American students selected for the program and given the opportunity to learn firsthand about various aspects of Japan. Exhausted after the 9-day intensive program and an 11-hour flight, I stepped back onto American soil reflecting on three key takeaways: the vast knowledge I gained, newfound clarity in my identity as a Japanese American, and new potential pathways for my future educational and career ambitions.
My journey began on August 19, leaving early in the morning from San Diego airport, running to make my connecting flight to Seattle, and arriving at Haneda airport the next day. Upon landing, I was greeted warmly by our chaperone who welcomed us with the utmost hospitality. Our first four days were spent in Tokyo and Yokohama where we immersed ourselves in Japan’s rich history, unique culture, and evolving economy. We explored politically significant locations and visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the strict security protocols emphasized the gravity of the work being done there. We also engaged with foreign staff at the Yokohama International Affairs Bureau, learning about the challenges and successes they experienced integrating into Japan's tight-knit society. Though the pace was tiring, the city provided us with learning opportunities around every corner.
For the next step in our journey, we boarded the bullet train (shinkansen) and traveled southwest down the main island of Honshu. We passed through the ancient city of Kyoto where my mother was raised and ended our trip in the port city of Hiroshima, a place rich in history, culture, and the birthplace of my great-great-grandparents. During our stay in Hiroshima, we visited iconic landmarks such as Miyajima where we engaged in a traditional shakushi (wooden rice paddle) making experience. This was just one of the many cultural activities that deepened my appreciation for Japan beyond the typical tourist’s perspective.
In Hiroshima, each participant also had the opportunity to homestay with a family for two days. I was a guest of a family in Kure who welcomed me with open arms and treated me like a sister and daughter. Having grown up on the beaches of my hometown of Carlsbad, I was surprised by the calm, still-water of Kure, giving me a different perspective on Japan’s diverse landscape. During the homestay, I was also able to meet several participants of the local Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program which encouraged me to apply to the program in the future.
In stark contrast to the warmth and hospitality of my homestay family, visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was particularly poignant because of my personal connection—I have relatives who perished in the bombing. Walking through the museum, the images and stories revealed a world of suffering, but also resilience I hadn’t fully understood before. It was a humbling and deeply personal experience, reminding me of the critical importance of peace and diplomacy between the U.S. and Japan. Our time in Hiroshima made me feel deeply connected to Japan on a personal level, experiencing its culture not as a visitor, but as a member of the community.
After the homestay, we took the bullet train back to Tokyo but got stuck briefly in Kyoto due to a heavy storm. We arrived safely in Tokyo and the next day visited the Wata Cafe in Tokyo where we learned about their mission to support young women in distress. This visit shattered my previous misconception of Japan as a flawless society. I realized that like any other country, Japan has its challenges, including high suicide rates and social pressures that many women face in silence. This realization shifted my perspective, making me more aware of the complexities behind Japan’s image as a harmonious nation, including those non-Japanese living in the country. It brought to mind the struggles my brother, Noah, faced when moving to Japan for college at Waseda. For example, the difficulty in finding housing because he was a foreigner. Japan, I learned, was not the perfect society that I see in Ghibli movies and anime.
During our final steps of the program, I began to see broader societal issues in Japan with greater clarity. I realized that the country, despite its modern and welcoming image, still grappled with social barriers, especially for those who did not fit the traditional mold. As a person of half-Zainichi (Korean in Japan) heritage, this really hit close to home. Like my maternal grandmother who hid her Korean heritage in Kobe, I too found myself hesitant to fully embrace both my Japanese and Korean roots in America. At school, I often downplayed my ethnic identity to avoid being seen as different. But the program changed that. It gave me the confidence to stand proudly in my own multicultural identity. The program opened my eyes to a new world—not only of Japan’s culture and history but also of my own potential. Whether through medicine, diplomacy, or another path I have yet to discover, I am determined to bridge cultures and contribute to a more peaceful and interconnected world. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Invitation Program for Japanese American Students, the lasting connections I have made, and the possible future pathways that have opened up in front of me to pursue.
Eva Kurima is a Junior at Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, California. She swims for the girls’ varsity team, starts at receiver on the varsity flag football team, plays flute and piccolo in the Symphony Orchestra of the San Diego Youth Symphony, and is a Reischauer Scholar at SPICE (Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education).