Japanese Language Students Head to Japan in Spring

→ By Noah Hu (‘23)

This spring break, all seniors in Japanese 4, AP Japanese, and seniors who took Japanese will take their first trip to mainland Japan since 2019. Prior to the pandemic, HBA’s Japanese language program has always taken a biennial school trip to Japan. In fact, many other classes also took school trips to various locations, such as England, Spain, East Coast, Galapagos, and Yellowstone. But due to the recent pandemic, nearly all trips have been canceled or limited in some capacity.

Usually, both seniors and juniors are invited on the trip, but because of the pandemic seniors in Japanese 3 who would have been eligible for the trip never got the opportunity to attend. Next fall break however, HBA still plans to take a regular trip for Japanese 3 and 4/AP students. The main cities that the students will be visiting include Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo and Saitama. According to AP Japanese teacher, some options that are being considered for the itinerary are various temples and shrines, gardens in Kyoto, Big Buddha in Nara Deer Park, Onsen (hot spring) in Kyoto, Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, Wagashi (Japanese confectionary) making experience with matcha, Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Tokyo, Team Lab Digital art museum & Daiba, Tsukiji Outer market in Tokyo and Totoro Forest strolling + individual experience like shopping, college visits, etc.

Students most likely won’t be able to visit all of these spots however. The trip’s cost of $2000-$3000 will determine the length of the trip and the number of attractions they can visit.

Other than visiting for leisure, Yoo hopes that the trip will enhance what students have been learning in their Japanese classes. Throughout the trip students will expand their knowledge of Japanese history, language, etiquette, transportation, fashion, geography, and more.

Yoo also adds, “Even though some students may have forgotten the language, going to Japan will surely bring some of the learned words and phrases back and make them real. Language will literally come alive when we visit the country”. She especially hopes AP Japanese will have epiphanies about the culture they’ve learned throughout the year.

AP Japanese students going on the trip are excited for a variety of different things, from shopping to just spending time with their peers. Senior John Yamamoto finds going on the trip as a way to reconnect with his heritage. He says, “I would like to learn more about Japanese views on life, as well as things that they celebrate. I would like to learn these things because I am full Japanese-American and would like to get more in touch with my roots.”