The Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver was full of laughter last Thursday as H.J. Cambie secondary students recalled their experiences during a one-week trip sponsored by the Japanese government.
As part of Japan’s Friendship Ties Program, which promotes people-to-people exchanges between Japan and other countries, the Kakehashi Project invited 35 students from B.C. – including 15 from Cambie secondary – and 13 students from Japan to visit each other’s hometowns.
“Richmond and Wakayama in Japan are sister cities, and Richmond has a long history with Japanese Canadians, so we invited students from a Richmond school to go on this culture exchange trip,” Takashi Hatori, consul general of Japan in Vancouver, told the Richmond News.
Students said the trip was "life-changing and incredible" and they were very impressed by the culture and people in Japan as well as its environment, food, technology and hospitality.
“The first night we went out (in Japan), we just walked around in the city and noticed how clean everything was,” said Elliot Evans, a Grade 11 at Cambie Secondary.
“We noticed there was no litter, no graffiti, no gum or cigarette butts anywhere on the ground. That really stood out to us.”
Yousif El-Wishahy, Grade 12, said he was inspired by the everyday technology seen in Japan, which makes people’s life more convenient.
“When we think of Japanese technology, we usually think of cool robots or transport trains...what we didn’t realize was that science is everywhere, and involves two main ideas: efficiency and thoughtfulness,” he said.
“Bullet trains always arrived on time, left on time and they were very fast, so you basically don't need domestic flights anymore.
"Every few metres, there are six vending machines with hundreds of different drinks - you can have soup and hot drinks. We really miss that.”
But what every student emphasizes the most is the hospitality of the people in Japan, especially their homestay families, who would keep putting food in their bowls on a dinner table, take them to play the drums in the mountains, or teach them to make a traditional hat.
“The homestay experience was very important, very educational. Not like a tour or museum, we were able to experience everything firsthand,” said Brett Cudo, Grade 12.
“I really like how they welcomed us as their own children and brought us into their culture. They were so enthusiastic and happy to see us, and were always concerned about us, like if we were hungry.
"Even though there was a language barrier, they really spoke with their heart. That’s why I really love the culture in Japan.”
