Author: Will Henley | Major: Psychology and Biology | Semester: Summer 2025

Celebrating a classmate’s birthday with a traditional Japanese meal. Pictured: Will McConaughey, Cameron Crowe, Kiya Britt, Brooke Venters, Jake Gramling, Brice Stegall, Will Henley, Cole Proctor

This summer, I spent four weeks studying abroad in Japan in the Intensive Japanese Language program. I hoped to gain first-hand practice speaking Japanese and learn more about Japanese culture and customs. I’d been studying Japanese for two years, but knew that immersing myself in the language and culture would be the best way to improve my grasp of the language. The academic side of the program was very fast-paced, but also incredibly fun. We had classes three hours a day every weekday, both during the three weeks leading up to our departure and while we were in Japan. My intermediate class had only four students, which made for a tight-knit and fun group. Throughout the program, both of our faculty leaders were always available for questions, whether related to class or about Japan in general. We spent two weeks in Matsue, in one of the rural parts of Japan, and two weeks in Yokohama, near Tokyo. In Matsue, we took the bus every weekday to Shimane University and ate lunch with Shimane University students. In Yokohama, we lived in a dorm directly on campus at Kanto Gakuin University, just a short walk away from class. We were only a 90-minute train ride from the center of Tokyo, which allowed us to make frequent excursions into the city during our free time. Despite how vast and entertaining Tokyo was, I surprisingly found that Matsue was easily my favorite. Because there were hardly any tourists, very few locals spoke any English, which meant I got more immersion in the language and was able to get more practice reading and speaking Japanese. One of the most memorable parts of the program was hanging out with Shoichiro, a student at Shimane University. We ate lunch together several times, and he taught me many casual Japanese expressions that I hadn’t learned in class. It was eye-opening to see the ways in which his daily life as a student compared with mine. Chatting with him and other students every day in Japanese helped tremendously with my listening skills and my ability to recall grammar structures quickly. Another great experience I had was doing karaoke nights with Japanese students. It’s a popular way to spend the evening for young people in Japan, and I had a blast both times I went. We also participated in many other fun activities in Matsue and Yokohama. In Matsue, we met with the vice-governor of the Shimane prefecture; made wagashi; learned how to use kendamas, visited places like Matsue Castle, Izumo Taisha, and the Adachi Museum of Art; and enjoyed various other activities with Shimane University students. In Yokohama, we toured Tokyo and Yokohama, learned to play Wadaiko drums, and went to a local baseball game. My favorite memory from my time in Japan was when Shoichiro invited me to come with him to rehearse with the Shimane University Chorus Club. It was fascinating to learn how their practices differ from my own experiences with the Razorback Chorus. Also, reading the lyrics in Japanese was a fun challenge.This program was an incredible and life-changing experience, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I not only vastly improved my ability to speak, write, and understand Japanese, but also learned a great deal about Japanese culture and lifestyle. There are many things I’ll miss about Japan, but most of all I’ll miss the people. I had great conversations with everyone from shop owners to students, and I made friends and memories that will last a lifetime This summer, I spent four weeks studying abroad in Japan in the Intensive Japanese Language program. I hoped to gain first-hand practice speaking Japanese and learn more about Japanese culture and customs. I’d been studying Japanese for two years, but knew that immersing myself in the language and culture would be the best way to improve my grasp of the language. The academic side of the program was very fast-paced, but also incredibly fun. We had classes three hours a day every weekday, both during the three weeks leading up to our departure and while we were in Japan. My intermediate class had only four students, which made for a tight-knit and fun group. Throughout the program, both of our faculty leaders were always available for questions, whether related to class or about Japan in general. We spent two weeks in Matsue, in one of the rural parts of Japan, and two weeks in Yokohama, near Tokyo. In Matsue, we took the bus every weekday to Shimane University and ate lunch with Shimane University students. In Yokohama, we lived in a dorm directly on campus at Kanto Gakuin University, just a short walk away from class. We were only a 90-minute train ride from the center of Tokyo, which allowed us to make frequent excursions into the city during our free time. Despite how vast and entertaining Tokyo was, I surprisingly found that Matsue was easily my favorite. Because there were hardly any tourists, very few locals spoke any English, which meant I got more immersion in the language and was able to get more practice reading and speaking Japanese. One of the most memorable parts of the program was hanging out with Shoichiro, a student at Shimane University. We ate lunch together several times, and he taught me many casual Japanese expressions that I hadn’t learned in class. It was eye-opening to see the ways in which his daily life as a student compared with mine. Chatting with him and other students every day in Japanese helped tremendously with my listening skills and my ability to recall grammar structures quickly. Another great experience I had was doing karaoke nights with Japanese students. It’s a popular way to spend the evening for young people in Japan, and I had a blast both times I went. We also participated in many other fun activities in Matsue and Yokohama. In Matsue, we met with the vice-governor of the Shimane prefecture; made wagashi; learned how to use kendamas, visited places like Matsue Castle, Izumo Taisha, and the Adachi Museum of Art; and enjoyed various other activities with Shimane University students. In Yokohama, we toured Tokyo and Yokohama, learned to play Wadaiko drums, and went to a local baseball game. My favorite memory from my time in Japan was when Shoichiro invited me to come with him to rehearse with the Shimane University Chorus Club. It was fascinating to learn how their practices differ from my own experiences with the Razorback Chorus. Also, reading the lyrics in Japanese was a fun challenge.This program was an incredible and life-changing experience, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I not only vastly improved my ability to speak, write, and understand Japanese, but also learned a great deal about Japanese culture and lifestyle. There are many things I’ll miss about Japan, but most of all I’ll miss the people. I had great conversations with everyone from shop owners to students, and I made friends and memories that will last a lifetime