Author: Mika Brown | Major: Physics | Semester: Winter 2025-2026

Wearing a kimono as part of a day trip to Kawagoe

I studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan during the January intersession through the CIEE College Study Abroad January in Tokyo program. I chose to study in Tokyo because of both my academic interests and my personal connection to Japan. As a Japanese minor, I have spent almost four years studying the language, starting with basic grammar and vocabulary and gradually moving into more advanced translation and writing. While these classes have helped me build strong reading and writing skills, most of my experience with Japanese had been limited to textbooks and classroom conversations. Studying abroad gave me the chance to step outside that structured environment and practice using Japanese in everyday life. I am also half Japanese, but I have not spent much time in Tokyo speaking Japanese before this program. Because of that, studying abroad felt like such an important opportunity to both connect with my heritage and experience the culture.

During the program, I took JAPN 2004: Japanese Popular Culture, a class that focused on how anime, manga, and other forms of media reflect Japanese history and society. This class was very different from my previous Japanese courses at the University of Arkansas, which mainly focused on language skills. Instead of memorizing grammar or vocabulary, we analyzed how popular culture connects to real historical events and social values. We also compared Japanese media to American media and discussed how each culture uses storytelling in different ways. This helped me understand that anime and manga are not just simple entertainment, but they are also important ways that Japan processes history, identity, and change.

One of the most memorable academic experiences was participating in an exchange with a Japanese high school. This gave me the chance to talk directly with Japanese students and practice conversational Japanese in a real setting. We took part in several cultural activities together, including a traditional tea ceremony called sado and a demonstration of the koto, a traditional Japanese instrument. Talking with the students helped me see how Japanese schools emphasize responsibility, discipline, and personal growth outside of just academics. One student told me he had been involved in dance for ten years and showed videos of his performances, which showed how important long-term commitment and whole-person development is in Japanese education. This experience was especially impactful because I am considering applying to the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program in the future. Through JET, I would teach English in Japanese schools. Spending time in a Japanese school helped me better understand what teaching and learning are like in Japan. If I decide to pursue JET in the future, the cultural knowledge and classroom exposure I gained during this program will be extremely valuable.

Outside of class, everyday life in Tokyo became just as important to my learning as the academic parts of the program. Navigating the train system, ordering food, and making frequent konbini runs required me to constantly use Japanese in practical situations. These daily experiences helped reinforce vocabulary and made me more confident speaking the language. I also was able to notice how visible popular culture is in Japan. Anime characters, mascots, and manga ads were everywhere, from train stations to the sides of buildings. Seeing how popular culture was integrated into daily life helped me better understand and appreciate what we were studying in class.

The most meaningful part of my time in Japan was being able to visit family who live near Tokyo. Traveling by train to see them allowed me to both experience the bustling city of Tokyo and the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the countryside. My Japanese skills were actually tested the most when talking with my relatives, since they do not speak much English and I am still learning Japanese. These conversations were challenging, but they helped me expand my vocabulary quickly and gave me a deeper understanding of cultural differences between Japan and America.

Overall, the CIEE January in Tokyo program was much more to me than just a short study abroad trip. It helped me strengthen my Japanese language skills, better understand Japanese culture, and make connections between what I learned in the classroom to real-life experiences.