gap year abroad in japan for U.S. high school graduates

Japan is a study in contrasts between the old and the new, and Tokyo ranks among the world's most energetic and fascinating cities. In addition to being the economic and political heart of Japan, Tokyo balances its present-day modernity with its traditional past. This provides a landscape that may allow one to see a kimono-clad woman talking on a cell phone, an old man selling baked yams from his homemade cart to a group of "salarymen" on a crowded business district ,and a 200-year old portable shrine being carried through the streets, all on a single day.

Today's metropolis, sprawling on the western shores of Tokyo Bay, began life as a humble fishing village called Edo (mouth of the estuary). While Kyoto was still officially the capital, in 1590 the ruling Shogun established his center of power in Edo. The town developed quickly into one of the largest cities in the world. Destroyed twice in the 20th century, first by an earthquake and later by Allied bombings, Tokyo has risen again to become the modern metropolis that it is today.

As the financial nerve center of Japan, Tokyo has long set the pace for the rest of Asia. It is the reigning capital of Asian pop art, fads and trends. Yet Tokyo is nothing more than a series of small towns and neighborhoods clustered together; each with its own atmosphere, narrow, winding streets, mom-and-pop shops, fruit stands and stores.

what will your story be in japan?

Experience the excitement of daily life in Tokyo, and develop new perspectives on the world as you observe Japanese approaches to ecology, efficiency, socializing, pace of life, and culture. Tokyo allows you to immerse yourself in world-class modern architecture and design, set amongst historic remains which date back to feudal Japan. Each day is an adventure in the mix of the familiar and exotic, the new and the old. You will live and take classes in Japan’s most vibrant city!

 

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