Reflecting on Tokyo: An Interview with Two High Schoolers

Before Session 2 of HSSA's Anime & Manga 2025 summer program came to a close, two students were interviewed to learn about their reflections from their experiences in Tokyo. Having been in Tokyo for almost three weeks at the time they were interviewed, the students had been exposed to a variety of aspects of Tokyo and Japanese culture, not just in anime, but in Japan's way of life. 

CIEE: Please tell us your name, age, pronouns, and where you're from.

Kel: My name's Kel. I'm 16 years old. My pronouns are she/her and I'm from Pennsylvania. 

Julia: My name is Julia. I'm 15 years old. My pronouns are she/her and I'm from Palo Alto, California. 

CIEE: Why did you choose to go to Tokyo and specifically, this program?

Kel: I've been obsessed with Japan and Japanese culture my entire life. And I chose this program because I thought that manga and art really fit my interests and what I want to do

Julia: I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone. I've always wanted to visit Japan, specifically Tokyo, and figured this was a good learning experience to become more independent. 

CIEE: In your three weeks in Japan, what is something you noticed yourself adapting to living in a different culture?

Kel: I definitely adapted to the streets and escalators being on the opposite side of where I'm from. It was also my first time riding a train and the quiet, everything about that I really liked.

Julia: Well, I don't know if this is considered cultural, but I've definitely gotten used to the heat, specifically wearing long pants in the heat because it's more common. But then, I've also gotten used to the more quietness and peaceful side of Japan since I'm more used to a louder environment. The people here are definitely more introverted which I really appreciate. 

CIEE: What's an interesting fact about Japanese culture that you learned?

Kel: I learned that the reason people walk on the opposite side of the road is because samurai would have their swords out and people would bump into them. It was inconvenient for them to walk on the same side.

Julia: I found out that Japanese phones have a mandatory clicking sound when you take a picture to protect people from unsolicited and inappropriate photos. I think this is really smart how they saw this problem and actively tried to fix it rather than just standing by and letting it happen. 

CIEE: What is your favorite program activity or anime experience so far, and please talk about it!

Kel: I really liked going to the animation museum because we got to animate and see the processes that other anime studios went through. It was really interactive and fun. 

Julia: My favorite thing with the program was definitely the manga drawing class and visiting all of these manga museums where you can seee the works of previous artists. Working with an actual manga artist was really cool because I was struggling with my art, so learning from her was my favorite part of the trip. 

CIEE: What would you say to a high schooler like you who is interested in going to Japan?

Kel: I'd say definitely go for it even if it seems like a long-shot. It's always good to try. The program is so fun and you'll meet a lot of good people. 

Julia: I'd say go for it. It's a whole new experience for you because you meet all of these other people who are here for the same reason as you. They have different stories, backgrounds, and motivations to come here. You can find your people while also still learning about this country, art, and general cultural experiences. 

Thank you to Kel and Julia for sharing with us their unforgettable experience abroad!

CIEE's High School Summer Abroad programs in Japan provide a hands-on, authentic experiences of life in Tokyo, becoming completely immersed in Japanese culture and the country's way of life. 

Interested in finding out more about the other programs we offer? Read more on the CIEE High School Summer Abroad homepage.