By Kimberly Yamaguchi

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On Nov. 18, students from Kaiyo Academy in Japan visited MHS.  It gave both the MHS and Kaiyo Academy students insight into the differences and similarities between their homes.

“I feel that (this) benefits our MHS students because they get better cultural experience, seeing how (the Kaiyo students’) culture is different from ours like everyday-wise.  Like they wear uniforms and we wear whatever we want because we are able to,” said MHS Senior Ryan Houser, who helped translate for the students.

Kaiyo Academy is an elite boarding school for boys from ages 13 to 18, located in the Ibaraki prefecture of Honshu, Japan.  There, the students receive a specialized education in their chosen field of work.

The 33 students that visited had applied to come before their freshman year.  “If they are interested in the seas and ships they can apply to come here.  If they attain good grades throughout their freshman year they can come,” explained Chaperone Takashige Hiroyuki.  Hiroyuki has been chaperoning boys on this three week boat trip to Hawaii for the last 17 years.  Throughout their trip they received hands-on fishing and boating experience.  “We went fishing for 45 (minutes) before we came here to fish ahi,” explained Hiroyuki.

Because the environment at MHS is drastically different from that of Kaiyo Academy, the visitors were overwhelmed at first.  “This school’s campus is much bigger than our school.  People here are very open about things.  They just come up and talk to you.  They’re bold,” said Kaiyo Academy Sophomore Akano Kazuki.  “They seem to be learning how different it is from their home country, Japan, and the different languages and cultures here,” added Hiroyuki.

However, the students really weren’t as different as they thought.  “It’s hard to tell the difference, besides the fact that they’re from another country (and) they speak a different language because they have similar hobbies and they like the same sports, so I think the only difference is that they’re just from another place,” explained MHS Junior Rachel Brewer.  Student Activities Coordinator Gail Nishimura added, “This year, I think because more (MHS students) spoke Japanese, they may have enjoyed the exchange better.”

The experience was beneficial to both visiting students and MHS students.  “I was very eager to come.  This is a fun, good experience,” said Kaiyo Academy Sophomore  Sinpei Shimizu.  Nishimura added, “Well, (the Kaiyo students) have the experience of being with American students.  Because at home they, even now, they’re in uniform and our kids, not even close to a uniform.  And the structure for them is so strict compared to us.”

MHS students benefitted in other ways besides the educational experience. “I think I definitely got friends out of this, even though I might not see them again.  And I also got to practice my Japanese so that was good.  I just got a really fun experience out of it,” said Brewer.

Students from both MHS and Kaiyo Academy enjoyed the visit, because they learned more about the cultures and customs of each country and made new friends.