By Kiana Caranto

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Students from Fuchu High School in the Hiroshima prefecture, Japan visited MHS from Sept. 25 to 27, giving themselves the chance to broaden their perspectives and learn more about Hawaii’s culture.

“I think it’s marvelous that the students themselves can have this kind of exchange and opportunity to visit each others’ school,” said Steve Kolak, the International Director of Hiroshima YMCA, who helped to establish the relationship between Fuchu High School and MHS, “It’s a real eye-opener, it’s blowing them away really.”

In February 2013, MHS Principal Fred Murphy and Japanese teacher Corey Zukeran traveled to Japan for the program’s initiation ceremony and over the summer, students from MHS won a trip to Japan during which they visited Fuchu High School. The opportunity to come to MHS was offered to all second year students at Fuchu High School, resulting in four students and a teacher signing up. During their time at MHS, the students participated in a welcome ceremony held in the MHS gym as well as various classes such as Japanese, hula and chorus.

The trip also gave the students from Fuchu High School the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture. “We don’t know very many things about Hawaii. So I hope my students will learn many Hawaiian cultures, languages and history too,” said Fuchu High School teacher Mio Tanida, who chaperoned the trip.

In addition to providing them with new experience, the trip provided them with knowledge that allowed them to compare the differences between the two cultures. “(Compared to Japan, the) ceremony (was more) relaxed; Japanese very, very strict,” expressed Fuchu High School Junior Kazuha Hirano.

The trip equipped the Fuchu students with knowledge that they will be able to utilize in their daily lives. “In this day and age where it’s such a global world where people can easily contact people from different parts of the world,” said Zukeran, “It’s good experience.”

One of the classes the Fuchu students participated in were Advanced Placement Japanese classes, and since many of MHS’ students are heritage speakers neither language nor cultural barriers prevented the two groups of students from bonding. “They kind of were able to get along really quickly,” stated Zukeran, “The environment was very conducive to different kinds of communication and exchanging of ideas.”

The Fuchu students utilized this trip as a way to help them prepare for an English language exam they were required to take on Sept. 29, the day of their return to Japan.