Sasha Nathania-Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
Konnichiwa, hallo my name is Sasha!
I’m 17 years old. I’m an exchange student from Indonesia to Japan. I’ve been here for 4 months and I’ll stay until march which is next month!
This is my story when I’m living in the wonderful prefecture in Japan. Morioka, Iwate. Maybe for some people, living in not really big city will be such a boring exchange period, I thought that too in the first time. But in fact, Morioka city just made me fall in love since day 1. I never wondered about living in this wonderland. Beautiful sightseeing every spot, calm…
Rizky Dwi Ananda-Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
Hello minna~ my name is Rizky Dwi Ananda, I am an Indonesian student who got the chance to experience this wonderful exchange life in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan for 4 months.
Miyazaki is a prefecture in the south part of Japan (in Kyushu Island) and is popular of its warm climate. But it doesn’t mean that snow doesn’t fall here. Miyazaki can be 2 very different vibes in winter. In the north (Gokase) it snows a lot so that you can try playing ski because the last ski resort in the south of Japan is in Miyazaki! …
Reynard Ardian Simacjuntak-Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
During the twilight of their mortal life, the maple leaves at Eden blooms like a flower. As the season’s radiance, too, slowly twilights off and the bleak winter wind slowly creeps in, the leaves bleed scarlet, turning their last drop of life into unparalleled beauty. The scarlet, as if an ember in a midwinter fireplace, burns into the minds of most as it, too, was burned into mine, as I witnessed the twilight of their life at the Eden that is Meiji Jingu.
Reffa Muhammad Dzafif-Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
The flower life cycle starts when a seed falls on the ground. When a seed falls on the ground, it needs warmth and water in order to germinate also needs light. Then, the flower will grow and become beautiful because of all the cycles.
Life on my exchange program is like flower life cycles, it starts from seed falls on the ground, and growth with beautifully.
Pinkka Tiara-Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
Our lives are one big puzzle, we don’t know how many pieces we’ve got, we’re constantly adding more pieces, all the memories we’ve been through and the lessons we’ve learned to be true. This is the year that I realize, I’m growing, I’m changing, my mind grows. I am mentally and physically growing. The journey changes me, it leaves marks on my memory, on my heart, and on my body. This is the year that I realize progress doesn’t need to be perfect and I won’t discredit how far I’ve come, two steps forward and one step back is still…
Muhammad Dion Karnegi-Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
Konnichiwa, hello my name is Dion, I was an exchange student from Indonesia to Japan, and this is my story. I’m gonna tell you guys my story about my experience at Matcha shops near my dormitory.
I got a placement in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. The city is known as one of the best green tea (matcha) cities in Japan. Matcha is also an inseparable part of Japan. On this occasion, we also had the opportunity to see the process of making matcha and make it in person at one of the most famous matcha shops in Uji, Kanbayashi. This…
Felix Kho-INA Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
One of my favorite sports is Pencak Silat, an original martial art from Indonesia that involves striking, grappling, and throwing. Fighters are also allowed to use certain types of weapons. There are various styles of Pencak Silat, and every each of them is unique. I have joined Pencak Silat “Perisai Diri” since senior high school as an extracurricular.
During my exchange program, my Host School teacher suddenly asked me whether I have any talent to be performed, like singing or dancing. Well definitely my answer was,” No, I can’t. I am bad at singing and dancing hahaha. But, I think…
Faiza Layalia Az-Zahra-Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
Time passed like a blink of lightning in the middle of a hard endless rain. That is what I felt in this body, switching from a clueless kid to be a growing person that should be ready to accept all kinds of love, or eventually rejection. The nostalgic feeling I always felt in Japan left me hanging with this curiosity of how the world rolling around in people's eyes. Especially the small things that are casually simple but hard to find in the present. For example, those small snacks with bright and expressive packaging. …
Azka — INA Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
Hi Everyone!! I’m Azka, an Exchange Student in Japan 2020/2021, placement in Okayama. Since I started my exchange student journey all things were my first time. It informed me of so many new experiences; one of them is respect. In Indonesia, I studied at an Islamic boarding school for approximately 5 years. And then during an exchange, I studied at Catholic School, which is all the students are female. The name is Seishin Girl’s High School. This is my first time studying and school at different religions and lives among them.
I was really surprised by all the teachers and…
Aurelia Bianca Hanjaya — INA Asia Kakehashi Project YP 20/21
Are you scared of the dark? That is one of the first things that I ever think of. Since I was a child, I was terrified of the darkness. I remember clearly the way I was screeching each time there is a power outage at my home. My mom then would come to my room with a lit candle. She told me not to worry.
The first darkness that I encountered in Japan is not as simple as a power outage. When I moved into my second host family’s home, I realized that I haven’t completely prepared my mind for…
