Reflections Through Culture, Nature, and Discovery, Part 1
As we wrap up our first week in Japan, I’m excited to share a collection of reflections written by our students. Each one captures a unique and personal view of what it’s been like to step into this rich, vibrant culture. From peaceful temple visits and lush gardens to the energy of Tokyo’s streets and meaningful cultural exchanges, their words offer a glimpse into how this journey is already shaping their perspectives.
It’s been a joy to witness their curiosity, thoughtfulness, and growth—and I hope you enjoy seeing Japan through their eyes as much as I have.
Cindy Ludlam, Assistant Professor of Ceramics
Shopping in Shibuya—Alice Quail
I had always heard great things about this neighborhood in Tokyo called Shibuya, with all its famous shops and the iconic Shibuya Crossing, but I never thought the day would come where I would get to experience it for myself. So, when my friends asked me after class one day if I wanted to go to Shibuya with them, I naturally said yes.
As soon as I exited the train station, I was amazed by what I saw. Tall buildings surrounded me—some featuring large video screens, others housing trendy stores and various attractions. It almost felt like I was back in Times Square, except I wasn’t in America.
While my friends headed straight to the Pokémon Center, I was more interested in the nearby Nintendo Store and decided to go there on my own. And from the looks of it, everyone had the same idea as me because that store had a lot of fellow tourists. This store offered more than just video games and Switch consoles—it also featured Japan-exclusive merchandise from their game franchises. At one point while I was shopping, a store clerk approached me with a large shopping bag for my items. I could get used to this!
After doing a bit more damage to my wallet than planned, I met up with my friends, who were in the same boat. We had no idea what to do next, but I remembered hearing about a massive record store called Tower Records. My friends seemed interested, and with the help of Google Maps, we navigated the crowded streets and made our way there.
When I entered the store, it felt like I was in music heaven. At first, most of the albums I saw were by J-pop artists, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a wide selection of Western music as well. I managed to not go too crazy and only bought one album by a J-pop artist I am a huge fan of. My friends and I were happy to discover there was a floor for video game music, and they bought some albums as well.
All that shopping and walking through crowds got overwhelming and tiring after a while, so we made our way back to the train station. Just as I was about to enter the station, I saw it—the towering billboards and bustling crowds I had only ever seen in anime and movies. I was standing in the middle of Shibuya Crossing! I obviously had to take a picture of this for the memories before making the trip back to the hotel.
Going to Shibuya was a very fun yet overwhelming experience that felt like a dream come true. I will have to come back sometime!
Kiyosumi Garden—Charles Karwowski
In our first week here in Japan, we spent much of class time going over Japanese social norms that differ from American norms. Japan is much quieter and is also much more serene and harmonious.
I have done a lot of research on Japanese culture prior to my flight as I’ve always been interested in learning about different cultures and arts and Japan has always been at the top of my list. During the second half of our class we visited a few sights with my favorite thus far being the Kiyosumi Garden.
We were tasked with exploring the park and had to take in our surroundings. During my time there I felt very serene and tranquil. This really lines up with Japanese social norms as well Shintoism which aims to promote harmony, peace, and tranquility.
As we near the end of the first week I’ve learned that while Japan was once a country known for its military might, but in more recent times it has become a very peaceful country, the locals have been very nice and patient with us foreigners thus far and I look forward to learning more about this country’s art and culture.