I decided to apply for the SJMC Japan program after learning that students could extend their stay after the program ended. I have extended family that live in Japan, and the opportunity to get to see them while also earning credits for my degree was perfect.
As soon as I signed up for the SJMC Japan program, I realized I was in for so much more than just a regular college course. At our first orientation meetings, we covered a packed itinerary and already began preparing for assignments.
With my departure dates set, I prepared for the upcoming courses. I was incredibly excited to put my media writing skills to the test! I looked forward to our visits to the Wall Street Journal Tokyo Bureau, Kamakura and the Yomiuri Giants baseball game in particular. The spring semester went by quickly, and before I knew it, I was packing my bags for the plane.
Our visit to Meiji Jingu shrine impacted me in ways I hadn’t expected. The shrine is a natural sanctum from the busy streets of Tokyo. The massive torii gates and paths that stretch out through the forest completely immersed me. After making a stop at the altar for a donation and a small prayer, I exited out the final gate feeling ready for the rest of the day ahead.
Back on the streets of Tokyo, I started preparing for a large undertaking, traveling all the way from Shibuya to Shinjuku and then Nakano for a full Tokyo music experience. Tokyo is known for its iconic record stores and diverse music culture, making it a paradise for music enthusiasts. It’s been the center of all kinds of musical imports from jazz to breakcore. My goal was to visit as many record stores as I could in 10 hours or less so I could catch the last train back to the hotel.
I created a detailed map and poured hours into researching the best hidden gems in the area. Finally, during one of our last days in Tokyo, I had the chance to head off on my journey. I managed to go all up and down the west side of Tokyo, having conversations with friendly record store owners and local DJs. The most memorable experience was at Hal’s Record, where I spoke to one of the managers for nearly two hours. The manager, Yosuke, is Hal’s son. They take turns running the store front from a small residential building. I spent the time browsing his music collection together, learning some new Japanese phrases and chatting away about our favorite albums.
My time at Hal’s was the most candid experience I had during the program. I learned so much about Yosuke’s personal experience with jazz kissa (jazz clubs) and discovered Japanese musicians I never would’ve found on my own. I left the store with a few records in hand and hopped back on the train to continue my journey through Tokyo.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of our experiences during the program, but the one that stuck with me the most was our visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Our group had the privilege of being the first SJMC Japan students to visit Hiroshima. Writing about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima was difficult. Walking the grounds and seeing the history of it all in person was an emotional experience. I didn’t understand the true scale of the horrors inflicted by the bomb until I laid my eyes on the Atomic Bomb Dome and heard the testimonials preserved in the museum. I felt my writing being put to the test here in a different way from any other place we went. There’s an enormous sense of responsibility that comes with covering tragedy. It requires a balance of empathy, respect and decorum that you can only learn through experience. I felt very honored that our group was able to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Japan’s history has a way of blending seamlessly with its modern megalopolises. The first shrine visit to Meiji Jingu sparked a newfound obsession in me for Japanese history and religion. I’ve always taken an interest in learning about various religions, but the opportunity to experience the history of these sites in person captivated me.
The day trips to Kamakura and Miyajima Island were spectacular. I thought I’d already seen amazing sites and learned rich history at Meiji Jingu, but these two places had so much more to offer than I could have imagined. I loved every moment, from walking through the beautiful flowers of Hasadera to hiking to the top of Mount Misen to drink water heated by the eternal flame.
Hiking through the natural areas that surround the shrines of Kamakura and Miyajima gave me time to reflect on all the practice I was getting from the program. I hadn’t had time to process the fast-paced day from my daily blog post covering the WSJ, University of Tokyo and the baseball game. It was here that I realized I was learning how to reach for stamina I didn’t know that I had. Before the trip, I couldn’t have imagined having a two-hour turn-around on an assignment, especially one that covered an entire day of in-person interviews and hands-on experiences. Those days of practicing awareness, attention to detail, planning routes, adapting my writing style and adjusting how I take notes gave me more journalism experience than I ever got sitting in a classroom.
By the conclusion of the program, I truly felt like I had put my media writing skills to the test. I was ready to relax and spend some time with my family. I reunited with them in Kobe for the first time in 10 years. I spent hours regaling all my stories to them about my time during the program.
I learned a level of confidence and adaptability that I didn’t know I could possess. I also learned a lot about myself. My experience on the trip has led to me setting my sights on a career that involves traveling. Wherever I end up, I want to be someone who gets to move. In Japan, I developed a hunger for experiencing the unknown, and I don’t think it’s one I’ll ever be able to satisfy.
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