It was disheartening to know we only had a few days left of this incredible journey, however, we are glad we can say we made the most of our final moments.

We got the chance to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum, examining the artistic process of Miyazaki’s iconic films. We had a “choose your own adventure” time after; students visited the vast arcade, shopped at Ginza’s famous Dover Street Market,  or explored cafes and small shops in Tokyo’s electric city ‘Akihabara’. We couldn’t leave Japan without doing a cooking class, so we spent the evening pounding mochi and rolling sushi! We learned from a talented and kind local chef as she showed us how to make sushi art and grind fresh wasabi. Some students proclaimed it was the best food they ate on the whole trip! We wrapped up our day with a game of duck-duck-goose in the park until we were totally exhausted from all the laughing and running.

The following day was our big project presentation party! Some students ventured out to the five-story Starbucks Roastery reserve, where unique drinks were enjoyed and project work was finalized. Other students went to the enormous Tokyo Pokemon Center, seeing all the different characters that brought back childhood memories.

In the afternoon we had the opportunity to have one last onsen experience, taking a moment to relax. We returned, ready to share a culminating project that displayed the new knowledge gained during our time in Japan. The projects were artistic, academic, informative, and cross-cultural, ranging from the housing crisis in Japan, to a guide on being vegetarian in Japan, to an examination of diversity within Japan. Poems, pictures, journal entries, slideshows, and videos were shared. We ate cake as we learned from one another’s new perspectives! We made wishes on Daruma dolls, signed each others’ ‘yearbooks’, and discussed our major takeaways from the program as a few closing rituals. For our final dinner together, we shared a picnic in the park, picking out some of our favorite Japanese dishes and treats to eat on blankets. We played games, lit sparklers, and did one last walk around Tokyo. We reminisced on the highs and lows of the trip, shared gratitude for the family we co-created, and said some teary-eyed goodbyes.

We can all agree that this trip has been a once in a lifetime experience. We will not forget the memories, the adventures, and the community cultivated over the past few weeks. Although we may never be in Japan together all at once again, we know this group’s web of connection, love, and learning will always remain woven. We took chances, tried new things, opened our minds, and looked out for one another. If we can carry this energy forward in all that we do, we know we will continue to grow and succeed in life.

Smithsonian Japan 2023, it’s been the “GOAT”! …Until we meet again 🙂