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Participation in Kizuna Across Cultures’ (KAC) Global Classmates program, and later the Global Classmates Summit, marked a turning point in my understanding of my culture and identity, which continues to influence how I connect with my cultural heritage and pursue my university studies as a gosei (fifth generation) Japanese American. 

Growing up, I did not have much interaction with Japanese people outside of my family, and even those interactions were limited since no one in my immediate family can speak native-level Japanese. This ultimately fueled my decision to study Japanese in high school, where I participated in the Global Classmates Program in 2023. At first, I was intimidated with the idea of talking to Japanese students and worried that my connection to Japanese culture was not “authentic”. However, the daily interactions during the duration of the program proved otherwise. Casual discussions allowed me to ask questions about the Japanese students’ lives, discover connections to my own experiences with family and culture, all while practicing Japanese! Bonding over music, tv shows and other common interests made it easier to form friendships. Within my own Japanese class too, these exchanges deepened our relationships and sparked curiosity. It was fascinating how an exchange with the Japanese students also facilitated growth in the relationships in my Japanese class. Through KAC, I experienced firsthand how international exchanges not only foster self understanding but also strengthen people-to-people connections. 

The following summer, I had the honor of participating virtually in the Global Classmates Summit as one of the seven American students alongside seven Japanese students. Each session was invaluable, both in what I learned about myself and in the perspectives I gained in global relations from the speakers. The Summit sparked a global curiosity in me and a lasting passion for cross-cultural exchange and U.S.-Japan relations.

The Summit fostered deep connections of understanding and acceptance in my cohort that translated past a virtual barrier. I remember staying after the official sessions to continue discussions with other participants about cultural nuances and personal passions. These sessions also served as helpful language practice, both ways. These genuine conversations, along with support from the KAC staff, encouraged me to ask difficult questions and feel supported. The Summit showed me how language learning is ultimately inseparable from cultural understanding. As a Japanese American, I often feel caught in a gray area between the United States and Japan, but through the summit, I realized my identity enables me to bridge understanding between both cultures. I left with greater confidence in my Japanese skills and a deepened interest in U.S.-Japan relations. 

Now, as a university student, my KAC experiences continue to guide my path. I chose to major in International Studies and pursue Japanese as one of my minors. I also had the privilege of returning to KAC as an intern and peer mentor for this year’s Global Classmate Summit, held in person in Washington D.C., for the first time since COVID-19. Watching this year’s cohort reminded me of the enduring importance of people-to-people connections and the value of fostering cross-cultural relationships. Even in my role as an intern, the lessons remained impactful and witnessing young people engage so deeply in global collaboration inspired me to continue nurturing my own globally curiosity and commitment to international exchange.

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From September 2024 to February 2025, Kizuna Across Cultures successfully completed the 13th year of Global Classmates, a six-month bilingual online exchange program connecting high school students across the United States and Japan. This year’s program brought together 2,100 students from 79 high schools—39 in Japan and 40 in the U.S.—spanning 21 U.S. states and 24 Japanese prefectures.

The Global Classmates program goes beyond traditional language learning. Its core mission is to foster intercultural competence—the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with people from different cultural backgrounds, form meaningful connections, and collaborate across cultures. Through a combination of asynchronous written communication and real-time video exchanges, students shared their thoughts, asked questions, and explored differences and similarities in daily life. Over 57,000 comments were exchanged during the program, and post-program surveys showed that 97% of students and 99% of teachers were satisfied with the experience.

This year, many school pairs participated in multiple live video sessions, which deepened student relationships and enhanced engagement in the written exchanges. These interactions not only strengthened language skills but also built empathy, patience, and adaptability in cross-cultural dialogue. As technology like AI translation tools continues to evolve, Global Classmates remain committed to nurturing the uniquely human skills that machines cannot replicate—curiosity, trust, and emotional connection.

A U.S. student reflected on the experience:

“The interaction of learning from a Japanese person is valuable. Many high schoolers studying Japanese are taught by teachers who aren’t native speakers. Our teachers are experienced; however, learning from someone who is Japanese can lead to additional cultural insights and understanding.

To me, Global Classmates means interaction. Interacting with a student who understands the struggle of learning a new language—and who I can not only teach but also learn from. Through this experience, I’ve learned that these students in Japan are no different than we in America. We have similar hobbies, favorite foods, and experiences. But we also have many differences, like the style of our houses and school structures. Acknowledging those differences and similarities is a beautiful thing, and I’m lucky to have experienced that.

My most memorable part of the program was opening the gifts they sent us, which showed me more of their character.”

A Japanese student also shared this reflection:

“Through the Global Classmates program, I was able to learn about different ways of thinking and seeing the world. Reading posts on each topic, I found so many interesting perspectives, and I was often inspired by opinions that made me think, ‘I never would have come up with that!’

It was also a joy to come across thoughts and ideas that aligned with mine. In history class, when I studied about the world wars, or when I saw news about the war in Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza, I used to think, ‘People from different countries must inevitably have different ways of thinking.’

But through exchanging opinions with American high school students in Global Classmates, I realized that’s not necessarily the case. I learned that no matter where someone is born and raised, ideas and feelings can be understood and shared.

I was also impressed by how the American students stood by their own opinions while still being open to those of others. I tend to be easily influenced by situations or other people’s opinions, so I hope to learn from their example.”

As the 2024–2025 program concludes, we celebrate the meaningful conversations, friendships, and intercultural growth that took place. We thank all participating students, teachers, and schools for making this year’s Global Classmates such a vibrant and impactful experience.

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