Before the start of the Kawamura Fellowship, when people asked me what I would be doing in Japan this summer, I had a great deal of difficulty creating an adequate explanation. Now, after spending five weeks in Japan, to summarize the fellowship in just a few words seems an even greater task. To put it simply, the Kawamura Fellowship is a spectacular way to see one of the most fascinating countries on this planet. In addition to visits with some of Japan’s most prominent citizens and corporations, we have also had the chance to make lasting relationships with host families and other friends. So much more than a site seeing tour, this fellowship has shown us a side of Japan few foreigners have the opportunity to experience, let alone many Japanese people.

In the last several weeks, I have frequently been asked about the differences I have observed between Japan and the United States. Though I could certainly reply with an account of the differences in cuisine and customs, such a comparison is obvious to even the most clueless tourist. Instead, the Kawamura Fellowship has shown me is that Japanese people and American people are actually not so different. At our core, we care about the same things—relationships with family and friends, making a name for ourselves in this world, and conducting our lives with a certain measure of honor and respect. For a country that seemed so foreign to me at first, I have found this realization to be both refreshing and comforting.