We are delighted to announce that a JAPN 200 student has been selected for the Japan-Canada Kakehashi Project 2026. This marks the third time a nominee from 黑料吃瓜资源 has participated in this prestigious youth exchange program. Nomination for the program is extended to winners in regional Japanese language speech contests.
Lillian's report:
"This past February, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan as part of the Kakehashi Project, a North American initiative under Japan鈥檚 Friendship Ties Programs. 鈥淜akehashi,鈥 meaning 鈥渂ridge,鈥 reflects the program鈥檚 goal of fostering connections between Japan and other countries, which ended up being a very accurate description of the experience!
I travelled with a group of American and Canadian students to Tokyo and stayed with a host family in Nagoya. It was one of those situations where you expect things to feel unfamiliar, but instead it became comfortable surprisingly quickly. Through everyday routines, conversations, and shared meals, I was able to experience Japanese culture in a way that felt much more real than anything I learned through media alone. I also participated in exchange activities with students at Chukyo University, where I got to practice speaking Japanese in actual conversations, which was equal parts nerve-wracking and fun.
Some of the more surreal moments included participating in a traditional tea ceremony and attending courtesy visits, where I had the chance to meet Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and Mr. Oue, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister. I was also asked to deliver a speech in Japanese! It was daunting, but also one of those experiences where you are glad you said yes afterward.
Looking back, this all came to be because I decided to take a Japanese course. During my first year, I challenged myself to enter the Japanese Language Speech Contest in Ottawa, placed first in the Beginner's category and later competed at the national level. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunities provided through my studies at Queen's, which made my participation in the Kakehashi Project possible.
Going forward, I hope to keep building cross-cultural connections and explore opportunities that combine global health, communication, and cultural understanding. If anything, this experience taught me that trying something new, even when you are not completely confident, can lead to opportunities you would not have expected. To current and future students at Queen's University, I HIGHLY recommend you push your boundaries and discover the rewarding nature of learning languages, especially one as equally challenging and fun as Japanese."
