TOMODACHI Generation: Emily Walker
Emily (Mimi) Walker is a journalism student at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She visited Japan for the first time in March 2016 when she participated in the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program, an exchange program that was a part of the broader Government of Japan’s KAKEHASHI Project. She visited Tokyo and Kyoto and wrote about her experiences, below:
It is beyond an honor to be a part of the TOMODACHI family.
I’ve held much respect for Japanese principles over the years. My younger brother, Jack, has pervasive autism. He has been attending Boston Higashi School, a school that helps children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder reach their full through an unique educational philosophy developed by the late Dr. Kiyo Kitahara of Tokyo, Japan, for over 10 years. I learned a lot about the Japanese concept of daily life therapy–achieving goals through physical and artistic applications, such as music, pottery, swimming, unicycling, stilts, and so much more. This all-encompassing approach to teaching and training has helped my brother in ways no one could have anticipated. We also hosted Jack’s amazing teacher, Akiko Ono, at our home to carry on lessons for my brother. Sitting alongside her and watching her motivated me up to do something good in my life, especially through my words and my writing.
In early March 2016, my classmates and I in the Online Publishing Capstone course at Emerson College were lucky enough to spend one week in Japan, as part of our research on Japanese-American Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI). Our travels took us to Tokyo, Kyoto, and gorgeously bucolic areas in Shiga Prefecture.
The most meaningful visit for me was staying in Minshuku village, a part of Takashima. When we arrived to the village, there was torrential downpour. I was not quite prepared for the intense rain, so my lone pair of ballet flats and socks became soaked. When I awoke the next morning, I found my shoes and socks placed lovingly next to an old-fashioned heater, as good as new. I hadn’t told anyone how damaged my shoes were. A simple gesture such as that–despite language barriers, and despite the fact that I tucked my shoes in a dry, hidden corner so they wouldn’t get in anyone’s way—embodies the kind of good will the people of Japan have for those who wish to learn about the country. The kindness shown to me, in the midst of wide-eyed wandering and absorbing the divinity of the country was overwhelming.
As a “foodie”, by far the freshest foods I’ve consumed were in Japan. I was so impressed with the quality of the meats, the precision of the cooking time, the chefs’ intuitively knowledge on extracting the natural flavors in meat without dousing them in complicated sauces, or slaving over a plate’s presentation for hours on end. I feel that we desperately need this appreciation for simple, whole foods to grow throughout America, for the sake of our health and our savings.
The most incredible thing throughout the whole country, however, was its clean environment. After just a day or two in Japan, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t been taking my daily allergy tablets. Furthermore, I did not even need them. I’ve never breathed as well as I did in Japan. Smog, chemicals, dust and exhaust did not reveal themselves in this country, at least not to the point where they caused an obvious hindrance. My friends noted that their skin conditions were relieved entirely as well. We have a long way to go in America before this wonderful reality can be rendered for people suffering from environment-induced health flare-ups.
From my TOMODACHI program experience, My greatest wish for America is that we continue to build a relationship with Japan based on creative thinking and the meeting of great imaginations, so that we may be heartened to learn from each other in much larger ways. The visionary ideas throughout Japan are not at all dissimilar to the ideas many of our leaders demand to see in any given sector of business, government, architecture and technology.
My experience participating in the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program has made me become increasingly interested in the JET program and teaching English as a second language to young kids. I am in the process of figuring out what the logistics in that situation would be and hope to be returning to Japan again in the near future.
