Class year: 2027
Concentration: History of Art and Architecture & East Asian Studies
House: Adams
Hometown: Beijing
Favorite Japanese food: Sukiyaki
What connections to Japan, if any, did you have before coming to Harvard?
During the summer before my freshman year, I traveled with my friend to Japan for the first time and got to visit cities like Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Kamakura, and Yokohama.
What drew you to Japan, and how did you decide to participate in Harvard Summer School (HSS) Kyoto after your first year in college?
During my freshman year, I was introduced to Japanese art history by taking Professor Lippit's classes and found myself really drawn to learning more about Japan and East Asia, and HSS Kyoto felt like the perfect opportunity for me to learn more academically while also exploring the culture in a convenient and safe country.
What brought you back to Japan, and more specifically Kyoto, for a second summer?
During my stay in Kyoto through HSS, I learned a lot about Japanese culture in class and through my (almost) daily visits of temples or shrines around the city, which helped me decide on going into Japan studies in college. From there, I started taking Japanese at Harvard during my sophomore year and really enjoyed learning the language. I decided to go back to Kyoto for the Kyoto Consortium of Japanese Studies (KCJS) because I wanted to speed up my learning progress so that I can get my hands on Japanese sources earlier, and for someone studying Japanese art and culture, I simply could not think of a better place than Kyoto!
What was daily life like?
For both HSS and KCJS, a typical day started with a three-hour class in the morning, after which I'd wander off to different cultural sites in the afternoon in Kyoto or surrounding cities (Osaka, Shiga, Nara), before returning for dinner and preparing for the next day! While living with my host family for HSS, we'd sometimes go to events together on weekends or I'd do short day trips to places like Hiezan. During KCJS, I would usually travel to a different region and stay there for the weekend - this summer I went to places like Shikoku, Izumo, etc.
What were the biggest differences between dorm and home stay life?
I had a more regular day-to-day schedule while staying with my host family (e.g. returning to dinner at 6 pm every day), while dorm life was more flexible. I was also able to learn a lot about Japan from my host family through our time together in daily conversations. Staying in a dorm with my fellow KCJS students on the other hand helped us bond together and also pushed me to make Japanese friends at Doshisha in my spare time (I joined some of their club activities on weekday evenings).
Was there something new you learned or an interest you were able to explore by being abroad?
I started collecting goshuin stamp books in Japan, which is something you can collect from temples and shrines. At first I thought it was a great souvenir for me to document which placed I had visited, but this interest brought me to so many great cultural sites during summer 2024, which helped me develop my academic interests. In summer 2024 I bought a Kyoto 33-Kannon goshuin and managed to go to all the temples listed and got to visit places like Sanjusangendo and Rozanji, that I would have known about otherwise.
What are some highlights from your summer?
This past summer I did a lot of solo traveling after classes and during the weekends I'd usually travel with friends and family. I really enjoyed the opportunities to communicate with locals and find a lot of hidden gems away from crowds of tourists. I also went to Doshisha's English Speaking Society consistently and was able to make friends with many Japanese students and experience part of their college life. As a History of Art and Architecture concentrator, seeing a lot of national treasures exhibited this past summer was also a highlight for me.
Was there something that surprised you about living in Japan?
I'm still constantly surprised by how convenient Japan is, where almost anything I need for my daily life can be bought at convenience stores or supermarkets nearby.
What advice do you have for others considering going abroad?
I'd recommend doing some searches for some of the cultural sites, cafes, stores that you'd want to visit and make the best use of your time while abroad to experience the culture.
How have you continued to stay involved with Japan at Harvard?
I'm currently taking third-year Japanese, and every semester I also take Japan-related courses to stay involved. I'm trying to enrich myself with more knowledge before returning again!