WASHINGTON, D.C. – This July, the winners of the 32nd National Japan Bowl have been invited to participate in the Kakehashi Project sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will embark on the trip of a lifetime. Developed as an initiative to encourage young people to interact and build bridges with Japan, the Kakehashi Project seeks to promote mutual trust and understanding, encourage appreciation and knowledge of Japanese culture, history, and society, and foster grassroots relationships between Japan and the world.

The top 5 Level 4 National Japan Bowl winning teams will be joined by Level IV regional Japan Bowl winners, winners from the Ontario Japan Bowl and the Vancouver Metro Japan Bowl, and other high performing competitors in the National Japan Bowl. This year, 24 participants—18 Americans and 6 Canadians— were invited to travel to Japan from July 16-23, 2024.

During the trip, the group will visit rural areas in Fukushima where they will attend lectures on Japan, engage in cultural exchange with Japanese high school students, and experience homestays. At the end of the trip, the participants will travel back to Tokyo where they will make courtesy calls to Mrs. Yuko Kishida, spouse of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, and meet with senior government officials from the Japanese government and US Embassy in Tokyo. On their final day, student participants will give presentations on what they learned over the course of the trip and how they will share their experiences via social media upon their return home.

The 32nd National Japan Bowl took place in Washington, D.C. on April 18th and 19th. Over 120 students from 24 schools took part in the competition, with participants coming from Guam, Mexico, and all over the United States. The Japan Bowl tests students’ knowledge of Japanese language and culture, and allows them to form friendships with their peers from across the country and beyond.

About the Japan Bowl

For the past 31 years, JASWDC has organized the Japan Bowl, an academic competition that aims to recognize and encourage high school students across the United States who have chosen Japanese as their foreign language. Beginning in 1992, it has grown from a language-only competition to one that asks students about their knowledge of Japanese culture, history, society, sports, behavior, and current events. The National Japan Bowl, America’s premier Japanese-language and culture competition, is vital for inspiring students and reinforcing their teachers and school districts’ efforts and investments.

The Japan Bowl is not just a challenging and fun competition; it also allows students to experience Japanese culture firsthand and meet other students who share their interest in Japan and its language. Students and teachers also have opportunities to network with each other and meet with various Japanese cultural organizations, universities, and sponsors to learn more about career opportunities, study abroad programs and Japanese language and cultural opportunities outside the classroom.

Among the National Japan Bowl alumni are tomorrow’s leaders of our diplomatic, commercial, security, and cultural relations with Japan. Many credit the Japan Bowl as an important motivator in their endeavors. The Japan-America Society of Washington DC has supported the creation of twenty regional Japan Bowl competitions across America and worldwide, giving the program a global impact.

About the Japan-America Society

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC is a 501(c)(3) educational and cultural non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between Japan and the U.S. at the grassroots public diplomacy level. Our programming aims to bring Japanese and American people closer together in the Nation’s Capital area.

Press Contacts

For more information, please contact the Japan Bowl Program Manager, Samantha “Sami” Marks, at [email protected].