WASHINGTON, D.C. – This July, the winners of the 33rd National Japan Bowl will travel to Japan for a unique cultural and diplomatic exchange through the Kakehashi Project, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The Kakehashi Project promotes mutual understanding, trust, and friendship between Japan and the world by encouraging young people to explore Japanese culture, society, and values through immersive experiences. 

The top three Level 4 teams – nine students total – earned their place on this year’s Kakehashi trip through their performance at the 33rd National Japan Bowl, held April 4-5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. They will travel to Japan from July 24 to 30, with a special itinerary that includes visits to Osaka and Tokyo.

In Osaka, students will take part in cultural exchange activities and local high school students, and experience homestays, offering them firsthand insight into everyday life in Japan. They will also attend educational sessions and hands-on workshops, deepening their knowledge and understanding of Japanese history, culture, and society. A highlight of their time in Osaka will be a visit to Expo 2025, where the students will experience Japan’s vision for the future and its role on the global stage. 

In Tokyo, the delegation will make courtesy calls to Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, Mrs. Yoshiko Ishiba, spouse of the Prime Minister of Japan, and Ms. Eri Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. They will also meet with senior U.S. Embassy officials to learn more about U.S.–Japan relations. The students will conclude the week by sharing reflections on their experiences and plans to promote Japan-U.S. exchange upon their return home. 

The 33rd National Japan Bowl welcomed 123 students from 20 schools across the United States and Guam, competing in 43 teams across multiple levels. Organized annually by the Japan-America Society of Washington DC (JASWDC), and co-hosted by The Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies this year, the Japan Bowl® tests high school students on their knowledge of Japanese language and culture in a spirited, team-based competition. The event also fosters lasting friendships and opens doors to future academic and professional opportunities. 

About the Japan Bowl

For the past 33 years, JASWDC has organized the National 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 

William Denton
Communications Manager
wdenton@jaswdc.org

Samantha “Sami” Marks
Japan Bowl Program Manager
japanbowl@jaswdc.org